health and wellness | March 11, 2026

Will a 15 pound turkey feed 12 people?

Will a 15 pound turkey feed 12 people?

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 of turkey should you allow 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.

How many people will a 12-pound turkey feed?

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.

How long does it take for a 12 pound turkey to Unthaw?

Allow 30 minutes of thawing time for each pound of turkey, which translates to two to six hours for a 4- to 12-pound turkey. A 12- to 15-pound bird will thaw in six to eight hours.

What size turkey should I get for a family of 4?

What Size Turkey Should you Buy?

PeopleTurkey Size
44-6 lbs
66-9 lbs
88-12 lbs
1010-15 lbs

How many pounds of Turkey do you need to feed 60 people?

So if you need to feed 60 people, buy two turkeys that are around 20 pounds each. Families that prefer white meat might also want to consider just buying turkey breast (or a couple extra in addition to the bird) for your meal. Once you’ve got the bird, give it enough time to defrost before following the proper cooking times.

How much meat is in a 16 pound turkey?

About half of a turkey’s weight is edible meat, so if you buy a 16 pound turkey, it will serve about 8 pounds of meat.

How many pounds of turkey breast per person?

Uncooked turkey breast (bone-in): Think of about 1.25 (one and 1/4 pounds) per person. Uncooked turkey breast (boneless): Think of about 0.75 pounds (3/4 of a pound) per person. Note – these are guidelines only. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure your turkey is cooked through.

How big of a turkey can I serve with 24 people?

Turkey size varies hugely. They come in all sizes – you can even get up to a 9kg bird, which will happily serve a huge group of more than 24 people, with plenty leftover even for the next day.

How many pounds per serving for a 16 pound turkey?

For turkeys less 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 11/2 pounds per person whatever the turkey’s size.

How big of a Turkey do you need for 8 people?

For turkeys less 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 11/2 pounds per person whatever the turkey’s size. * For 8 people buy a 12-pound turkey.

How much feed does an adult turkey eat?

A University of Alaska Extension document offers another cumulative consumption chart for turkey of different varieties: It’s starting to look fairly consistent: in the 50lb or 25 (ish) kilo range for total feed consumed in the lifetime of an adult turkey. In other words, one whole 25kg bag of feed per bird?

How much do you increase the weight of a Turkey per person?

That’s right: increase the weight of the turkey by half pound per person and you can count on plenty to get you through the Thanksgiving aftermath. If you need a place to store leftovers, we like the Pyrex bowls, below.