How Big Are Turkey Breasts? A Detailed Guide on Turkey Breast Sizes

As Thanksgiving approaches many home cooks start wondering – how big are turkey breasts? Knowing the right turkey breast size ensures you buy the correct amount to feed all of your guests without tons of leftovers.

When determining turkey breast size there are a few key factors to consider

Bone-In vs Boneless Turkey Breasts

Turkey breasts come both bone-in and boneless.

A boneless turkey breast is just the breast meat without bones. This makes it more straightforward to determine how much you need per person.

A bone-in breast contains the breastbones, cartilage, and ribs. This adds weight, so you’ll need to buy a larger breast to end up with the same amount of edible meat.

Here’s a quick comparison:

• A boneless turkey breast weighs 2-4 pounds.

• A bone-in turkey breast weighs 4-5 pounds and can be as large as 8 pounds.

So if your recipe calls for 3 pounds of boneless turkey breast you’d need to buy a 6 pound bone-in breast to get the equivalent amount of meat.

How Much Turkey Per Person

Figuring out how much turkey per person requires some simple math. Here are general guidelines:

For Boneless Turkey Breast:

• 0.5 pound per average adult
• 0.25 pound per child
• 1 pound per extra hungry adult

For Bone-in Turkey Breast:

• Double the estimates above since bones add weight

As an example, for a group of 10 average adults and 5 children, you’d need:

• Adults: 10 x 0.5 pound = 5 pounds boneless turkey breast

• Kids: 5 x 0.25 pound = 1.25 pounds boneless turkey breast

• Total: 6.25 pounds boneless turkey breast

For a bone-in breast, double that to 12.5 pounds.

To have leftovers, increase the per person estimates. For bone-in breasts, plan for 1-1.5 pounds per person.

Common Turkey Breast Sizes

Turkey breast sizes vary, but here are some typical weights:

Boneless Turkey Breasts

• 2-3 pounds: feeds 4-6
• 3-4 pounds: feeds 6-8
• 5-6 pounds: feeds 10-12

Bone-In Turkey Breasts

• 5-7 pounds: feeds 6-10
• 8-10 pounds: feeds 12-16
• 10-12 pounds: feeds 16-20

Again, these are estimates. The actual amount needed depends on the number and appetites of your guests.

Many grocery stores sell smaller 3-5 pound bone-in turkey breasts. But you can also order larger breasts directly from turkey farms.

Sizes from Popular Turkey Brands

To get an idea of the range of turkey breast sizes available, here are some examples from major turkey brands:

Butterball

• Boneless breasts: Up to 6.75 pounds
• Bone-in breasts: Up to 16 pounds

Jennie-O

• Boneless breasts: Up to 7 pounds
• Bone-in breasts: Up to 14 pounds

Perdue

• Boneless breasts: Up to 7 pounds
• Bone-in breasts: Up to 16 pounds

Plainville Farms

• Boneless breasts: Up to 5 pounds
• Bone-in breasts: Up to 10 pounds

Again, these sizes give you flexibility whether cooking for a smaller gathering or large party.

Buying the Right Size

Here are some tips for buying the right turkey breast size:

• Count your guests – And think about their appetites to estimate how much meat you need.

• Check your recipe – See how much boneless or bone-in turkey breast it requires.

• Consider leftovers – Size up if you want lots of leftovers or just a bit extra.

• Look at options – Check the turkey breast sizes available at your grocery store or online.

• Order early – Reserve larger special-order turkey breasts ahead of time.

• Factor in bones – Remember bone-in breasts weigh more for the same amount of meat.