How Small of a Turkey Can I Buy for the Holidays?

The holidays are a time for togetherness, celebration, and of course, food. For many, the centerpiece of a holiday meal is a roasted turkey. But what if your gathering is smaller this year? With just a few people at the table, attempting to cook a massive 20-pound bird may leave you with a week’s worth of leftovers. Thankfully, there are options when it comes to buying a petite turkey perfect for an intimate holiday dinner.

Reasons to Buy a Small Turkey

There are several benefits to purchasing a small turkey rather than a standard large bird

• Perfectly sized for small gatherings: If you’re only cooking for 2-4 people, a small 8-12 pound turkey will provide enough meat without tons of leftovers. A 20 pound turkey would be overkill.

• Cooks more evenly: Large turkeys tend to dry out, with the white breast meat overcooking by the time the dark meat is done. With a small turkey, the meat cooks at a similar rate for moist, tender results.

• Easier to manage: A 10 pound turkey is much simpler to get in and out of the oven compared to wrestling a 20+ pounder. It also takes up less space in the fridge.

• More affordable: You’ll save money buying a petite turkey versus splurging on a bigger bird. And less food waste is good for the wallet.

So if you’re looking to right-size your holiday bird, read on for everything you need to know about buying a small turkey.

How Small of a Turkey Can You Buy?

You may think a “small” turkey will be tiny, like a chicken But even a petite turkey provides a good amount of meat Here’s a look at typical small turkey sizes

• 10-12 pounds This size turkey will feed about 4 hungry guests, with some leftovers. It’s a great choice for smaller families.

• 8-10 pounds: Perfect for 2-3 people celebrating together. You’ll likely have just enough meat without crazy amounts of leftovers.

• 5-7 pounds: If it’s just you and one other person, a turkey on the smaller side of small will suit your needs.

• 3-5 pounds: For solo celebrations or couples who prefer more sides than meat, a 3-5 pound turkey breast roast feeds 1-2.

While most standard turkeys are in the 15-20+ pound range, look for labels like “small,” “petite,” or “compact” to find birds under 12 pounds. Kosher and organic turkeys also tend to run smaller.

Where to Buy a Small Turkey

You’ll typically find the best selection of small turkeys at specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods or your local butcher shop. Big supermarket chains tend to focus on larger birds.

Here are some retailers that usually carry petite turkey options:

• Whole Foods: Stocks broad-breasted turkeys as small as 12 pounds and turkey breasts down to 2.5 pounds.

• Fresh Market: Offers turkeys starting around 10 pounds.

• Trader Joe’s: Sells frozen young turkeys and turkey breast roasts under 10 pounds.

• Butcher shops: Can often special order small turkeys with some advance notice. Ask about “hen” turkeys, which are smaller females.

• Local farms: Pasture-raised turkeys from small farms tend to be on the smaller side, 10-15 pounds. Check farmers markets.

• Mail order: Companies like D’Artagnan, Porter Road, and Holy Grail Steak Co. ship small organic and heritage breed turkeys.

Don’t see petite turkeys at your regular grocery store? Talk to the butcher. With some notice, they may be able to get a smaller bird. And check the freezer section–you may get lucky finding a 10 pound frozen turkey.

How Long to Cook a Small Turkey

General turkey cooking times are about 15-20 minutes per pound at 325°F. But a small turkey may cook slightly faster than a large one. Here are estimated roasting times:

• 10-12 pound turkey: About 2 1⁄2 – 3 hours
• 8-10 pound turkey: Approximately 2 – 2 1⁄2 hours
• 5-7 pound turkey: Around 1 1⁄4 – 1 1⁄2 hours
• 3-5 pound turkey breast: About 1 – 1 1⁄4 hours

No matter the size, always rely on an instant-read meat thermometer to check doneness instead of cook time. Cook until the thighs reach 175°F and the breast 165°F. Let rest 30 minutes before carving.

Handling Leftovers from a Small Turkey

One perk of a petite turkey is you likely won’t have an overwhelming amount of leftovers taking over your fridge. But you’ll still probably have some extra meat and want to use it up.

Here are smart ways to handle small turkey leftovers:

• Slice or shred meat for turkey sandwiches, wraps, salads, and casseroles.

• Make turkey pot pie, soup, chili, or turkey tetrazzini with larger pieces.

• Mix shredded turkey with mayo, cheese, and veggies for an easy sandwich filling.

• Freeze sliced turkey in portions to pull out for future meals. It holds well frozen for 2-3 months.

• Cook the carcass with herbs, vegetables, and water to make nourishing turkey broth.

Buying a perfectly petite turkey this holiday season allows you to right-size your meal for smaller gatherings. With proper planning and shopping, finding a small turkey for your intimate holiday dinner is totally doable. Then you can focus on creating delicious sides and memories around a holiday table that doesn’t have tons of wasted food.