How Many Pounds of Turkey Do You Need Per Person on Thanksgiving? (2024)

FAQs

How Many Pounds of Turkey Do You Need Per Person on Thanksgiving? ›

How Much Turkey Per Person. The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per guest. If you're buying boneless meat, assume about 8 ounces per guest. To buy the right size turkey for your party, simply tally up the turkey-eating guests.

How Much Turkey Per Person Should You Cook? As a general rule, plan for 1 to 1½ pounds of turkey per person. You might wonder how one person can eat that much turkey, especially when plenty of Thanksgiving sides are served. But keep in mind this is not just the weight of the meat but also considers bone and cartilage.

Once you know the exact number of attendees, use this formula: Number of guests x 1.25. You'll want to plan on about 1.25 pounds of turkey per person. That means if you're expecting 12 guests, plan for a 15-pound bird.

A 20-pound turkey will feed between 12 and 14 people.

A small turkey (3-4.5kg) will feed 6-8 people. A medium turkey (4-5kg) will feed 8-10 people. A large turkey (6-6.5kg) will feed 12-15 people.

The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per guest.

turkey (If you can't find a bird that small, you can get a slightly larger bird that will allow for more leftovers. Or cook a turkey breast for a smaller group.) 8 to 10 people = 8- to 15-lb. turkey.

While the weight of Cook from Frozen turkeys will vary slightly, Butterball recommends planning for 1.5 – 2 pounds of turkey meat per guest, which will allow for leftovers.

Preheat oven to 325° F. Drain juices and pat dry with clean paper towels. Place turkey breast-side-up on a flat rack in a shallow roasting pan 2 to 2½ inches deep. Turn the wings back to hold the neck skin in place.

Roasting times for an unstuffed turkey:

6–8 lb (2.7–3.5 kg) 2 1/2–2 3/4 hours. 8–10 lb (3.5–4.5 kg) 2 3/4–3 hours. 10–12 lb (4.5–5.5 kg) 3–3 1/4 hours. 12–16 lb (5.5–7.25 kg) 3 1/4–31/2 hours.

How many pounds of turkey do I need for 24 adults? ›

While 1 pound per person could feel like too little, and 1 1/2 pounds for each guest might be over-doing it, 1 1/4 pounds of turkey per mouth is the perfect balance. At that rate, feeding a large party of 15 or more people requires 20+ pounds of turkey.

Turkey Math: As a general rule, plan on 1 pound of turkey per person. If you like leftovers, make it 1½ to 2 pounds per person. Therefore, a 30-pound turkey can serve up to 30 people (but realistically, more like 15 to 20 if you want leftovers, and you probably do!).

Our recommendation is to plan for one pound of turkey per person, or ½ pound per person for a boneless turkey breast.

Bring on that 20-pound bird! This 17 3/4-by-21½-inch platter is wider than the other options and can hold the turkey and its accompaniments.

For 10 people, buy a 15-pound turkey. For 12 people, buy an 18-pound turkey. For 14 people, buy a 20-pound turkey.

You'll find that most "small turkeys" range in size from 10 to 14 pounds, although you may be able to find them as small as 6 pounds. So how much turkey will you need for a small gathering? As a general rule, estimate about 1 pound for serving, give or take a little.

In order to have plenty of Thanksgiving turkey for dinner, with enough for leftovers and to-go plates, remember this simple rule: one pound of turkey per person. You can assume about 40% to 50% of every turkey is bone or parts that won't be eaten.

While the weight of Cook from Frozen turkeys will vary slightly, Butterball recommends planning for 1.5 – 2 pounds of turkey meat per guest, which will allow for leftovers.

How Much Turkey Breast to Buy. One (3-pound) half-breast will feed two to four people. A whole (six- to seven-pound) turkey breast (two breasts, still joined at the breast bone) will feed six to eight people. This method will work for either amount of meat.