A Thanksgiving Shopping List That Keeps You Organized
With Thanksgiving looming ahead, most households are considering how to prepare for the biggest cooking holiday of the year. For those of us hosting this year the big question is: what do I need to start buying and when?
A Thanksgiving shopping list that you can use and reuse comes in handy to reduce the mental burden. It helps you shop once so you can better use your time.
⇒Want to take our list with you? Download our free Thanksgiving shopping checklist!
How to Build Your Thanksgiving Shopping List
Before going to the grocery store, plan your Thanksgiving menu to figure out exactly what you’ll need. This will save you time and money.
- Decide what you’re serving
- Account for appetizers, drinks, desserts, and cooking supplies
- Check your pantry and refrigerator for ingredients you already have
- Consider how many guests you’re serving
- Also consider if you want left-overs or for guests to take-home
- Divide your shopping into categories (e.g. meat, produce, pantry…) This will help prevent forgotten items
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Shopping List: Everything You Need
Thanksgiving Meats and Protein
- Whole turkey
- Turkey breast
- Ham
- Pork shoulder / pernil
- Short ribs
- Roast chicken
- Seafood
- Tofu or plant-based alternatives
Thanksgiving Side Dish Ingredients
- Macaroni and cheese ingredients
- Stuffing or dressing ingredients
- Rice
- Cornmeal
- Corn
- Green bean casserole ingredients
- Yams
- Plantains
- Beans
- Pasta
Baking and Pantry Staples
- Flour
- Sugar
- Brown sugar
- Butter
- Eggs
- Milk and heavy cream
- Chicken or turkey broth
- Cooking oil
- Cornstarch
- Baking powder
- Vanilla extract
- Spices and seasonings
Vegetables, produce, and salads
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Green beans
- Collard greens
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onions
- Garlic
- Fresh herbs
- Cranberries
- Apples
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Vinegar
- Lemon/Lime
Thanksgiving Appetizers, Snacks and Drinks
- Cheese and crackers
- Dips
- Chips
- Fruit
- Sparkling cider
- Juice
- Soda
- Wine (optional)
- Coffee and tea
Thanksgiving Desserts
- Pumpkin pie
- Sweet potato pie
- Pecan pie
- Apple pie
- Cheesecake
- Cake
- Ice cream
- Whipped cream
Thanksgiving Shopping Lists for Different Family Traditions
Families mix traditions and recipes vary from household to household. If you’re looking to add a twist , below are popular dishes associated with various culinary traditions.
Latin American and Caribbean Thanksgiving Shopping List
- Pernil (roasted pork shoulder)
- Arroz con gandules
- Moro de guandules or rice and beans
- Pasteles
- Tostones or maduros
- Yuca
- Potato salad
- Adobo, sazón, sofrito, and other seasonings
African American Thanksgiving Shopping List
- Baked macaroni and cheese
- Collard greens
- Candied yams
- Cornbread dressing
- Black-eyed peas
- Cornbread
- Fried or roasted turkey
- Sweet potato pie
Southern Thanksgiving Shopping List
- Biscuits
- Corn pudding
- Green beans
- Deviled eggs
- Buttermilk cornbread
- Pecan pie
Italian American Thanksgiving Shopping List
- Lasagna
- Baked ziti
- Antipasto ingredients
- Italian sausage
- Garlic bread
- Cannoli or Italian pastries
Filipino Thanksgiving Shopping List
- Lumpia
- Pancit
- Lechon or roasted pork
- Garlic rice
- Filipino-style fruit salad
- Ube desserts
Thanksgiving Hosting Essentials
The food isn’t the only thing you need to prepare for Thanksgiving. There are a number of supplies needed to run the event smoothly.
Cooking Supplies
- Aluminum foil
- Parchment paper
- Plastic wrap
- Food storage containers
- Roasting pans
- Disposable baking trays
- Meat thermometer
- Cooking utensils
- Paper towels
- Dish soap
Table and Serving Supplies
- Dinner plates
- Napkins
- Cups and glasses
- Silverware
- Serving platters
- Serving spoons
- Tablecloth
- Centerpiece or decorations
- Leftover containers
Take Your Thanksgiving List With You!
Don’t worry about remembering everything. Get your free Thanksgiving shopping checklist and keep all your holiday essentials in one place.
When Should You Start Thanksgiving Shopping?
A practical shopping timeline:
2–3 weeks before:
- Confirm guests
- Plan your menu
- Purchase nonperishable ingredients and supplies
1 week before
- Buy pantry staples, canned goods, and frozen items
- Purchase beverages
3–4 days before:
- Purchase fresh produce, dairy, and remaining ingredients
- Start thawing the turkey and other frozen items (for best practices for thawing, check out FoodSafety.gov)
1–2 days before:
- Pick up the last-minute items
- Prepare dishes that can be made ahead
- Season turkey and other meat items
Thanksgiving Day:
- Focus on cooking and serving, not running to the grocery store
⇒Discover holiday food safety tips here
How to Stay Organized While Preparing for Thanksgiving
Preparing for Thanksgiving is no joke. We have to plan, research, coordinate, and execute weeks in advance. This is typically on top of the already heavy mental load we all have.
It is very easy to lose track of:
- Recipes saved in screenshots
- Grocery items written on random pieces of paper
- Ingredients someone volunteered to bring
- Dishes you still need to prepare
- Items you need to pick up before Thanksgiving
An easier way to keep everything together is by using an event planning tool like MYNDIFY.
Think of MYNDIFY as a personal assistant for all the little things you don’t want to forget. It allows you to:
- Keep your recipes together
- Maintain one grocery list
- Track who’s bringing what
- Make a Thanksgiving to-do list
- Track of last-minute tasks
After all, you have enough to worry about this Thanksgiving. Remembering everything shouldn’t be one of them!
Images from Pexels.com