Thanksgiving Meal Planner Spreadsheet

Plan Thanksgiving dinner without the math. Type in each recipe once, add your guest count, and this spreadsheet scales every dish, builds your shopping list, plans your turkey and gives you a cooking timeline for the big day.

Works in Google Sheets and Excel. Includes a bonus editable dinner menu.

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WHAT IT DOES
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✦ Scales every recipe to your guest count (kids count as half, plus extra for leftovers, both adjustable)
✦ Converts units for you: ½ cup butter becomes 8 tbsp, 12 oz cranberries becomes 3 cups
✦ Builds one shopping list, grouped by store section, rounded up to real package sizes, with estimated costs
✦ Subtracts what you already have in your pantry
✦ Add a photo to every recipe right in the spreadsheet
✦ Dishes a guest is bringing stay off your list

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WHAT'S INCLUDED
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✦ Dinner Plan: date, time, budget and your key numbers at a glance
✦ Guests: RSVPs, dietary needs, allergies and who's bringing what
✦ Menu: every dish with a photo, who's making it, make-ahead day and cook times
✦ Ingredients: enter each recipe as written, and it scales automatically
✦ Shopping List: built for you, plus a "don't forget" supply checklist
✦ Turkey Calculator: size to buy, thaw start date, roast time and oven time (based on USDA guidance)
✦ Timeline: countdown checklist, make-ahead plan and a sorted cooking schedule with an oven-temperature check
✦ Budget: receipts, other costs and estimated cost per dish
✦ Pantry & Prices: 79 common ingredients with package sizes and typical prices you can edit
✦ Example version filled in with a sample dinner, plus a blank version
✦ BONUS: editable Thanksgiving dinner menu (Letter and 5 × 7) as a fillable PDF and a Canva template

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HOW IT WORKS
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1. Purchase and download your files (Purchases > Download files).
2. Open the How to Access PDF and click the Google Sheets link to make your own copy, or open the Excel file.
3. Add your guests, menu and recipes.
4. Shop from your list and follow your timeline.

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PLEASE NOTE
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✦ This is a digital download. No physical item will be shipped.
✦ Works in Google Sheets (free) and Excel. Photos in cells need Google Sheets or Excel for Microsoft 365.
✦ Prices are typical U.S. estimates for planning. Edit them to match your store.
✦ Turkey times follow USDA guidance. Always check for 165 °F with a food thermometer.
✦ For personal use only. Please do not resell or share the files.

Questions? Send me a message anytime. I'm happy to help!

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