How Much Turkey And Sides Do You Need Per Person For Thanksgiving Dinner?

If you're cooking Thanksgiving dinner, the hardest part is worrying about having enough food for everyone, and a little for leftovers. But do you know how much is enough? Here's my own personal chart I use to make to make sure everyone at the Thanksgiving table walks away stuffed like a turkey, and I get to have leftovers for a couple of days:

Turkey: 1 lb. per person for dinner, that includes meat and bone weight. If you want leftovers, go for a half-pound to pound more per person.

Stuffing: 1 1/2 cup of stuffing per person for dinner. If you want leftovers, allow for 2 1/2 - 3 cups per person. It sounds like a lot, but everyone pigs out on stuffing, so trust me, you'll need a lot.

Green bean casserole: 1 cup per person. Allow for 2 cups per person for leftovers.

Sweet potatoes with marshmallows or Mashed potatoes: 1 cup per person. Allow for 2 cups per person for leftovers. Potatoes are really heavy and a cup is a lot.

Cranberries: I make cranberry relish with fresh cranberries, orange juice, and canned mandarin oranges. A cup per person is plenty for dinner and leftovers.

Rolls: 3 per person. Allow for 5 for leftovers.

Pies: 1/4 pie per person. That will give everyone two pieces of pie. For leftovers, allow for a half pie per person. Yes, it's a lot, but it's pie, and this is Thanksgiving. Don't skimp.

Wine: 1/2 bottle per person for those drinking wine. For leftovers - oh, let's be honest, there won't be any leftover wine!

Beer: 3 cans or bottles per person who is drinking beer.

Happy Thanksgiving!