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What size turkey should I get for 6 adults?

Author

William Cox

Published Feb 22, 2026

What size turkey should I get for 6 adults?

You'll want to plan on about 1.25 pounds of turkey per person attending.

Similarly, you may ask, how much turkey do I need for 6 guests?

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 fifteen or more people will require 20+ pounds of turkey.

Furthermore, how big of a turkey breast do I need for 6? We recommend bone-in and skin-on breasts, which is what we use for this method. One (three-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.

Moreover, how much turkey do I need per person calculator?

For turkeys smaller than 16 pounds, estimate 1 pound per serving (this accounts for bone weight). For larger birds, a bit less is fine; they have a higher meat-to-bone ratio. But if your goal is to have ample leftovers, aim for 1½ pounds per person whatever the turkey's size. For 8 people, buy a 12-pound turkey.

What size turkey do I need for 10 adults?

When choosing a turkey to serve on Thanksgiving, figure 1 1/2 pounds per person. If you are serving 10 people on Thanksgiving, choose a bird that is 15 to 20 pounds. Smaller birds that weigh less than 12 pounds have a smaller meat-to-bone ratio, so figure two pounds per person.

What is the best frozen turkey?

  • Lidl Deluxe Free Range Silver Slate Whole Turkey.
  • Morrisons British Whole Turkey.
  • New Bell & Evans Turkey.
  • New Eberly Organic Free-Range Turkey.
  • New Murray's Natural Turkey.
  • New Plainville Turkey.
  • Frozen Li'l Butterball.
  • New Empire Kosher Turkey. Pros: This fish bronzed well and demonstrated porcelain-colored white meat.

How long does it take to cook a 20lb turkey?

If you're baking it at 325°F (the lowest temperature the USDA recommends), you'll need to bake a 20-lb turkey in the oven for 4 to 5 hours if it's unstuffed, and 4 ¼ to 5 ¼ hours if it's stuffed.

How long does it take a turkey to thaw in the refrigerator?

Refrigerator Thawing Times

Whole turkey: 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days. 12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days. 16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days.

How long should you brine turkey?

Pop the turkey into the fridge and let it brine for at least 8 hours (and up to 18 hours). Just don't leave the turkey in the brine for longer than recommended—over-brining can render the bird too salty and turn the texture spongy.

How much turkey does an adult need?

The rule of thumb for buying turkey: 1 pound per person

This is a brilliantly simple rule to follow any time you're cooking meat on the bone, but this is especially perfect for the holidays when leftovers are key for feeding out-of-town guests throughout the weekend.

What is the smallest turkey you can buy?

Most “small” turkeys range from 10 to 12 pounds, though you may be able to find one smaller. Kroger grocery store even carries a five-pound bird.

What size turkey do I need for 4 adults?

Uncooked whole unstuffed turkey: Think of about two pounds of the entire turkey per person for a small gathering (4 to 8 people), and about 1.5 pounds of the entire, larger turkey per person for a larger group (10 to 16). Remember: The larger the bird, the higher the meat-to-bone ratio.

How long do you cook a 5 to 7 kg turkey?

Roasting Times for Whole Turkey:
WeightUnstuffedStuffed*
7 - 11 lbs (3- 5 kg)2 ½- 3 hrs3 - 3½ hrs
11- 15 lbs (5-7 kg)3 - 3 ½ hrs3 ½- 4 hrs
15 - 20 lbs (7- 9 kg)3 ½ - 4 hrs4 - 4½ hrs
20-24 lbs (9-11 kg)4-5 hrs5-5 ½ hrs

How big of a turkey do you need for 7 adults?

You'll want to plan on about 1.25 pounds of turkey per person attending. That means that if you are expecting 12 guests, plan for a 15-pound bird.

How many pounds is a 10 kg turkey?

Turkey roasting chart:
SERVINGSWEIGHTUNSTUFFED
4 to 610 - 12 lb (4.5 - 5.5 kg)3 - 3-1/4 hours
8 to 1012 - 16 lb (5.5 - 7 kg)3-1/4 - 3-1/2 hours
12 to 1616 - 22 lb (7 - 10 kg)3-1/2 - 4 hours

What size turkey crown do I need for 12 adults?

A turkey crown (2-2.5kg) will feed 6 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.

What size boned and rolled turkey do I need?

James Whelan Butchers has devised an easy ready-reckoner which goes like this: 5-6kg bird will feed 6-7 adults. 6/7kg = 7-8 adults. 7/8kg = 8-9 adults.

Do turkeys have excellent hearing?

Outstanding hearing is an asset to all prey species. Dickson's compilation of wild turkey experts reveals that a wild turkey's hearing is acute, although its external ear lacks a flap, or pinna, which concentrates sound waves. Field observations suggests turkeys hear lower-frequency and more distant sounds than humans.

How many will a 5 lb turkey breast feed?

LITTLE BIRD

If you're not cooking for a crowd, make a bone-in turkey breast. A 5- to 7-pound breast feeds about 4.

How many does a 3 lb turkey breast serve?

Then you can easily stretch a 3 pound boneless turkey breast to about 8 to 10 servings.

How do I keep my turkey moist?

Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe
  1. Choose a fresh turkey instead of a frozen one.
  2. Roast two small turkeys rather than one large one.
  3. Brine the turkey.
  4. Rub soft butter under the skin.
  5. Truss loosely, or not at all.
  6. Roast the turkey upside down at first.
  7. Don't overcook it.
  8. Let the turkey rest before carving.

Should I cook turkey 325 or 350?

Roast in a 325° or 350° (depending on size of bird; see below) oven until thermometer registers 160°. If turkey is unstuffed, tip slightly to drain juices from body cavity into pan. Nutritional analysis per 1/4 pound boned cooked turkey with skin, based on percentages of white and dark meat in an average bird.

Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?

Should I cover my turkey with foil? Roasting a turkey with heavy duty aluminum foil is a method that helps lock in moisture to prevent drying out while in the oven. It's an easy step to help ensure your turkey is tender and moist for dinner.

How long should you cook a turkey at 325?

This table from the USDA is based on a 325°F oven, and a fully defrosted or fresh bird. (For an unstuffed bird, we're talking roughly 15 minutes per pound.)

How many does a 5 pound turkey breast serve?

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.

How many pounds a turkey per person?

The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds per guest. To buy the right size turkey for your party, simply tally up the turkey-eating guests. Add a few pounds on for bones and you've got your turkey weight.

Is Turkey done at 165 or 180?

Cook your turkey until your thermometer reads 155 -160 degrees. (Yes, we know that new safe cooking guidelines say to cook your bird to 165 degrees (they used to say 180!), but remember that your turkey will continue to cook after removed from the oven and it's temperature will increase by 10 degrees while resting.

Is Butterball Turkey the best?

Butterball turkeys are of the highest quality product and will be sure to impress your guests. Here's why Butterball is the right (and only!) choice this holiday season: Butterball turkeys are always tender and juicy because we take the extra step of individually pre-brining them based on size.

How long does it take to roast a 10 pound turkey?

All cook times are based on placing a whole unstuffed turkey on a rack in a roasting pan and into a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven.

How Long to Cook a Turkey.

Turkey WeightServingsCooking Time
10 to 12 lb6 to 82 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours
12 to 14 lb8 to 102 3/4 to 3 hours
15 to 18 lb10 to 123 1/4 to 4 hours