Buying turkey for Thanksgiving dinner is a big choice. Do you want a traditional grocery store bird-in-a-bag or a heritage bird? Do you want it frozen or fresh? Whole or in parts? And, perhaps most importantly of all, how much turkey do you need for each person?
Determine how many guests you are serving and how much turkey each may eat to determine how large your Thanksgiving turkey should be. Ultimately, your goal as the host of Thanksgiving is to ensure that every guest leaves with an abundance of delectable food.
Planning a Thanksgiving feast and wondering how much turkey to buy? You’re not alone! This guide will help you determine the perfect turkey size for your gathering, whether it’s a small intimate dinner or a large family gathering.
General Rule of Thumb:
- 1.5 pounds of turkey per guest: This is a good starting point for most gatherings. It accounts for both meat and bones, and ensures there’s enough for everyone to enjoy.
- Boneless turkey: If you’re buying boneless turkey, plan for about 8 ounces per guest.
Factors to Consider:
- Number of guests: This is the most important factor. Count the number of adults and children attending your gathering.
- Appetites: Consider the appetites of your guests. If you know you have some big eaters, you may want to adjust the amount of turkey accordingly.
- Leftovers: Do you want leftovers? If so, you’ll need to buy a larger turkey. Leftovers are great for sandwiches, salads, and other dishes.
- Other dishes: Are you serving other dishes that contain meat, such as ham or roast beef? If so, you may not need as much turkey.
Turkey Size Chart:
This chart provides a general guideline for how much turkey to buy based on the number of guests:
| Guests | Turkey Size |
|---|---|
| 4-6 | 4-6 lbs |
| 6-8 | 6-9 lbs |
| 8-10 | 8-12 lbs |
| 10-12 | 10-15 lbs |
| 12-14 | 12-18 lbs |
| 14-16 | 14-21 lbs |
| 16-18 | 16-24 lbs |
| 18-20 | 18-27 lbs |
| 20-25 | 20-30 lbs |
| 25-30 | 25-38 lbs |
| 30+ | 30-45 lbs |
Additional Tips:
- Smaller gatherings: For smaller gatherings (less than 12 people), consider buying a turkey that’s slightly larger than the recommended amount. This is because the meat-to-bone ratio is typically less for smaller birds.
- Larger gatherings: For larger gatherings (more than 15 people), consider buying two turkeys instead of one large turkey. This will ensure even cooking and prevent the turkey from drying out.
- Leftovers: If you want leftovers, multiply the recommended amount of turkey by 1.5.
- Cooking time: The cooking time for a turkey will vary depending on its size. A general guideline is 15 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey and 17.5 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you have the perfect amount of turkey for your Thanksgiving feast. Remember to consider the number of guests, appetites, leftovers, and other dishes you’re serving. With a little planning, you can ensure that everyone has a delicious and satisfying meal.
What if I’m afraid of underserving my guests?
According to contributing editor Amiel Stanek, “most people put out so many sides that running out of turkey really isn’t an issue.” “Turkey is, in my experience, the thing people want least. As the host, you can even divert your focus from an enormous Rockwellian bird cartoon and give careful thought to the Thanksgiving side dishes. Here’s where you can adjust your selection to suit the needs, preferences, and size of your group. If you’re hosting a few extra vegetarians this year, don’t skimp on the mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and roasted vegetables (we especially suggest the test kitchen’s favorite, balsamic-roasted Brussels sprouts).
A large tray of visually stunning stuffing biscuits is a great way to showcase your baking abilities. Of course, you also need to have cranberry sauce, which you can have homemade or canned.
Amiel notes that if you’re wondering, “How big of a turkey do I really need?”, the larger the turkey, the less likely it is to cook evenly. Smallish portions of flawless chicken would be much preferred by him over large portions that are partially raw and partially dry. I believe a 14–15-pound turkey will yield the best results in terms of making sure the dark meat is cooked through and the breast meat is flavorful and moist. ”.
Turkey size per person
Our advice: Go for a smaller turkey. We promise, there’ll be enough to go around.
Regardless of the size of your gathering, Amiel and Jessie advise adding more meat or protein if a 15-pound bird seems tiny in comparison to the number of people on your guest list. “Steak or lamb chops are very festive and much easier to prepare than a whole turkey,” Jessie says. In addition to providing a fallback if your bird is on the thin side, having a second meat on the table helps your turkey go farther. You won’t need to worry about anything if you aim for 1-2 pounds of protein overall per person, including your supplemental main course.
Another option is to substitute a smaller bird, such as a roast chicken or glazed duck, for the roast turkey if you’re hosting a smaller gathering.
How many pounds of turkey per person do I actually need?
The general rule of thumb is 1–1½ pounds turkey per person. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don’t end up getting eaten. “When you buy a whole turkey, a lot of it is bone,” says recipe developer (and former BA staffer) Jessie YuChen. The smaller the bird, the higher that percentage may be. For smaller gatherings, Jessie recommends scaling up to 2 pounds per person to maximize leftovers (more on that later). “For four to six people, 11 to 13 pounds is a good range,” Jessie says. (Most of our recipes call for a 12-to-14-pound bird.)
The entire mass of a bird includes cartilage and less appetizing portions of meat around the shoulders, neck, and back that are better suited for stock the following day rather than plating. This is in addition to the bones. It doesn’t follow that purchasing a pound of turkey for each guest will result in an equal amount of meat.
Holiday Hotline Tip: How Many Pounds of Turkey Per Person
FAQ
How much turkey do I need to feed 10 people?
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Number of Guests
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Turkey Weight–
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8
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10lbs
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10
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13lbs
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12
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15lbs
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15
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20lbs
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How many people does a 16 lb turkey feed?
What size turkey for 8 adults?
What size turkey do I need for 14 people?
How much Turkey do I need per person?
Here’s how to buy the right size turkey for the job: How many pounds of turkey per person do I actually need? The general rule of thumb is 1–1½ pounds turkey per person. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don’t end up getting eaten.
How much Turkey do you need for Thanksgiving?
Once you have a good count for how many attendees you’ll have for Thanksgiving, use this rule: Have at least 1 pound per person who will be attending your Thanksgiving dinner. If you’d like to have a lot of leftovers, aim for 1 1/2 pounds per person. How many pounds of turkey per person do you need?
How many people can a 8 pound turkey serve?
Most turkey portion serving sizing charts are based using a bone-in turkey. A chart might say 1 to 1.5 pounds of purchased turkey per person, so an 8-pound turkey is allegedly perfect for 6-8 people. I say NO! Initially, the bone removes some of that weight. Secondly, the weight becomes further reduced during cooking.
How much Turkey should a family eat?
The general rule of thumb is one pound of turkey per adult and a half pound per child. But if leftovers like late-night turkey sandwiches and turkey tetrazzini are as traditional as the feast itself, plan for two to three pounds per person total.