Perhaps the most important decision any Thanksgiving host has to make is what size bird to get. That answer relies on how much turkey per person you need. Sure, there’s that one uncle who bogarts more than his fair share of turkey or the vegetarian who’ll only feast on veggie side dishes but its important to have a generous estimate that will feed your guests and leave enough turkey leftovers to enjoy later. When you’re ready for round two the next day, check out our guide on how to reheat turkey and our best turkey sandwich recipes.
And what’s Thanksgiving without all the classic sides? We also let you know the amount of side dishes you should plan on:
A turkey breast is a great option when cooking for smaller gatherings But how much turkey breast should you buy to make sure everyone gets fed? Here’s a complete guide on how many people a turkey breast can feed,
Factors That Determine Serving Size
There are a few things that affect how many servings you’ll get from a turkey breast
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Breast size – A 3 lb half breast will serve less than a 7 lb whole breast. The bigger the breast, the more people it can feed.
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Bone-in vs boneless – Boneless breasts yield more edible meat per pound.
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Appetite – Are your guests big eaters or do they tend to take smaller portions? Plan accordingly.
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Leftovers – Buying extra allows for leftovers. Add 1-2 extra servings if you want leftovers.
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Other dishes – More sides means less turkey consumed. A fulll thanksgiving spread means smaller turkey portions.
How Many Does a Half Turkey Breast Feed?
For reference, a half breast is one side of the turkey breast with wing attached, about 3 pounds.
A 3 pound half breast will feed:
- 2 hungry adults
- 3 moderate eaters
- 4 lighter eaters
Safe estimates for a 3 pound half turkey breast would be:
- 2-3 adults
- 3-4 children
- 2 adults + 2 kids
The bone and wing reduce usable meat to about 2 pounds. Allow 4-8 ounces per adult serving and 2-4 ounces per child portion.
How Many Does a Whole Turkey Breast Feed?
A whole turkey breast includes both halves, still attached by the breastplate. Whole breasts are typically 6-7 pounds.
A 7 pound whole breast will feed:
- 4-6 hungry adults
- 6-8 moderate eaters
- 8-10 lighter eaters
Safe estimates for a 7 pound whole turkey breast would be:
- 4-6 adults
- 6-8 kids
- 5 adults + 3 kids
Remove bones and plan on 5-6 pounds edible meat. Allow 6-10 ounces per adult serving and 3-6 ounces per child portion.
Key Tips
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For accurate portions, weigh cooked turkey after removing bones/skin.
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Purchase an extra 1-2 pounds if you want ample leftovers.
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Supplement with more sides for lighter turkey portions.
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Slice breast thinner and spread out over plates to feed more people.
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Turkey breasts are very versatile. Use leftovers for sandwiches, soups,casseroles.
Cooking Methods
An average 3-7 pound turkey breast will need:
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Oven: bake at 350°F for about 2 hours
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Grill: indirect heat 350-375°F for 1.5-2 hours
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Smoker: 250-275°F for 2.5-3 hours
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Slow cooker: low 6-8 hours, high 4-5 hours
Use a meat thermometer to confirm 165°F for food safety. Rest 15 minutes before slicing for maximum juiciness.
Servings for Other Turkey Cuts
- Turkey tenderloins (1 lb): 2-3 people
- Boneless turkey thighs (1 lb): 2-3 people
- Ground turkey (1 lb): 3-4 burgers
Aim for 4 ounces per adult portion or 2 ounces per child serving as a general guideline when planning quantities.
The Takeaway
- A half breast feeds 2-4, a whole breast feeds 6-10
- Purchase 1-2 extra pounds if wanting leftovers
- Cook to 165°F internal temperature
With the proper amount, turkey breast can be stretch to feed a small intimate gathering or be the star protein of a large holiday feast.
How much turkey per person do I need?
Our recommendation is to plan for one pound of turkey per person, or ½ pound per person for a boneless turkey breast. If youre buying a bone-in turkey breast, figure on 3/4 pound per person.
- Whole turkey (8 lbs)
- Dry mix stuffing (12 oz)
- Potatoes (4 lbs)
- Sweet potatoes (4 lbs)
- Canned cranberry sauce (two 14-oz cans)
- Pie (1–2)
- Brussels sprouts (1.5 lbs)
- Green beans (2 lbs)
- Whole turkey (16 lbs)
- Dry mix stuffing (24 oz)
- Potatoes (8 lbs)
- Sweet potatoes (8 lbs)
- Canned cranberry sauce (three 14-oz cans)
- Pie (2–3)
- Brussels sprouts (3 lbs)
- Green beans (4 lbs)
What if I’m serving a large crowd?
Of course, every rule has an exception. If you’re cooking for more than 16 people, buy one 12- to 14-pound bird and a breast instead of roasting a mammoth turkey (anything over 15 pounds will likely dry out by the time it’s cooked through). Prepare and roast the whole turkey on the upper rack of your oven and the breast on the lower rack.
- One 12- to 14-lb whole turkey and one 6- to 10-lb bone-in breast
- Dry mix stuffing (36 oz)
- Potatoes (10 lbs)
- Sweet potatoes (10 lbs)
- Canned cranberry sauce (four 14-oz cans)
- Pie (3–4)
- Brussels sprouts (4.5 lbs)
- Green beans (6 lbs)
How many people will a 6kg turkey breast feed?
FAQ
How many people will a 10 lb turkey breastfeed?
How many servings are in a turkey breast?
How many people will a 20 lb turkey feed?
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Number of Guests
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Turkey Weight–
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12
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15lbs
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15
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20lbs
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20
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25lbs
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25
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32lbs
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How big turkey for 10 guests?
How many people can a 3 pound turkey breast feed?
However, we can’t disregard the convenient boneless option. If you’ve chosen boneless meat, then the general rule of thumb includes allocating around ¾ pound per person. Therefore, if you’ve bought a 3-pound turkey breast, then you’re looking at feeding around 4 people.
How much turkey breast should I buy per person?
Plus much easier to slice than the bone-in breast. How Much Turkey Breast per Person to Buy? Bone-in turkey breast: General rule of thumb is to buy 3/4 lb of uncooked bone in turkey breast meat per person. The reason we go with uncooked meat is so you can easily calculate how much fresh meat to buy.
How much turkey breast should a family eat?
If you’re planning to roast boneless turkey breasts, that obviously won’t factor in, so in that case, aim for about ½ pound per person. Bone-in breasts are also mostly meat, so that same rule of thumb should still apply, but if you have some big eaters in your family, you can bump that up by around 50%, just to be safe.
How much turkey meat do you eat per person?
We usually have an assortment of kids and adults with all different appetites so we find it easiest to just round to 0.5 pounds (1 pound for bone-in) of turkey meat per person and 1 pound per person (1.5 pounds for bone-in) if you LOVE leftovers! Yes, please!