How the Thanksgiving Sides Calculator Works
The calculator uses tested per-person benchmarks to estimate each side dish. The foundation is 0.5 lbs of raw potatoes per person for mashed potatoes — this is the standard referenced by most culinary guides. Raw russet potatoes lose roughly 25–30% of their weight during boiling and peeling, so 0.5 lbs raw translates to a generous side-dish portion. All quantities scale linearly with guest count, so a table of 20 simply doubles the amounts for 10.
Thanksgiving is culturally synonymous with abundance — running out of food is considered far worse than having too much. The "Yes, leftovers!" mode multiplies every quantity by 1.25 (a 25% buffer). This is the sweet spot: enough for generous second servings and next-day leftovers without wasteful excess. The leftover turkey sandwich on Friday morning is arguably the best meal of the long weekend, and the same applies to mashed potatoes reheated with a splash of cream and leftover gravy poured over stuffing.
For shopping, plan your list early: grab your mashed potato ingredients (russets, butter, cream) and stuffing breadcrumbs at least a week before — stores run low on basics. For green beans, fresh beans roast beautifully and hold up better than canned; buy them 2–3 days before and refrigerate in a damp paper towel. Dinner rolls are a great candidate for the bakery section (bought the morning of) or a quality frozen par-baked roll that finishes in the oven alongside the turkey — no skill required and they come out perfectly golden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much mashed potatoes do I need for 10 people?
For 10 guests, plan on 5 lbs of raw potatoes (they cook down significantly). With leftovers, buy 6–7 lbs. One large russet potato weighs about 0.5–0.75 lbs, so you're looking at roughly 8–12 large potatoes for 10 people. Russets are the go-to for fluffy, smooth mash.
How much stuffing do I make for 12 people?
Plan about 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs per person, which yields roughly 3/4 cup cooked. For 12 people: 6 cups dry (one standard 14 oz bag of stuffing mix). Add a leftovers buffer and buy 2 bags. If you're making stuffing from scratch with cubed bread, one pound of bread loaf yields about 8 cups of cubed stuffing.
How many cans of cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving?
One standard 14 oz can serves about 8 people (2 tablespoons each). For 10–16 guests, two cans is plenty. Many families do one jellied and one whole berry — doubles the variety without doubling the cost. If you're making cranberry sauce from scratch, one 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries yields about 2 cups of sauce, serving 8.
How much gravy per person for Thanksgiving?
About 1/3 cup per person as a generous serving. For 10 people: roughly 3–4 cups (1 quart). Turkey drippings from a 15 lb bird yield about 2 cups — supplement with store-bought turkey or chicken broth-based gravy to reach your target. Make gravy in advance and reheat gently to free up oven space on the day.
Should I make extras of every side dish?
Yes — Thanksgiving leftovers are half the point. The calculator's "Yes, leftovers!" mode adds 25% to all quantities. Sides reheat perfectly: mashed potatoes come back to life with a splash of warm cream, stuffing crisps up beautifully in a skillet, and green beans toss well in a quick pan with garlic. You'll be grateful for the next two days.