Let’s face it: Thanksgiving is wonderful, but it can be a stressful holiday. There are seemingly a billion things to keep track of — from ensuring all the major side dishes are covered to figuring out who’s bringing the pie this year. So, before you head out to the grocery store to get everything you need, pull out our comprehensive Thanksgiving shopping list to serve as your handy-dandy guide to pulling off your smoothest, most successful T-Day yet.
On this shopping list, you’ll find everything you need for an unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner menu, broken down into categories like dry goods, canned items, dairy, produce and more. Start by taking inventory of what you already have at home (and check those expiration dates!) to avoid buying doubles, then categorize items by store if you need to make multiple stops. A practical starting point is to consider what recipes you’ll be making from scratch versus using a shortcut, then tailoring your list accordingly. If you plan to make homemade pie dough or cornbread, for example, you’ll need to get flour and cornmeal — if not, grab refrigerated pie dough or cornbread mix instead.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, now is the ideal time to get your game plan in order so you can say goodbye to frazzled nerves and last-minute scrambling. Consider this organized, editor-approved Thanksgiving shopping list your secret weapon for tackling the holiday with confidence, a clear mind, and yes, even excitement!
Pantry and Dry Goods
Chances are, you have many of these pantry goods at home already, but it’s worth doing a quick sweep to make sure items are still fresh (and that you have enough). It’s easy for staples like baking soda and baking powder to linger a bit too long in your drawer, rendering their leavening powers ineffective in your Thanksgiving desserts — and don’t underestimate the amount of olive oil you may need for a heavy cooking day.
- All-purpose flour
- Yellow cornmeal
- Active dry yeast
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Granulated sugar
- Light or dark brown sugar
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Pure vanilla extract
- Molasses
- Corn syrup
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Vinegar (red wine, white wine, white distilled, balsamic)
- Nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Bread
- Boxed stock
- Rice
Packaged and Canned Goods
These cooking and baking items are holiday essentials (in our opinion, you can’t have sweet potato casserole without ‘mallows, or a green bean casserole without crispy onions!), and are especially helpful if you’re looking for a shortcut to your favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Though not traditional, Chief Food Director Kate Merker swears by King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Brownie Mix, which makes for an easy, fudgy dessert for gluten-free guests so everyone can enjoy a sweet treat.
- Marshmallows
- Croutons
- Dried cranberries
- French fried onions
- Cornbread mix
- Nilla wafers or graham crackers
- Gravy mix
- Canned pumpkin puree
- Canned cranberry sauce
- Canned corn (or frozen)
- Pie crusts (cookie crusts or refrigerated pie crusts)
Spices and Seasonings
Thanksgiving calls for an assortment of spices to add cozy, punchy oomph to all your holiday dishes. If you’re looking to change things up, consider beyond-the-basic spices like coriander or cumin seeds, cayenne or paprika to level up your sweet potatoes or favorite squash recipe. Don’t forget to do a quick sniff test and double-check expiration dates: If you can’t smell the spice, its flavor will fall flat in food, so toss it and get a fresh jar.
- Kosher salt (and flaky salt, if desired)
- Black pepper
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground ginger
- Whole nutmeg
- Allspice
- Ground cloves
- Bay leaves
Produce
You’ll definitely want to grab Thanksgiving staples like onions, potatoes, green beans and all the herbs, while accounting for dish-specific items that may not be included below (like adding fennel to cranberry sauce — yum!). Although we always recommend getting fresh produce whenever possible, you can buy some fruits and vegetables in canned or frozen forms (those have been noted below with an asterisk).
- Potatoes*
- Sweet potatoes*
- Squash (butternut, acorn, delicata, kabocha)
- Yellow onions
- Shallots
- Carrots
- Celery
- Garlic
- Salad greens
- Green beans*
- Brussels sprouts
- Broccoli or cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley)
- Cranberries*
- Apples
- Oranges
- Lemons
*If you can’t find fresh, look for frozen or canned.
Dairy Items
You’ll likely use the ingredients below in more than one dish (casseroles, biscuits, mac ‘n cheese and pies, to name a few), so be sure you’re stocked up! Beyond the cheeses you need for your recipes, consider grabbing an extra assortment for a beautiful charcuterie board guests can nibble on while waiting for the main event.
- Unsalted butter
- Large eggs
- Heavy cream
- Whole milk
- Cheese
- …and don’t forget the ice cream!
Meat and Protein
If you’re wondering how much turkey you need to buy per person, we’ve got you covered: Plan for one pound of turkey per person, 1/2 pound of boneless turkey breast per person or 3/4 pound of bone-in turkey breast per person. For the non-turkey households out there, ham is always a solid alternative. And any bacon and sausage you don’t use for veggie dishes and stuffing, you can fry up as part of an excellent morning-after breakfast.
- Turkey
- Ham
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Oysters
Beverages
Whatever your guests’ preferences are, provide enough variety so that everyone has something to drink before, during and after the meal — and be sure to throw beverages in the fridge with plenty of time to chill. Read up on our Thanksgiving wine guide for the best vino to pair with your feast, or play bartender and shake up crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving cocktails and mocktails to keep your guests merry.
- Wine
- Beer
- Seltzer
- Hard seltzer/cider
- Juice
- Soda
- Liquor
- Coffee/tea
Equipment and Non-Food Supplies
Besides food and beverages, there are some supplies and Thanksgiving-specific equipment you’ll want to have on hand. Dig around your cabinets a few weeks ahead of time, so you can order (or borrow) anything you might be missing. Psst: We always recommend an oven thermometer to ensure accurate baking and roasting temperatures — even more important on a day like Thanksgiving when your oven is working overtime.
Joy (she/her) is an assistant food editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she develops and tests recipes to ensure both deliciousness and accuracy before they appear in titles like Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Woman’s Day, Prevention and Country Living. After graduating from UChicago with a major in political science, she made the (best) decision to pursue her passion for food by enrolling in pastry school and working at her dream restaurant, Gramercy Tavern. Before joining the GH team, Joy assisted on cookbook and editorial shoots, ran an Instagram micro bakery, and worked as a freelance writer and developer with bylines appearing in Eater, Food52, Simply Recipes, Food Network and more. Joy has a special place in her heart for croissants and tiramisu, and is always on the hunt for the next cafe to explore in the city (a journey that never ends!).
