The menu
- Main: roast turkey (unstuffed, so it cooks faster and more evenly) with pan gravy.
- Sides: bread stuffing baked in a dish, mashed potatoes, green beans with butter and lemon or a green bean casserole, cranberry sauce.
- Bread: store-bought or bake-and-serve dinner rolls.
- Dessert: pumpkin pie plus one apple or pecan pie. Buying the pies is fine.
- Easy extras: a big green salad, a cheese board for arrivals, and one signature drink.
How much to make
| Dish | 6 guests | 8 guests | 10 guests | 12 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole turkey (1 lb per person) | 6 lb | 8 lb | 10 lb | 12 lb |
| Potatoes for mashing (½ lb per person) | 3 lb | 4 lb | 5 lb | 6 lb |
| Stuffing, cooked (¾ cup per person) | 4.5 cups | 6 cups | 7.5 cups | 9 cups |
| Gravy (⅓ cup per person) | 2 cups | 2.7 cups | 3.3 cups | 4 cups |
| Green beans (¼ lb per person) | 1.5 lb | 2 lb | 2.5 lb | 3 lb |
| Cranberry sauce (¼ cup per person) | 1.5 cups | 2 cups | 2.5 cups | 3 cups |
| Dinner rolls (2 per person) | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
| Pie, 9-inch (8 slices each) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Want exact amounts for your guest list, including kids? Use the holiday dinner calculator. For the turkey alone, use the turkey calculator.
Make-ahead timeline for Thanksgiving 2026
- Thu, Nov 19 Confirm the guest count, finalize the menu, buy pantry items (broth, flour, sugar, canned pumpkin, cranberries, butter) and buy or order the turkey.
- Fri, Nov 20 Turkey 20–24 lb: move it from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw.
- Sat, Nov 21 Turkey 16–20 lb: move it to the refrigerator. Make pie dough and freeze it.
- Sun, Nov 22 Turkey 12–16 lb: move it to the refrigerator. Check you have a roasting pan and a food thermometer.
- Tue, Nov 24 Buy fresh produce and rolls. Make cranberry sauce. Cut bread cubes for stuffing and leave them out to dry. Chop onion and celery.
- Wed, Nov 25 Bake the pies. Peel potatoes and keep them covered in cold water in the fridge. Assemble side casseroles. Set the table and pick serving dishes.
- Thu, Nov 26 Turkey into a 325°F oven (12–14 lb unstuffed: about 3 to 3¾ hours). While it rests 20 minutes, bake the sides, mash the potatoes, warm the rolls and make gravy from the drippings.
Thawing times follow USDA guidance: about 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds. Full charts are in our turkey guide.
Thanksgiving Day schedule (dinner at 4 PM, 12–14 lb turkey)
- 11:00 AM Take the turkey out of the fridge, remove giblets, pat dry, preheat the oven to 325°F.
- 11:30 AM Turkey in the oven.
- 2:15 PM Start checking the temperature. The breast, thigh and wing must all reach 165°F.
- 3:00 PM Turkey out to rest. Raise the oven for stuffing and casseroles. Boil the potatoes.
- 3:30 PM Make gravy, mash the potatoes, warm the rolls.
- 3:45 PM Carve. Dinner at 4.
After dinner
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and eat them within 3 to 4 days, or freeze them. See how long Thanksgiving leftovers last.
Questions
What is the easiest Thanksgiving menu?
Roast turkey with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls and two pies. Make everything except the turkey and gravy one or two days ahead.
How much turkey do I need for 10 people?
About 10 lb of whole turkey, or 15 lb if you want leftovers.
What can I make the day before Thanksgiving?
Pies, cranberry sauce, stuffing (assembled, baked on the day), casseroles, peeled potatoes kept in cold water, and the table setting.
When should I start thawing my turkey for Thanksgiving 2026?
In the refrigerator: by Sunday, November 22 for 12–16 lb, Saturday, November 21 for 16–20 lb, and Friday, November 20 for 20–24 lb.
Sources & review
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: food safety (turkey thawing and roasting)
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
Written by the Everydaily Editorial Team and checked on November 5, 2026. For general planning only. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy or tell us.