How much turkey do you need per person this Thanksgiving?
Plan to use this general guideline for a whole turkey: 1 1/4 pounds of turkey per person. Check the list below for your family dinner:
Thanksgiving is all about abundance and gratitude, so when planning your menu, it’s important to consider quantity in addition to quality, of course. For truly delicious turkey, check out our top cooking tips. Your mind is in the right place if your first thought is, “How much turkey do I need per person for Thanksgiving?” Here’s your response: If you buy a whole turkey, estimate that each person will consume 1 lb of turkey. Get 3/4 lb of bone-in turkey breast per person (or 12 lb of boneless breast) This generous estimate probably means you’ll have turkey leftovers to enjoy, so before tucking into that day-after sandwich, learn how to reheat turkey.
Buying one 12 to 14 lb bird and a breast if you’re serving more than 16 people is an exception to the rule since roasting a supersize turkey, which can be challenging to cook evenly while retaining moisture, is not advised. Roast the breast of the turkey on the lower rack and the whole bird on the upper rack of your oven. Interested in our serving recommendations for sides, too? We outlined everything:
FAQ
How many will a 5 lb turkey breast feed?
LITTLE BIRD Prepare a bone-in turkey breast if you’re not feeding a large party. A 5- to 7-pound breast feeds about 4.
How many will a 9 lb turkey breast feed?
4 to 6 people = 4- to 9-lb. (If you can’t find a turkey that size, get a slightly larger bird so there are more leftovers.) ).
What size turkey breast do I need for 10 people?
To start, if you’re cooking for 10, aim for 5 pounds of boneless turkey breast, which equals 10 pounds of bone-in turkey breast.
How many pounds of turkey breast do I need for 6 people?
One (three-pound) half-breast will feed two to four people. Six to eight people can be fed from a whole (six to seven-pound) turkey breast (two breasts still connected at the breast bone).
