Thanksgiving Meal Planner: How Much Food to Prepare for Your Gathering Size

With the holidays fast approaching, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This year, many of us may be returning to larger, more familiar family gatherings, reminiscent of pre-pandemic times. While that’s exciting, many are feeling a bit out of practice when it comes to holiday meal planning. Luckily, we're here to help you navigate the preparations.

We spoke with several culinary experts and restaurateurs for their advice and tips to ensure your Thanksgiving meal goes off without a hitch: Executive Chef Travis Schultz from Sparrow + Wolf in Las Vegas; Holly Arnold Kinney, owner of The Fort in Morrison, Colorado, and author of "The Fort Restaurant Cookbook: New Foods of the Old West"; Allison Williams, senior marketing manager at 4Top Hospitality in Memphis, with 16 restaurants across the Southeast; and Nik Fields, also known as "Nik the Chic Chef," a celebrity chef, author of The Chic Chef Approach, and founder of Waste Not Want Not, a nonprofit focused on reducing food waste.

How Much Food to Prepare for Thanksgiving

The amount of food you need to make depends on the size of your gathering and how much leftover goodness you and your guests enjoy—think sandwiches, casseroles, soups, and more over the holiday weekend.

To start, create a list of everyone you'll be hosting for Thanksgiving dinner, and then refer to this useful chart to determine how much of each dish you should prepare—starting with the star of the show, the turkey! The chart provides average amounts based on the size of your gathering: small (2-4 guests), medium (6-10 guests), and large (14-20 guests). We've covered all the key menu items, from appetizers and desserts to turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and everything else you might want to serve.

Small Gathering: 2 to 4 People

Medium Gathering: 6 to 10 People

Large Gathering: 14 to 20 People

Thanksgiving Menu Planning: Expert Tips

Once you've figured out how many guests will be attending, it's time to start planning your menu.

"When creating the menu for Thanksgiving, I always consider the traditions my guests are familiar with and expect, along with any dietary needs or preferences they might have," Chef Schultz shared in a Dinogo interview.

"Thanksgiving menus are generally pretty classic, with traditional dishes being the norm. However, I enjoy adding my own twist and enhancing the flavors where I can. One year, I made Oyster Rockefeller stuffing, and it was a huge hit!" he added.

Kinney echoes Schultz's advice on incorporating familiar flavors into your menu, something she refers to as "taste memory."

"Home cooks should tap into their childhood memories and think about what they loved most for their holiday meals," she advised. "If you're now a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, find recipes that substitute ingredients while maintaining the same flavors and 'taste memory'—without the fat, gluten, or meat," she added.

"The classic Thanksgiving meal usually includes turkey, yams, giblet gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. However, you can create new traditions by offering creative alternatives that blend with your family's beloved 'taste memories' of those classic dishes," Kinney continued.

Williams mentioned that for any gathering, she recommends planning a menu with a variety of flexible options that cater to different tastes and preferences.

"For instance," she explained, "cornbread dressing at Thanksgiving can not only be a delicious side dish but can also be made into a vegetarian option if prepared with vegetarian-friendly ingredients."

Fields draws inspiration from her local market when planning her menus and encourages home cooks to let the fresh ingredients guide them in creating their meals.

"When I'm not sure what to cook, I visit my local supermarket or farmers' market and let what's in season, on sale, or even just the color of the produce inspire my meal," she said. "Cooking should be fun and spontaneous—there are no rules!"

Tips for Saving Time

Now that you've confirmed your guest list and chosen your dishes, here are some expert time-saving tips to help streamline your preparation and cooking process.

"Thanksgiving can seem predictable, but the sheer volume of food and number of dishes can make it overwhelming to prepare at home," said Schultz. "To save time, I suggest creating your menu, prep, and shopping lists a month ahead of time. Many Thanksgiving dishes can also be prepared in advance."

"I prefer to set myself up for success by completing as many tasks ahead of time as possible, so the day of the event is stress-free," he added.

For additional time-saving tips, Schultz recommends making cranberry compote up to two weeks in advance, peeling potatoes and storing them in water until ready to cook, blanching vegetables like green beans for casseroles, and even preparing gravy ahead of time and freezing it in Ziplock bags or deli containers—there's no loss of quality!

Kinney shares the same approach for preparing sides early. She advises refrigerating them up to 40 minutes before serving, then heating them in the oven and serving immediately for best results.

When it comes to turkey, if you're cooking a bird over 15 pounds, Fields recommends opting for two smaller birds to reduce cooking time. Schultz also mentions that smaller turkeys tend to have better flavor."

Fields also offers additional time-saving tips: bake your pie crusts ahead of time if you're making pies from scratch, use an ironing board (without its cover) as a makeshift cooling rack or extra prep space, and chill wine or Champagne in just 20 minutes by using ice water and a pinch of salt.

Ultimately, keep in mind the real reason you're hosting Thanksgiving: to enjoy quality time with your loved ones.

"Take it easy, plan ahead, recruit a little help, and most importantly, have fun," said Schultz. "Food made with love always tastes better."

Explore More:

• 19 Fool-Proof Thanksgiving Recipes for Beginner Cooks
• Check out our Thanksgiving how-to tips and menu ideas.
• Browse our entire collection of Thanksgiving Recipes.