Planning a Thanksgiving dinner often brings up a flurry of questions, and figuring out How Much Turkey Per Person is a big one. It’s right up there with how to cook the turkey perfectly and whether you’ll have enough leftovers. Choosing the right size turkey is crucial for a successful holiday feast.
We understand the dilemma. We’ve all been there, staring at turkeys in the grocery store, wondering which one is just right. While we have plenty of Thanksgiving turkey recipes to guide your cooking, let’s tackle the fundamental question: how much turkey do you actually need to buy per person? To get the most accurate advice, we consulted the experts – the test kitchen editors at Bon Appétit – for their top tips on turkey buying and holiday hosting.
Before you even think about heading to the store, nail down your guest count. Knowing how many people you’re feeding is the first step to buying the right size turkey and confidently calculating its roasting time. With the turkey’s oven schedule set, planning your side dishes becomes much easier. You might even consider delegating some sides to your guests! And who knows, maybe this year Thanksgiving will actually run smoothly and on time.
The Golden Rule: Pounds of Turkey Per Guest
It’s tempting to grab that massive 20-pound turkey, but for a smaller group, it’s simply unnecessary. The generally accepted rule of thumb is to plan for 1 to 1½ pounds of turkey per person. This might seem like a lot, but remember, a whole turkey includes bones and parts that aren’t typically eaten. As recipe developer Jessie YuChen, formerly of Bon Appétit, explains, “When you buy a whole turkey, a lot of it is bone.” Smaller turkeys actually have a higher bone-to-meat ratio.
For smaller gatherings, Jessie suggests increasing that to 2 pounds of turkey per person if you’re keen on having ample leftovers – and who isn’t? “For four to six people, 11 to 13 pounds is a good range,” she advises. Many recipes, in fact, are designed for a 12-to-14-pound bird, which comfortably fits this guideline.
Beyond just bones, a turkey’s total weight includes cartilage and less desirable cuts of meat around the neck, shoulders, and back. These are fantastic for making stock but not ideal for serving on your Thanksgiving platter. So, buying one pound of turkey per person doesn’t translate to a pound of edible meat per guest.
Finding the Right Turkey Size for Your Crowd
Thinking of upsizing your turkey to ensure everyone is satisfied and maybe gets a little tryptophan-induced nap? Contributing editor Amiel Stanek points out that larger turkeys are more prone to uneven cooking. “To ensure moist breast meat and fully cooked dark meat,” he says, “a turkey around 15 pounds max will give you the best results.”
If a 15-pound bird seems too small for your guest list, consider roasting two moderately sized turkeys side-by-side. Alternatively, you could roast one turkey a day or two ahead of time and reheat it on Thanksgiving Day.
For larger gatherings, both Amiel and Jessie recommend supplementing your turkey with another protein, regardless of your party size. “I like to add steak or lamb chops,” Jessie suggests, noting they are “festive and much easier to prepare than a whole turkey recipe.” Having a second main course acts as a backup if your turkey is smaller than expected, or if it happens to be a bit lean. It also helps stretch the turkey further. Aiming for 1 to 1½ total pounds of protein per person, including your supplementary dish, will ensure a plentiful and satisfying Thanksgiving feast for everyone.
