All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Buying a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner comes with nearly as many questions (not to mention drama) as preparing and serving the meal itself: How big a turkey should I buy? How do I cook it evenly? Should I cook it in parts? Is Kelly still vegetarian? Wait—how much turkey do I need if I want lots of leftovers?
We hear you. We’ve been there. And we have plenty of Thanksgiving turkey recipes to steer you in the right direction. But to determine once and for all just how big a holiday bird should be, I turned to our incomparable team of test kitchen editors for their best turkey-buying and holiday-hosting tips.
First and foremost, know your approximate number of guests before shopping for your turkey. Planning ahead allows you to buy the right size bird with confidence and allows you to calculate the turkey’s roasting time. With the day’s approximations anchored by the turkey’s oven appointment, you can plan the other side dishes accordingly (better yet, outsource those entirely to your guests). And tell yourself that maybe—just maybe—Thanksgiving will run on schedule this year.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning your menu The centerpiece of any Thanksgiving meal is undoubtedly the turkey. But hosting the holiday dinner can be daunting, especially when it comes to determining how much turkey to buy.
Purchasing a whole turkey for a small gathering can be wasteful Opting for just a turkey breast is often a better choice. Turkey breasts are easier to cook evenly, have lots of tasty white meat, and provide elegant presentation when carved tableside
But how much turkey breast should you plan on getting? You want to make sure every guest gets a generous portion, with plenty of leftovers. Follow this guide to learn how much turkey breast per person your Thanksgiving meal requires.
Why Choose Turkey Breast Over a Whole Turkey?
Turkey breast has a number of advantages over cooking a whole bird for Thanksgiving
-
More white meat: Turkey breasts contain all white meat, which many guests prefer. Dark meat takes longer to cook through.
-
Quicker, even cooking: Bone-in and boneless turkey breasts cook faster and more evenly than a whole turkey.
-
Elegant presentation: Carving a whole, juicy breast at the table is visually stunning.
-
Less waste: You can buy just the right amount needed for your group size.
-
Easier preparation: Breasts thaw faster and require less time in the oven.
So if you’re not feeding a huge crowd, a turkey breast makes Thanksgiving dinner simpler.
How Much Bone-In Turkey Breast Per Person?
For a bone-in turkey breast, plan on around 3/4 pound to 1 pound per person. Going with 1 pound per guest ensures lots of leftovers. Here are some estimates based on your guest count:
- 4 people: 3-4 lb bone-in breast
- 6 people: 5-6 lb bone-in breast
- 8 people: 7-8 lb bone-in breast
- 10-12 people: 9-12 lb bone-in breast
- 14-16 people: 12-14 lb bone-in breast
Round up to the nearest whole breast size when purchasing. It’s better to have too much than not enough meat.
How Much Boneless Turkey Breast Per Person?
If you want the convenience of boneless, plan on approximately 3/4 pound per person. Here are some boneless breast estimates:
- 4 people: 3 lb boneless breast
- 6 people: 4-5 lb boneless breast
- 8 people: 6 lb boneless breast
- 10-12 people: 7-9 lb boneless breast
- 14-16 people: 10-12 lb boneless breast
Aim for the higher amounts if you want lots of leftovers for sandwiches and casseroles.
Cooking Methods for Turkey Breasts
There are several excellent options for cooking your Thanksgiving turkey breast.
On the Grill
For flavorful, juicy meat, grilling a brined turkey breast infuses delicious smoky notes. Cook over indirect heat at 375°F until it reaches 165°F internally.
In the Oven
Roast seasoned breasts in the oven at 350°F to crisp the skin beautifully. Baste frequently and use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness.
In the Slow Cooker
For moist, fall-off-the-bone meat, slow cook turkey breasts on low heat for 1-1.5 hours per pound. Top with diced aromatics.
Don’t Forget the Sides!
When planning your Thanksgiving spread, remember the sides are almost as important as the main event.
Classic Turkey Day accompaniments like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and roasted vegetables ensure your guests leave satisfied. And don’t forget dessert – go all out with pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies.
