Hosting Thanksgiving is a thrill for most—from cooking a traditional menu to gathering with and feeding the people you love. Before you buy and thaw the turkey, you want to be sure you have enough meat. This guide will offer a helping hand in deciphering how much turkey per person is enough on Thanksgiving (or any other festive occasion when the mood strikes). Keep it close and refer to it when planning your gathering.
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.
While calculating 1 pound of turkey per person leans on the safe side, accounting for 1½ pounds of turkey per person guarantees leftovers to enjoy post-holiday, and who doesn't love that? Especially when you've got these delicious leftover turkey recipes you can make in under an hour. If a generous amount of Thanksgiving leftovers is not what you're after and you're a little bit nervous about cutting it close with 1 pound per person, then meet in the middle and calculate 1¼ pounds of turkey per person.
To keep you from crunching the numbers, here's a general guideline of how much turkey to make, depending on your party size (assuming 1½ pounds per person).
- For six guests, a nine-pound turkey will suffice.
- For eight guests, buy a turkey that weighs about 12 pounds.
- For 10 guests, you want a bird that is at least 15 pounds.
Accounting for White Meat vs. Dark Meat Preferences
If you know right off the bat whether your guests prefer white meat or dark meat, then you can opt to roast bone-in breasts for white meat, turkey legs for dark meat, or a mixture of both. For larger gatherings, you could still roast a whole turkey, then add roasted breasts or legs to make up the difference. Average about ¾-pound per person for bone-in turkey breast, or one turkey leg per person clocking in at around 1½ pounds per leg.
Feeding a Large Crowd
If you're hosting a large gathering, say for more than 10 people, stop calculating right now. You don't want to get a turkey larger than 15 pounds. The chances of it cooking unevenly and the meat drying out are high, and because you want juicy, flavorful meat throughout, it's not worth the risk.
The best thing to do when hosting a large crowd for Thanksgiving is to roast two smaller birds. This also gives you the opportunity to try two different turkey recipes or even try frying a turkey if you're feeling adventurous. Another option is to roast a bone-in breast or two, or turkey legs as previously mentioned– and you can still serve it beautifully on a platter without having to carve a whole turkey.
How to Store Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey
Leftover turkey is not a problem and will be delicious for a few days after Thanksgiving. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the best way to store leftover turkey meat is in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking—and in separate airtight food storage containers or ziptop bags (to avoid one big lump of meat). Turkey will keep in the fridge for up to four days if stored properly.
Alternatively, freeze leftovers for up to six months. To reheat leftover turkey safely, make sure the turkey reaches 165 degrees, no matter the reheating method. The meat should be piping hot; use an instant-read digital thermometer to be extra sure. To avoid dry turkey meat, always cover it when reheating.
