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Microsoft 365
October 09, 2024

Plan your Thanksgiving dinner with AI

What’s on the menu? From personalized recipes to dessert inspiration, there is so much AI can do for you this Thanksgiving. Learn how to plan for Thanksgiving with these AI dinner tips and tricks.

A festive table with mashed potatoes, a Thanksgiving turkey, pumpkin, stuffing, and bread

Get meal pairing suggestions

Create a cohesive dining experience for your guests by asking generative AI for food and drink pairings. For example, ask, “What wine would pair best with a mushroom risotto and roasted vegetables?” You might receive a suggestion like a light Pinot Noir or an earthy Cabernet Franc that complements the flavors of your dish. Also, try asking for recommendations for side dishes, appetizers, and desserts to pair with the main courses.

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Accommodate guests with dietary restrictions

If your guests have unique dietary needs, generate AI recipe ideas just for them. Ask a generative AI tool, “Give me Thanksgiving menu ideas for my kosher, gluten-free, vegan guests, and make sure they’re peanut-free.” AI will then suggest a variety of festive, satisfying dishes that meet those dietary restrictions.

Make the right amount of food

When it comes to Thanksgiving, always cook enough to prevent guests from becoming hangry. Calculate the perfect portion sizes with AI based on the number of guests you’re serving, age groups, and the number of courses you’re offering. For example, you could ask, “How much turkey should I make for 12 adults?” This way, you’ll save time and minimize food waste!

Find dessert ideas

AI is great for brainstorming unique dessert ideas your guests will absolutely eat up. Use AI to get Thanksgiving dinner ideas based on what’s already in your kitchen. Put your ingredients into your AI chat, and AI will generate recipes. Let’s say you have apples, cinnamon, and oats. AI may suggest a gluten-free apple crisp. Or, if you’ve got leftover pumpkin puree and coconut milk, it might guide you to a vegan pumpkin mousse. For healthier recipes, swap out ingredients to reduce calories. You might ask, “How do I adjust this pumpkin pie recipe to make it more low calorie?”

Shop with a grocery list

Simplify your Thanksgiving grocery haul by generating a comprehensive grocery list based on your planned menu. Have AI assemble a list of all the ingredients and the amounts you need to cook your dish. Then, categorize items to make shopping more efficient.

Swap out last-minute missing ingredients

You’ve forgotten the butter for your mashed potatoes! Before you run out to the store, maybe you already have an ingredient sitting around to substitute for the missing one. Try a prompt like, “What common kitchen ingredient should I use instead of butter in mashed potatoes?”

AI is your helper for all things Thanksgiving and beyond. See how to hack everyday life with AI, from throwing holiday celebrations to pursuing hobbies.

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