Thanksgiving dinner calories
Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November, and in Canada on the second Monday of October. Dinner centers on roast turkey, with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes and pumpkin or pecan pie for dessert. Here are the calories dish by dish, calculated from reference recipes and USDA data.
Thanksgiving food calories, dish by dish
Per reference serving. Highlighted rows are the ones added up above.
| Dish | Serving | kcal | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Sugars | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🦃 Roast turkey | 1 serving (140 g) | 265 | 40 g | 10.3 g | 0.08 g | 0 g | 144 mg |
| 🥖 Stuffing | ½ cup (100 g) | 195 | 2.7 g | 12.1 g | 18.8 g | 2 g | 479 mg |
| 🥔 Mashed potatoes | 1 cup (200 g) | 228 | 3.8 g | 9.2 g | 33.4 g | 2.9 g | 85.2 mg |
| 🥣 Turkey gravy | ¼ cup (60 g) | 31 | 1.6 g | 1.3 g | 3.1 g | 0.13 g | 346 mg |
| 🫙 Cranberry sauce | ¼ cup (70 g) | 111 | 0.63 g | 0.1 g | 28.3 g | 22.3 g | 3.5 mg |
| 🍠 Candied sweet potatoes | 1 piece (105 g) | 172 | 0.93 g | 3.7 g | 33.7 g | 28.6 g | 125 mg |
| 🥧 Pumpkin pie | 1 slice (1/8 pie) (155 g) | 316 | 7 g | 14.4 g | 40.9 g | — | 349 mg |
| 🥧 Pecan pie | 1 slice (1/8 pie) (122 g) | 503 | 6 g | 27.1 g | 63.7 g | — | 320 mg |
| Highlighted total | 1,318 | 56.6 g | 51.2 g | 158 g | 1,532 mg |
What adds up the most
Of a full plate of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and a slice of pumpkin pie, the biggest calorie source is pumpkin pie: 316 kcal, 24% of the total. Sodium adds up to 1,532 mg, 67% of the Daily Value (2,300 mg).
Comparisons
Turkey with or without skin (5 oz)
Roast turkey with skin (140 g): 265 kcal · Turkey without skin (140 g): 223 kcal. Difference: 42 kcal.
Pumpkin pie or pecan pie
Pumpkin pie (1 slice (1/8 pie), 155 g): 316 kcal · Pecan pie (1 slice (1/8 pie), 122 g): 503 kcal. Difference: 186 kcal.
Mashed potatoes or candied sweet potatoes
Mashed potatoes (1 cup, 200 g): 228 kcal · Candied sweet potatoes (1 piece, 105 g): 172 kcal. Difference: 55 kcal.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in a Thanksgiving dinner plate?
About 1,318 calories with Micela's reference servings: roast turkey 265, stuffing 195, mashed potatoes 228, turkey gravy 31, cranberry sauce 111, candied sweet potatoes 172, pumpkin pie 316.
What has the most calories in Thanksgiving food?
Per serving, pecan pie: 503 calories in 1 slice (1/8 pie).
How many calories are in roast turkey?
1 serving (140 g) has 265 calories; per 100 g, 189.
How many calories are in stuffing?
½ cup (100 g) has 195 calories; per 100 g, 195.
How many calories are in mashed potatoes?
1 cup (200 g) has 228 calories; per 100 g, 114.
When is Thanksgiving?
The fourth Thursday of November (November 26 in 2026).
Servings are reference servings: every home serves differently. Recipes and USDA records are on each dish page.
Other holidays: 🕯️ Day of the Dead · 🎄 Christmas · 🎆 New Year's Eve · all