By SmashMeals Editorial · Published · Updated
Hosting a holiday meal used to mean one person cooking for three days. This year, more hosts are doing something smarter: cooking the dishes they love and ordering the rest. New holiday research shows the shift is real, and with a little planning it can save time, stress and sometimes money.
Hosts are protecting the table, not the to-do list
Circana's 2026 holiday study, released October 8 from a survey of 3,534 consumers, found that 74% of shoppers plan to save money this season and more than a third are canceling or delaying travel. Budgets are moving toward celebrations at home, and Circana reports hosts are turning to prepared foods, catered options and retailer meal solutions for convenience. A September survey from Omnisend found 50% of Americans say rising grocery costs make holiday hosting more stressful.
Read our news coverage of the holiday surveys.
Step 1: Sort your menu into three piles
Write down every dish your family expects. Then sort each one:
| Pile | What goes here | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Cook it | The dish people expect from you, or one you enjoy making | Grandma's sweet potatoes, your mashed potatoes |
| Order it | Time-heavy, oven-hogging or high-risk dishes | Smoked turkey, ham, dressing, pie |
| Assign it | Easy dishes guests can bring | Rolls, salad, drinks, a relish tray |
The main dish is usually the best thing to order. It takes the most time, occupies the oven for hours and causes the most stress if something goes wrong.
Step 2: Count real costs, including time
Grocery prices are only part of the cost of cooking. Count specialty ingredients you will use once, extra pans, the energy to run an oven all day and, most of all, your hours. Restaurant prices rose 3.5% over the past year while groceries rose 1.8%, according to BLS data released October 14, so ordering from a restaurant is not the only alternative to cooking everything.
Here is one example for six people using SmashMeals' 2026 Thanksgiving prices at publication:
| Dish | Plan | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Smoked turkey platter (feeds 6) | Order | $30 |
| Cornbread dressing (serves 6) | Order | $22 |
| Orange bourbon cranberry sauce (pint) | Order | $11 |
| Pumpkin pie, gluten-free and dairy-free | Order | $20 |
| Mashed potatoes and a green vegetable | Cook | Your groceries |
| Rolls, drinks, salad | Assign to guests | $0 to you |
| Ordered subtotal | $83 before fulfillment |
Prices and items can change; the Thanksgiving menu page shows current options and the final total appears at checkout. Pickup in Kingsport is free; eligible local delivery is $15 and eligible shipping is $35.
Step 3: Build a timeline backward from dinner
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| Three to four weeks out | Finalize guest count; ask about allergies and celiac disease |
| By the order deadline | Place your order (SmashMeals Thanksgiving orders are due Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026) |
| Weekend before | Grocery shop for the dishes you are cooking; confirm who brings what |
| Day before | Make anything that reheats well; set the table; clear refrigerator space |
| Day of | Reheat ordered dishes following their instructions; cook your fresh sides |
Step 4: Plan for guests with dietary needs
Holiday meals are full of hidden gluten: flour-thickened gravy, bread stuffing, fried onion toppings and shared serving spoons. If a guest has celiac disease, a dedicated gluten-free source for the biggest dishes can make the day simpler. SmashMeals operates a dedicated gluten-free kitchen; gluten is not the only allergen, so share each dish's ingredient information with guests who have other allergies. See our guides to hosting a celiac guest and, for guests, celiac at the holidays.
Step 5: Handle reheating and leftovers safely
Keep cold food cold and hot food hot, refrigerate leftovers within two hours, and reheat leftovers until steaming hot. Follow the reheating instructions that come with each dish. Our FAQ on how long meals stay fresh covers storage.
The point of hosting
Nobody remembers who peeled the potatoes. They remember the table. Cook what you love, order what wears you out, and spend the extra hours with the people who came. See the 2026 Thanksgiving menu, or for regular weeknights, browse this week's menu. Planning an office or church gathering instead? See holiday party catering.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
- Which Thanksgiving dishes are best to order?
- Usually the main dish, because it takes the most time and oven space, plus labor-heavy sides like dressing and desserts like pie.
- When is the SmashMeals Thanksgiving order deadline?
- Sunday, November 22, 2026. Current dishes and prices are on smashmeals.com/thanksgiving, and the final total appears at checkout.
- How long can Thanksgiving leftovers sit out?
- Refrigerate leftovers within two hours, and reheat them until steaming hot. Follow the reheating instructions included with each dish.