Thanksgiving Grocery List: How Much Turkey per Person, Sides and a Timeline
Plan about 1 lb of whole turkey per person, or 1.5 lb if you want leftovers. A frozen turkey thaws in the fridge at about 24 hours per 4 to 5 lb, so a 20-lb bird needs four to five days. Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26. Here's the full grocery list, the sides math and a Friendsgiving plan.
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Thanksgiving is the one meal where everything has to be ready at the same moment, and the shopping starts days before the cooking. The turkey decides the timeline: a frozen bird needs days in the fridge, so the turkey is the first thing on the list.
The amounts below are for adults with the usual sides. Kids eat less, and if your crowd wants turkey sandwiches on Friday, size up the bird and leave the rest of the list as it is.
Thanksgiving Amounts per Person (Chart for 8, 12 and 16 Guests)
Raw weight for the turkey and potatoes, cooked amounts for the sides.
| Item | Per person | 8 guests | 12 guests | 16 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole turkey | about 1 lb | about 8 lb | about 12 lb | about 16 lb |
| Whole turkey, with leftovers | 1.5 lb | 12 lb | 18 lb | 24 lb |
| Turkey breast, bone-in | 1–1.5 lb | 8–12 lb | 12–18 lb | 16–24 lb |
| Turkey breast, boneless | 1/2 lb | 4 lb | 6 lb | 8 lb |
| Potatoes for mashing (raw) | 1/2 lb | 4 lb | 6 lb | 8 lb |
| Stuffing | 3/4 cup | 6 cups | 9 cups | 12 cups |
| Gravy | 1/2 cup | 4 cups | 6 cups | 8 cups |
| Vegetable sides | 1 cup | 8 cups | 12 cups | 16 cups |
| Dinner rolls | 1–2 | 8–16 | 12–24 | 16–32 |
| Pie (9-inch) | 1 slice | 1 pie | 2 pies | 2 pies |
| Wine | 1/2 bottle | 4 bottles | 6 bottles | 8 bottles |
For leftovers, size up the turkey; everything else scales with the guest count.
Thanksgiving Grocery Checklist
Sorted by dish. Pantry items and drinks can go in the cart the weekend before; fresh produce, cream and rolls on Tuesday or Wednesday.
0 / 39 done
Turkey and gravy 0/6
Stuffing 0/5
Potatoes and sides 0/6
Cranberry sauce 0/3
Bread 0/2
Pies and dessert 0/7
Drinks 0/5
Kitchen gear 0/5
Your checked items are saved only in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
How Much Turkey per Person?
The USDA suggests about 1 lb of whole turkey per person, because much of the weight is bone. If you want leftovers, plan about 1.5 lb per person: 12 guests need a 12-lb turkey, or about 18 lb for sandwiches the next day.
Cooking only a turkey breast? Plan 1 to 1.5 lb per person for bone-in breast and about 1/2 lb per person for boneless.
How Long Does a Turkey Take to Thaw?
In the fridge, allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 lb of turkey, at 40°F or below. A fully thawed turkey can stay in the fridge for another day or two before roasting.
- 4 to 12 lb: 1 to 3 days
- 12 to 16 lb: 3 to 4 days
- 16 to 20 lb: 4 to 5 days
- 20 to 24 lb: 5 to 6 days
Running late? The cold-water method
Submerge the turkey in its wrapping in cold water, change the water every 30 minutes and allow about 30 minutes per pound. Cook it right after thawing. Never thaw a turkey on the counter.
How Much of Each Side per Guest?
For mashed potatoes, buy about 1/2 lb of raw potatoes per guest. Plan about 3/4 cup of stuffing and 1/2 cup of gravy per person, about 1 cup of vegetable sides in total, and one or two dinner rolls each. One 9-inch pie serves eight, and half a bottle of wine per guest is a common estimate.
Thanksgiving 2026 Shopping Timeline
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Work backward from the turkey:
- Two weeks before (around November 12): plan the menu, order a fresh turkey and assign potluck dishes.
- Saturday, November 21: move a 16- to 20-lb frozen turkey into the fridge; buy pantry items, drinks and pie supplies.
- Sunday or Monday, November 22 or 23: start thawing a 12- to 16-lb turkey.
- Tuesday and Wednesday, November 24 and 25: buy fresh produce, cream and rolls; bake pies and make cranberry sauce.
- Thursday: roast the turkey until it reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and breast.
Friendsgiving: Who Brings What?
At a Friendsgiving the host usually makes the turkey and guests bring the rest. Dishes that travel well work best: mac and cheese, roasted vegetables, green bean casserole, a big salad, dinner rolls, pies, and drinks or ice. Assign categories, or you'll end up with five pies and no vegetables.
In the Pauly app the host shares one list by code or link, and every guest adds what they're bringing, so everyone sees in real time what's still missing. Creating the shared list needs Pauly Pro; guests join for free.
Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Pick a format that fits your group, and the chart above covers the amounts.
The classic
Roast turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls and pumpkin pie.
A smaller table
A bone-in turkey breast instead of a whole bird, roasted sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and one pie.
A vegetarian main
Stuffed acorn squash or a mushroom Wellington next to the usual sides.
Thanksgiving Shopping FAQ
How much turkey per person?
About 1 lb of whole turkey per person, or 1.5 lb if you want leftovers.
What size turkey for 12 people?
A 12-lb turkey, or about 18 lb if you want plenty of leftovers.
How much turkey breast per person?
1 to 1.5 lb per person for bone-in breast and about 1/2 lb for boneless.
How long does a 20-lb turkey take to thaw?
Four to five days in the fridge, at about 24 hours per 4 to 5 lb.
What temperature should turkey be cooked to?
165°F, measured in the thickest part of the thigh, the wing joint and the breast.
What should I bring to Friendsgiving?
A side or dessert that travels well, like mac and cheese, roasted vegetables, rolls or a pie, or drinks and ice. Ask the host which category is still open.
Your Thanksgiving list on your phone in 10 seconds
Dictate your groceries into the free Pauly app. It sorts everything by store section, and with Pauly Pro your Friendsgiving guests can add what they're bringing. For iPhone and Android.