Thanksgiving Food Calculator
Get exact quantities for turkey, sides, and desserts based on your guest count
| Side Dish | Per Person | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mashed Potatoes | 0.5 | lbs raw | About 1 cup cooked |
| Stuffing | 0.75 | cups dry | Doubles when cooked |
| Green Bean Casserole | 0.25 | lbs | About 0.5 cup cooked |
| Sweet Potatoes | 0.5 | lbs | One medium potato each |
| Cranberry Sauce | 3 | tablespoons | About 0.2 cups per person |
| Corn | 0.5 | cups | One ear or half can per person |
| Guests | Turkey Weight | Cook Time (325°F) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–6 | 10–12 lbs | 2.75–3 hrs | Fresh or thawed |
| 8–10 | 14–16 lbs | 3.5–4 hrs | Unstuffed |
| 12–14 | 18–20 lbs | 4–4.5 hrs | Two smaller better |
| 16–20 | 22–24 lbs | 4.5–5 hrs | Or two 12 lbs birds |
| 22–26 | 26–28 lbs | 5–5.5 hrs | Two birds recommended |
| 28–32 | 2 x 16 lbs | 3.5–4 hrs each | Two birds |
thanksgiving dinner turns around several traditional dishes, that show on almost every table. The roasted turkey stands as the main course of the evening. Stuffing mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, green bean pot, sweet potatoes and pickles form the typical spread.
They stay the reliable parts, that most expect to find during thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving Dinner Foods
Turkey cooking can be difficult though. The white meat dries quickly, if one cooks it too long, and because many folks prepare whole bird only one or two times yearly, it commonly seems like a big task. Recipe for slowly cooked turkey breasts in slow cooker help to reach really moist meat without a lot of effort.
For a smaller group a whole turkey breast part works well alone. Besides that, one can choose braised turkey legs and thighs for a bit of somethign different.
Stuffing wakes big excitement. Some types base on fresh bread, for instance French rolls or Italian bread, torn in little chips. Others favor stuffing from cornbread.
There is also a potato type, that some families offer together with the standard bread stuffing. Stuffing with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme bears classical taste.
Green bean pot ranks between the favorite parts. Using fresh green beans does much more good result then preserved. Mashed potatoes prepared with butter, cream cheese and sour cream, and the advantage is, that one can process them early and warm them again on the holiday.
Sweet potato pot with marshmallows enjoys big popularity. Some add cornflakes for extra crunch. Sweet potatoes or baked versions of them offer other ways to present them.
Gravy ties everything well. The best mode is to prepare broth by cooking the turkey neck and insides with herbs during the roasting, later mixing it with the pan juices and roux. Rolls together with bread find their place at the table, served as a side dish to the main meal instead of before it, so that guests don’t fill up too soon.
Cranberry sauce does not lack. Some families choose the jelly form, while others like the whole cranberry kind. For dessert, pumpkin pie stays the traditional favorite.
Pecan pie and pumpkin pie also show commonly. Chocolate cream pie works well as an option, especially for those, that have special tastes.
Some tables go past the basics. Starters like cocktail sauce, cheese plate with biscuits and cheese balls make popular starts. Pot pie from store puff pastry works surprisingly as maindish for vegetarians.
Macaroni with cheese, lasagna, mashed sauce and grain pot appear at some tables. Thanksgiving leftovers perfectly serve for sandwiches, gumbo and enchilada pies.
