How Much Turkey Per Person Wellplated Com

Calculating how much turkey you’ll need is fairly simple. Once you know how many people will be attending your Thanksgiving feast, you can determine how big of a turkey you’ll need to purchase. To ensure you have the perfect amount, it’s important to factor in the other parts of the Thanksgiving menu. Everything from appetizers to side dishes to dessert matters. As delicious as your turkey will be, side dishes (like gravy, Cornbread Stuffing, Crockpot Mashed Potatoes, cranberry sauce, and Healthy Green Bean Casserole) tend to steal the spotlight. And, appetizers (like Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms) will have your guests arriving at the table with a slightly diminished appetite. Plus, everyone will certainly be saving some room for a slice of Vegan Pumpkin Pie. If you know you’ll be serving a plethora of scrumptious Thanksgiving Side Dishes, then you can likely lean toward the lower end of the recommended amount. If, however, you’re a major leftover turkey fan, then feel free to purchase a slightly bigger bird and enjoy some tasty Leftover Turkey Recipes. Use the Table of Contents below to skip to the section you prefer, or simply scroll down to view it all.

How Much Turkey Per Person (No Leftovers)

Generally, you’ll want to plan on about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per guest. Yes, that amount may seem a little higher than you’d expect, but there’s a reason behind this calculation. Since the total weight of the turkey includes inedible parts (like bones), we need to build a buffer into the recommended amount per person. This simple equation will help you figure out the best turkey size:

Number of guests x recommended pounds of turkey per person = weight of the turkey you should purchaseHere are a couple of examples: Lower end of recommended amount: 8 guests x 1 pound of turkey = 8-pound turkeyHigher end of recommended amount: 8 guests x 1.5 pounds of turkey = 12-pound turkey

How Much Turkey Per Person (With Leftovers)

If you’re a fan of leftovers (me too!), then you’ll want to increase the amount of turkey per person to about 2 pounds. While this sounds like a lot, the goal is to end up with too much food so you can have plenty of leftovers. You can use the same equation listed above to calculate the size you’ll need.

Number of guests x recommended pounds of turkey per person = weight of the turkey you should purchaseSo, to serve 8 guests and have leftovers, you’d want to purchase a 16-pound turkey.

Recommended Tools for Serving Turkey

Platter. Both this classic, white platter and this festive platter would work great for a Thanksgiving dinner. Serving Fork. A serving fork makes it simple for guests to grab pieces of turkey. Electric Knife. Makes it easy to slice through the meat after roasting.

Here’s to your turkey triumph!

Sandwiches. Try my Apple Grilled Cheese with Turkey and Turkey Salad.Soups. Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup (swap turkey for the chicken in the recipe) is a delicious way to use leftovers.Casseroles. Turkey Tetrazzini will be a hit with everyone. Pot Pies. Use leftover turkey to make a cozy Turkey Pot Pie.

Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe.