Thanksgiving Dinner Calories: Turkey, Sides and Pie (Chart)
How many calories are in Thanksgiving dinner? Often 1,500–3,000 kcal. See calories for turkey, stuffing, sides, pies and drinks, plus lighter swaps.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Thanksgiving dinner is one of the biggest meals of the year: a full plate plus dessert and drinks often lands between 1,500 and 3,000 calories. One big day won't undo your progress, but knowing the numbers helps you enjoy it without the food coma.
Thanksgiving foods: calories per serving
| Food | Serving | Approx. calories |
|---|---|---|
| Roast turkey, white meat, no skin | 4 oz (113 g) | ~170 |
| Roast turkey, dark meat with skin | 4 oz | ~250 |
| Gravy | ¼ cup | ~30–60 |
| Stuffing | 1 cup | ~350 |
| Mashed potatoes with butter and milk | 1 cup | ~230–240 |
| Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows | 1 cup | ~300–450 |
| Green bean casserole | 1 cup | ~150–230 |
| Cranberry sauce, canned | ¼ cup | ~100–110 |
| Dinner roll with butter | 1 | ~150–200 |
| Mac and cheese | 1 cup | ~350–500 |
| Pumpkin pie | 1/8 pie | ~300–320 |
| Pecan pie | 1/8 pie | ~450–500 |
| Apple pie | 1/8 pie | ~400 |
| Whipped cream | 2 tbsp | ~20–50 |
| Glass of wine | 5 oz | ~120–125 |
Example plates
| Plate | Approx. calories |
|---|---|
| Lighter: white turkey, gravy, 1 cup green beans, ½ cup mashed potatoes, small pumpkin pie slice | ~850 |
| Typical: turkey with skin, stuffing, mash, casserole, roll, pecan pie, 2 glasses wine | ~2,200 |
Strategies that work
- Eat breakfast with protein. Arriving starving leads to grazing.
- Pick your favorites; skip the dishes you don't love.
- Fill half the plate with turkey and vegetables.
- One plate, then wait 20 minutes before seconds.
- One dessert slice, or two small slivers to try both.
- Walk after dinner.
One day won't ruin progress
A 1,500-calorie surplus on one day is roughly 0.2 kg of fat at most. The scale may jump more from water and salt; it will settle in a few days. See water weight and avoid holiday weight gain.
Track it
Photograph your plate in Nutora and log it like any other meal. Related: calories in sweet potato, christmas dinner calories.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in a typical Thanksgiving dinner?
Often 1,500–3,000 calories including dessert and drinks.
Is turkey high in calories?
White meat without skin is lean, about 170 calories per 4 oz.
What's the lowest-calorie pie?
Pumpkin pie is usually lower than pecan or apple.
Should I track calories on Thanksgiving?
Optional; a rough photo log keeps awareness without stress.
Track it with a photo
Snap your meal, see the calories
Nutora's AI estimates calories, protein, carbs and fat from a photo of your plate and tracks them against your daily goal. Download on iPhone and iPad with a 3-day free trial.
Download on theApp Store