Plan the whole Thanksgiving meal in one go. Enter how many adults and kids you are feeding and how many leftovers you want, and get the turkey size, thaw and roast times, and amounts for stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sides, rolls and pies as a shopping list.
Last updated:
Guests
Counted as half an adult portion.
Leftovers
Extra sides
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Thanksgiving Dinner Calculator
Enter your guests: adults and kids under 12.
Choose leftovers: none, some, or plenty for next-day sandwiches.
Pick the turkey (whole bird or breast only) and how hungry your crowd is.
Tick the extra sides you plan to serve.
Copy or download the shopping list and note the thaw start date.
Thanksgiving portions per adult
Dish
Per adult
For 10 adults
Notes
Whole turkey (raw)
1–1 1/2 lb
10–15 lb
Half the weight is bone and skin
Turkey breast
1/2–3/4 lb
5–7 1/2 lb
Good for small groups
Stuffing / dressing
3/4 cup
7 1/2 cups
About 1 lb bread per 8 cups of cubes
Potatoes for mashing
1/2 lb
5 lb
Russet or Yukon Gold
Gravy
1/3 cup
3 1/3 cups
1/2 cup for leftovers
Cranberry sauce
1/4 cup
2 1/2 cups
A 12-oz bag of berries makes about 2 1/4 cups
Green beans
4 oz
2 1/2 lb
Sweet potatoes
1/3 lb
3 1/3 lb
About 7 medium
Dinner rolls
1 1/2
15
2 if you want leftovers
Pie (9 in)
1 slice
1 1/4 pies
8 slices per pie
The calculator multiplies these by your guest count (kids count as half), then by 1.25 for some leftovers or 1.5 for plenty, and by 0.85 or 1.2 for light or hearty eaters. When there are many sides, people take smaller scoops of each, so these amounts already allow for a full table.
Thanksgiving week timeline
1–2 weeks before: order or buy a frozen turkey and make the shopping list.
Thaw time before: move a frozen bird to the fridge 1 day for every 4–5 lb (Sunday for a 16 lb bird on Thursday).
2 days before: make cranberry sauce and pie dough; cube and dry bread for stuffing.
1 day before: bake pies, prep vegetables, assemble casseroles to bake tomorrow.
Thanksgiving Day: roast the turkey, rest it 30–40 minutes while sides bake, then make the gravy from the drippings.
After dinner: refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and eat them within 3–4 days.
Frequently asked questions
How much turkey do I need per person?
Plan on 1 lb of whole turkey per person (raw weight with bones), 1 1/4 lb for some leftovers and 1 1/2 lb if you want plenty. For a boneless or bone-in turkey breast, about 1/2 to 3/4 lb per person is enough. A table of 12 adults with some leftovers needs about a 15 lb turkey.
How big a turkey do I need for 10 people?
About 10 lb for no leftovers, 12-13 lb for some, and 15 lb for plenty of leftovers. Many cooks buy a 12-14 lb bird for 10 guests.
How long does it take to thaw a turkey?
In the refrigerator, allow about 24 hours for every 4-5 lb (USDA). A 16 lb turkey needs about 4 days. In a cold-water bath, changed every 30 minutes, it takes about 30 minutes per lb. Never thaw it on the counter.
How long do I roast a turkey at 325°F?
USDA times for an unstuffed whole turkey at 325°F: 8-12 lb 2 3/4-3 hours, 12-14 lb 3-3 3/4 hours, 14-18 lb 3 3/4-4 1/4 hours, 18-20 lb 4 1/4-4 1/2 hours, and 20-24 lb 4 1/2-5 hours. It is done at 165°F in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost thigh and the wing joint.
How many pies do I need for Thanksgiving?
A 9-inch pie cuts into 8 slices. Plan one slice per adult (half for kids), plus extra if guests like to try two kinds or you want leftovers. For 12 adults that is 2 pies, and 3 if you want a choice of flavors.
How much stuffing and mashed potatoes per person?
About 3/4 cup of stuffing and 1/2 lb of raw potatoes for mashing per adult. Gravy is about 1/3 cup each, or 1/2 cup if you want leftovers for turkey sandwiches and hot plates the next day.
How are kids counted?
Children under about 12 are counted as half an adult portion. Teenagers usually eat like adults, so count them as adults.
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