Thanksgiving Food Quantity Planner and Shopping List
Shopping list
Where the amounts come from
| Item (per adult) | Amount used | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Whole turkey | 1 lb, or 1.5 lb with leftovers | UC Extension |
| Bone-in / boneless breast | 3/4 lb / 1/2 lb | UC Extension |
| Pre-stuffed frozen turkey | 1 1/4 lb | UC Extension |
| Stuffing | 3/4 cup | Whole Foods Market |
| Potatoes or starch | 3/4 cup (1/2 lb raw potatoes) | Whole Foods Market |
| Gravy | 1/2 cup | Whole Foods Market, TODAY |
| Cranberry sauce | 1/2 cup | TODAY (NYT cheat sheet) |
| Vegetable sides | 1 cup | Whole Foods Market |
| Rolls / pie / appetizers | 1 / 1 slice / 3 pieces | Whole Foods Market |
| Pie | 8 slices per pie | TODAY |
| Wine | 1/2 bottle | Whole Foods Market |
Other cooks use more: the NYT cheat sheet suggests 1.5 lb of turkey and 1 cup of stuffing per person. These are rules of thumb, not requirements. Raise the amounts for big eaters and add dishes if you serve fewer sides.
Rules of thumb last checked: October 9, 2026. Turkey amounts from University of California Cooperative Extension (citing USDA); side-dish amounts from Whole Foods Market and TODAY. Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26.
Planning estimate only. Children are counted at half a portion, which is this tool's assumption. Cooked turkey must reach 165°F, and leftovers should be in the fridge within 2 hours. See the leftovers safe-until date calculator and the turkey roasting time calculator.
Enter how many adults and children you are feeding to get the turkey size, side-dish amounts, rolls, pies and a copyable shopping list, with every ratio sourced to Extension, Whole Foods Market or TODAY.
How it works
- Enter adults and children, pick the kind of turkey and whether you want leftovers
- Tick the dishes you will serve
- Copy the shopping list and check the thaw-by date for a frozen bird
Frequently asked questions
How much turkey per person?
University of California Cooperative Extension, citing USDA guidance, says 1 pound of whole turkey per person, or 1.5 pounds per person if you want leftovers. Bone-in breast is 3/4 pound per person, boneless breast 1/2 pound and a pre-stuffed frozen turkey 1 1/4 pounds.
How are children counted?
As half a portion. That is this planner's assumption; the Inch Calculator turkey guide also uses 1/2 pound for a child versus 1 pound for an adult.
Where do the side-dish amounts come from?
Whole Foods Market's Holiday Servings Calculator (3/4 cup stuffing, 3/4 cup potatoes or starch, 1 cup vegetables, 1/2 cup gravy, 1 roll, 1 slice of pie, 3 appetizers, 1/2 bottle of wine per person) and the TODAY cheat sheet by Melissa Clark (1/2 cup cranberry sauce, one pie per 8 people). They are rules of thumb.
When should I move a frozen turkey to the fridge?
Allow 24 hours per 4 pounds in the refrigerator: 4 to 12 pounds takes 1 to 3 days, 12 to 16 pounds 3 to 4 days, 16 to 20 pounds 4 to 5 days and 20 to 24 pounds 5 to 6 days (UC Extension).
Why does the NYT cheat sheet use more?
Published guides differ because cooks differ. The NYT sheet suggests 1.5 pounds of turkey and 1 cup of stuffing per person, which is generous. Raise the amounts if your guests are big eaters or you serve fewer dishes.
What about leftovers?
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use them within 3 to 4 days. Gravy is 1 to 2 days. Use the leftovers safe-until date calculator on this site for exact dates.
Related tools
From the blog
Update history
- 2026-10-09 Launched: Thanksgiving food quantity planner with sourced per-person ratios and a copyable shopping list.