Enter when you want to eat and how big your turkey is, and get a personal cooking schedule: when to thaw, what to make ahead, and what time each dish goes in on the day. Roasting times use the upper end of the USDA chart for a thawed turkey at 325°F (163°C); always check it reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh, breast and stuffing.
Times are a plan, not a guarantee: ovens vary, so start checking the turkey's temperature 30 to 45 minutes before the end of the roasting time.
In the refrigerator, allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 16 lb turkey needs about 4 days, so for a Thursday dinner move it to the fridge by Sunday.
Count back from dinner: the roasting time at 325°F for your turkey's weight, plus about 30 minutes of resting and carving. A 16 lb unstuffed turkey roasts for up to about 4¼ hours, so for 4 pm dinner it goes in around 11:15 am.
Cranberry sauce, pie, pie crust, bread cubes for stuffing and chopped vegetables can all be made one to two days ahead and kept in the fridge.
See also: Turkey cooking time calculator · Turkey thawing calculator · Thanksgiving food calculator · When is Thanksgiving · Thanksgiving countdown · All holiday dates · all tools