Helpful Food Hacks For Pulling Off Thanksgiving With Friends

You can assemble classic sides like green bean casserole and stuffing the day before the party and then stick them in the fridge overnight. This way, all you have to do is slide them right into the oven day of. They'll be just as fresh and tasty, and no one will know they weren't prepared hours before.

Slow cookers are lifesavers, especially around the holidays. For creamy mashed potatoes, simply peel and cube potatoes and toss them in your slow cooker. Turn it on and let the machine do the work. Once the potatoes are cooked through, mash them up and then add butter, a bit of heavy cream, salt, pepper, and parsley.

You want your spread to look pretty, but when you're around friends, what really matters is how it all tastes. Instead of worrying about presentation, use simple baking dishes and containers so that each dish can hit the table directly from the oven. When in doubt, less is more, so clean black or white serving dishes will make the food look super fancy, even if it came prepackaged.

HORMEL GATHERINGS® Snack Trays are perfect for pre-Thanksgiving entertaining, like when hunger strikes during the hours of prepping and cooking or when the game is on before family and friends arrive. Don't forget to add it to your holiday grocery lists!