Friendsgiving for 12 guests
A buffet-style Friendsgiving for 12: 6 dishes, about 798 g of food a guest (21.25 lb in all), 29 lines on the shopping list and around 60 drinks. 40% of the cooking can happen before the day.
- Dishes
- 6
- Food
- 21.25 lb
- Drinks
- 60
- Shopping lines
- 29
- Turkey
- 12 lb
Sized by the planning engine
The menu, amounts and kitchen check
- · We set food for 5 PM — change it if your timing is different.
Menu for 12
To start
- Cheese board with quince & walnut2 batches · 16 servingson the day
Mains
- Baked mac and cheese, catering tray1 batch · 16 servingson the day
Sides
- Hard-charred Brussels sprouts1.5 batches · 9 servingson the day
- Bitter greens with a sharp vinaigrette1 batch · 8 servingson the day
Bread
- Cornbread, catering tray, sliced1 batch · 20 servingsday before
Dessert
- Poached fruit in spiced syrup2 batches · 16 servingsday before
About 798 g of food a guest. 40% of the cooking can be done before the day.
Shopping highlights
- Bitter greens10 oz
- Brussels sprouts2.5 lb
- Citrus for garnish3 ea
- Herb for garnish — mint or rosemary1 bunch
- Lemon2 ea
- Pears13 ea
- Assorted cheese2.5 lb
- Butter11 oz
- Cheddar2.5 lb
- Egg3 ea
10 of 29 lines. The full list comes with the plan.
Kitchen check
Tight
Checked against a starting kitchen of 1 oven and 4 burners — not yours yet. Seats are not counted here: the planner asks for your real number rather than guessing it.
Drinks and cost
- Drinks, all kinds
- 60
- Ice
- 25 lb
- Food, estimated
- $342
About $29 a guest — a planning estimate from typical supermarket costs, not a price.
The turkey
A 12 lb turkey for 12
USDA guidance of 1 lb a person: 12 lb in all. Thaw in the fridge for 3–3 days, roast unstuffed at 325°F for 2.75–3 hours, and check 165°F with a thermometer.
Countdown
The Friendsgiving timeline, condensed
4 weeks before
- · Pick a date that does not clash with family Thanksgiving plans.
- · Send the invite with a shared potluck sign-up list.
2 weeks before
- · Check the sign-up covers mains, sides, salad, bread and dessert.
- · Nudge people toward dishes that travel and reheat well.
1 week before
- · Confirm numbers and dietary needs; share them with the cooks.
- · Ask each cook to label their dish with its main ingredients.
Day before
- · Do the host food shop.
- · Prep the centrepiece and make gravy base and dessert.
Day of
- · Roast the centrepiece to finish an hour after guests arrive.
- · Clear counter and oven space for arriving dishes to reheat.
Day after
- · Return dishes to their owners; wash borrowed containers.
- · Share photos and a thank-you in the group chat.
Other sizes
Friendsgiving for more or fewer
Questions hosts ask
How much food for a Friendsgiving for 12?
About 21.25 lb of finished food, or 798 g a guest across 6 dishes, with baked mac and cheese, catering tray as the main. The amounts are sized by the planning engine and include a small margin.
How big a turkey for 12 people?
A 12 lb whole turkey, using the USDA's 1 lb a person. Allow 3–3 days to thaw it in the fridge and 2.75–3 hours to roast it unstuffed at 325°F.
Should a Friendsgiving for 12 be a buffet or a sit-down meal?
It usually runs buffet-style: guests help themselves, so not everyone needs a chair at once. Still count the seats you have; the planner never assumes them.
How many drinks for a Friendsgiving for 12?
About 60 drinks across the party, including alcohol-free ones, and 25 lb of ice.
How far ahead should I start planning?
Start 4 weeks before: pick a date that does not clash with family Thanksgiving plans, and send the invite with a shared potluck sign-up list.
What does a Friendsgiving for 12 cost?
The food in this plan comes to roughly $342, about $29 a guest. That is a planning estimate from typical US supermarket costs, not a price for your shop.
Plan my Friendsgiving for 12
Tell us about your kitchen, your seats and anyone's food needs, and the menu, shopping list and timeline redraw around them.
Start planning