154 ahead recipes

Make-ahead brownie mix yields 12 fudgy brownies plus five mix-in variations: mint, coconut almond, raspberry hazelnut, cherry, and caramel pecan layered. The pantry shortcut you actually want.

Make-ahead slice and bake sugar cookies with lemon extract. Shape the dough into logs, freeze for up to 6 months, and bake fresh cookies in 10 minutes whenever the craving hits.

A hearty spinach stuffing with Swiss cheese, eggs, and breadcrumbs built to fill a 20-pound turkey. Make it ahead and refrigerate, then bring to room temperature before stuffing the bird on the big day.

Homemade cranberry orange sauce studded with dried apricots and raisins. This fruity, jewel-toned holiday condiment can be made up to 4 days ahead and thickens beautifully as it chills.

Herb-seasoned beef meatballs baked in a red wine and tomato sauce with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and whole onions. A cozy one-pot stew that's great for make-ahead meals.

If you're just looking for a simple dish to make, but you don't have a lot of time on your hands, then go ahead and try this delicious crockpot recipe!

Cajun shrimp Creole simmered for hours in a homemade shrimp stock with fresh tomatoes, three peppers, thyme, basil, and the holy trinity. Even better made a day or two ahead.

Layered zucchini potato salad: creamy mashed-potato base stacked with crisp-tender zucchini, corn, and cherry tomatoes. A cool, make-ahead potluck salad that travels well and holds its layers.

A creamy raspberry chocolate pie with cream cheese filling on a pecan vanilla wafer crust sealed with melted chocolate. Topped with jam-glazed berries for a make-ahead chilled dessert.

Indian gravy: a make-ahead curry base of onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, and garam masala bloomed in ghee, then simmered with tomatoes and yogurt. The foundation for endless curries.

Rice pilaf salad tosses diced turkey, brown rice, chickpeas, kidney beans, apples, celery, and green olives into a protein-loaded chilled salad. Perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers or make-ahead lunches.

Marinated bean salad with five beans (yellow, green, kidney, lima, garbanzo) and bell peppers tossed in a sweet-and-tangy brown sugar vinaigrette. Make ahead for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues.

A slow-simmered lamb chili with black beans, fresh ginger, allspice, and Zinfandel wine. Beans cook with lamb bones for deep flavor. Best made a day ahead for the richest taste.

Sweet and sour pasta salad with kamut spirals, kidney and black beans, red pepper, scallions, and basil. A protein-packed vegan picnic salad that holds up beautifully for make-ahead lunches.

Creamy curried peanut soup with rice, carrots, and three tablespoons of curry powder, half-pureed with peanut butter for a thick, nutty broth. Make-ahead friendly and topped with scallions and cilantro.

French onion soup with onions caramelized for 90 minutes, simmered in beef stock and white wine, then topped with crusty bread and bubbling Gruyère. Made a day ahead for the deepest flavor.