The Takeaway
When calculating how much turkey breast you need for Thanksgiving dinner, use these estimates:
- Bone-in: 3/4 – 1 lb per person
- Boneless: 1/2 – 3/4 lb per person
Shoot for the higher amounts if you want plentiful leftovers. Pick a cooking method that works for your schedule and oven size. Add plenty of traditional side dishes and desserts.
Following this simple turkey breast guide takes the guesswork out of Thanksgiving dinner. You’ll have the perfect bird as the centerpiece of your holiday feast!
What if I’m cooking turkey breasts?
Turkey breast offers a great solution for home cooks who prefer white meat (and only white meat, thank you very much). They’re also easier to cook more evenly than whole turkey. We recommend using skin-on, bone-in breasts, which have a deeper flavor and tend to stay juicier throughout the cooking process, as opposed to boneless turkey breasts. If you’re cooking for a small group, you could roast two single breasts side by side and store one unsliced, still on the bone, in the refrigerator overnight for next-day sandwiches.
Wondering how many pounds of turkey breast per person you need? Since most of our recipes call for bone-in breasts, the same guidelines apply as above. Plan on 1 to 1½ pounds of turkey breast per person. Because most of the breast is 40 to 50-percent bone and cartilage, you’ll realistically get around half a pound of edible meat per guest—just don’t forget to scale up slightly if you want leftovers.
What if I’m afraid of underserving my guests?
Want to show off your baking skills (beyond pumpkin pie, obviously)? Make a big tray of stuffing-flavored biscuits (which are especially delicious the next morning, sandwiching a fried egg). And, of course, you’ve got to have cranberry sauce—either homemade or canned; that’s your prerogative.
Holiday Hotline Tip: How Many Pounds of Turkey Per Person
FAQ
How many pounds of turkey breast do I need for 10 people?
4 people = 2 pound turkey breast. 8 people = 4 pound turkey breast. 10 people = 5 pound turkey breast. 16 people = 8 pound turkey breast.
How many people will a 14 pound turkey breast feed?
Though if you’re wanting to enjoy turkey leftovers (obviously!), our Test Kitchen recommends 1 ½ pounds of turkey per person so everyone can literally get stuffed, with enough leftover for a few extra meals. So if you’re wondering “How many people does a 14-pound turkey feed?”, the answer is about 9 guests.
How many servings are in a 5 pound turkey breast?
If you’re not cooking for a crowd, make a bone-in turkey breast. A 5- to 7-pound breast feeds about 4.Nov 25, 2019
How much turkey breast per person for Thanksgiving dinner?
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 breast should I eat for Thanksgiving?
For Thanksgiving dinner, plan on purchasing 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.45 to 0.68 kilograms) of boneless turkey breast per person. 2. What if I’m also serving a whole turkey? If you’re serving a whole turkey alongside boneless breast, estimate around 0.5 pounds (0.23 kilograms) of boneless turkey breast per person. 3.
How much Turkey should I buy per person?
How much turkey you buy depends on whether the cut you buy is boneless or bone-in. If you opt for boneless turkey breast, you should plan on about 3/4 pound per person. For a bone-in cut, go for the aforementioned 1-1/4 pounds for each person–rounding it up to 1-1/2 pounds if you’re planning on plenty of leftovers.
How much turkey breast do I Need?
For example, if you have 16 guests (including yourself) coming to dinner you will now need a 16 pound turkey breast. Boneless: a boneless breast doesn’t have the added weight of bones so it is very straightforward. The calculation is still 0.5 pounds of boneless turkey breast.
How much turkey breast should a family eat?
If you’re planning to roast boneless turkey breasts, that obviously won’t factor in, so in that case, aim for about ½ pound per person. Bone-in breasts are also mostly meat, so that same rule of thumb should still apply, but if you have some big eaters in your family, you can bump that up by around 50%, just to be safe.
How much turkey breast should you buy for a party?
Essentially, if you’ll be serving four people, you should plan on purchasing 5 pounds of bone-in turkey breast. For a party of eight, boost the total yield to 10 pounds. If your party consists of 10 people, purchase 13 pounds of bone-in meat.
How much bone-in Turkey Breast should I buy?
As a general rule, you should plan on purchasing 1-1/4 pounds of bone-in turkey breast for each person you’ll be serving. That may sound like a lot, but remember that the bones will account for some of that weight. The overall mass will also decrease as the meat cooks.