Thanksgiving Dinner Shopping List: Everything for 10 People

Updated October 19, 2026

Thanksgiving is the one dinner where a forgotten ingredient can really hurt: the stores are crowded, the shelves thin out, and nobody wants to be hunting for evaporated milk on Wednesday night. This list covers a classic American Thanksgiving dinner for 10, grouped by store section, with quantities worked out so you buy enough without drowning in leftovers. It is written for Thursday, November 26, 2026.

In short: below you will find the full list, how much to buy per person, a timeline from now until Thanksgiving, and a button to put the whole list on your phone. Check off what you already have first, then shop.

Add this list to your phone

Talklist keeps your list sorted by category as you shop, lets you check items off, and lets you share it with whoever else is shopping. You can also add anything missing by saying it out loud: "toothpicks, two boxes of crackers and a pack of paper plates".

The Thanksgiving dinner shopping list

Quantities are approximate and start at 10 people; change the number above and they update. Items marked (optional) are nice to have, not essential. The pie ingredients assume you bake two pies (pumpkin and pecan) from scratch; if you would rather buy them, tick the store-bought pies and untick the pie ingredients.

Meat and seafood

Turkey, 15 lb
Breakfast sausage (for stuffing), 1 lb
Bacon (for green beans and sprouts), 1 lb (optional)

Fruit and vegetables

Russet potatoes, 6 lb
Sweet potatoes, 4 lb
Green beans, 2.5 lb
Carrots, 2 lb
Brussels sprouts, 2 lb (optional)
Yellow onions, 4
Celery, 2 bunches
Garlic, 2 heads
Mushrooms, 1 lb
Lemons, 2
Fresh cranberries (for relish), 12 oz (optional)
Apples (for pie), 4 lb (optional)
Veggie tray, 1 (optional)
Sage, 1 pack
Thyme, 1 pack
Rosemary, 1 pack
Parsley, 1 bunch

Dairy and eggs

Butter, 2 lb
Heavy cream, 1 qt
Milk, 1/2 gal
Eggs, 18
Sour cream, 16 oz
Sharp cheddar, 8 oz (optional)
Brie, 8 oz (optional)
Cream cheese, 8 oz (optional)

Bakery

Dinner rolls, 30
Store-bought pies (instead of baking), 2 (optional)
Stuffing bread cubes, 2 bags

Pantry

Canned pumpkin (15 oz), 1 can
Evaporated milk, 12 oz
Pie crusts, 2
Pecans, 12 oz
Light corn syrup, 1 bottle
Granulated sugar, 2 lb
Brown sugar, 1 lb
All-purpose flour, 5 lb
Pumpkin pie spice, 1
Cinnamon, 1 (optional)
Vanilla extract, 1
Chicken or turkey broth, 96 oz
Cranberry sauce, 3 cans
Jarred gravy (backup), 2 jars (optional)
Cream of mushroom soup, 2 cans
Crispy fried onions, 6 oz
Mini marshmallows, 10 oz
Olive oil, 1 bottle
Coffee, 12 oz

Frozen

Whipped topping, 8 oz (optional)
Vanilla ice cream, 1/2 gal (optional)

Drinks

Red wine, 3 bottles
White wine, 3 bottles
Sparkling cider, 2 bottles
Apple cider, 1 gal (optional)
Beer, 12 bottles (optional)
Soda, 12 cans
Sparkling water, 8 bottles

Snacks

Crackers, 2 boxes
Mixed nuts, 1 lb
Chips, 2 bags
Dip, 2

Household

Aluminum foil, 1 roll
Disposable roasting pan, 1
Kitchen twine, 1 (optional)
Meat thermometer, 1 (optional)
Paper towels, 3 rolls
Napkins, 1 pack
Trash bags, 1 box
Zip-top bags, 1 box
Leftover containers, 1 pack
Dish soap, 1

Ready to shop? Add the list to your phone

How much to buy per person

If you are cooking for a different number, scale the list with these rough guides:

Turkey: 1 to 1.5 lb of whole bird per person. A 15 lb turkey feeds 10 with leftovers.
Mashed potatoes: 1/2 to 3/4 lb of russets per person.
Sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots: about 1/4 to 1/3 lb of each per person.
Stuffing: about 1 cup of cooked stuffing per person; two 14 oz bags of bread cubes cover 10.
Cranberry sauce: about 1/4 cup per person.
Gravy: about 1/3 cup per person.
Dinner rolls: 2 to 3 per person.
Pie: one slice per person, so two 9-inch pies cover 10 with a little left over.
Wine: one bottle for every 2 to 3 adults, plus sparkling cider for anyone not drinking.

Hosting a crowd that loves leftovers? Round up on the turkey and the potatoes. Everything else is easy to stretch.

A shopping timeline for November 26, 2026

Now through early November. Buy anything that keeps: pantry items, baking supplies, drinks, snacks and paper goods. Buy a frozen turkey now, or reserve a fresh one. If you order groceries for pickup or delivery, book your time slot early, because the Thanksgiving week slots fill up.
The week of November 15. Buy frozen items and butter, and check that you have fridge and freezer space. Make room for a large turkey.
Sunday, November 22. If your turkey is frozen, start thawing it in the refrigerator. In the fridge, allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 lb, so a 15 lb bird needs three to four days. Check the label on yours.
Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22. Buy fresh vegetables, herbs, dairy, rolls and bread cubes.
Wednesday, November 25. A short top-up only: anything that ran out, plus ice if you need it. The stores will be crowded and may close early on Thursday, so check holiday hours in advance.

Tips for a calmer Thanksgiving shop

Check before you buy. Look in your pantry first: flour, sugar, spices and broth are the items people most often already have.
Shop by section. A list sorted by category means you walk the store once, not three times.
Share the job. Send the list to whoever is helping so you do not both buy cranberry sauce and nobody buys the butter.
Buy leftover containers. You will want them on Thursday night, and they are the item most often forgotten.
Have a backup for the gravy. A jar costs a few dollars and saves the meal if the drippings do not cooperate.
Plan a leftovers meal. Turkey sandwiches, soup or a casserole on Friday use up what is left and stop the waste.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for Thanksgiving dinner per person? A common guide is 1 to 1.5 lb of whole turkey per person, 1/2 to 3/4 lb of potatoes, about 1/4 lb of each vegetable, 2 to 3 dinner rolls, a little cranberry sauce and gravy, and a slice of pie. This list is sized for 10 people with leftovers.

What do I need on a Thanksgiving grocery list? The turkey, the sides (stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls), pie ingredients, drinks, appetizers and the supplies people forget, such as foil, a roasting pan and leftover containers.

When should I start shopping for Thanksgiving? Buy pantry items, drinks and a frozen turkey two to four weeks ahead, fresh vegetables and dairy the weekend before, and do only a short top-up on Wednesday. Start thawing a frozen turkey in the fridge about four days ahead.

How long does it take to thaw a turkey? In the refrigerator, allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 lb. A 15 lb turkey needs three to four days, so start by Sunday, November 22, 2026 for Thanksgiving on November 26. Check the label on your turkey.

Make it your own

This list is a starting point. Swap the turkey for a smaller bird, drop the optional items, or add your family's must-haves such as a favorite casserole. Put it into Talklist once, edit it there, and share the link, and everyone shops from the same list.