Thanksgiving cooking timeline
Enter your turkey’s weight, your sides and when you want to eat, and you’ll get a Thanksgiving Day schedule: when the turkey goes in, when the casseroles go in, and what you can make ahead.
Thanksgiving prep timeline for the week
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| The weekend before | Move a frozen turkey to the fridge: a day for every 4–5 lb (see the thawing calculator). Shop for everything that keeps. |
| Tuesday | Make the cranberry sauce and pie dough. Shop for fresh produce. |
| Wednesday | Bake the pies. Make the stuffing and casseroles, unbaked, and keep them in the fridge. Peel the potatoes and keep them in cold water. |
| Thursday morning | Take the turkey out of the fridge an hour before it goes in. |
| While the turkey rests | Bake the casseroles and stuffing, make the gravy, mash the potatoes and warm the rolls. |
The turkey rest is your oven time
A 14 lb turkey roasts at 325°F for 3 to 3¾ hours. Once it’s out, it rests under foil for 30–45 minutes, and that’s when the oven is free for the stuffing, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole at 350–425°F.
Questions
What time should I put the turkey in for Thanksgiving?
For a 14 lb turkey and dinner at 4pm, it goes in at about 11:15am. Use the planner above with your turkey’s weight.
How long does a 20 lb turkey take?
At 325°F, 4 h 15 min to 4 h 30 min unstuffed.
How much turkey per person?
Allow about 1½ lb per person for a whole turkey, so there’s some for leftovers.
Times are a guide: ovens and joints vary. Always check meat with a thermometer before serving. FeastFlow’s times come from British Turkey, AHDB and USDA guidance, last checked 9 November 2026.