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:
When planning your holiday meal, one of the most common questions is how many people you can expect to feed with a turkey breast. Since turkey breasts come in varying sizes, it’s important to estimate correctly so you buy the right amount of meat. Follow this guide to learn how much turkey breast to purchase based on your guest count.
What Size Turkey Breast Should I Buy?
Turkey breasts are sold either as a whole breast or as a half breast Here is how much meat you can expect from each
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A whole turkey breast contains two full breast halves still connected by the breastbone. It typically weighs 6 to 7 pounds.
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A half turkey breast is one breast half, detached from the other. Half breasts weigh around 3 pounds each.
In general, plan on 1/3 to 1/2 pound of finished, cooked turkey per person. The final yield will depend on whether you buy a whole or half breast.
How Many Will a 3-Pound Half Breast Feed?
A 3-pound half turkey breast will yield around 2 to 2.5 pounds of cooked meat. With 1/3 to 1/2 pound per serving, this means a 3-pound half breast can feed:
- 4 to 5 people if serving 1/3 pound portions
- 3 to 4 people if serving 1/2 pound portions
A good estimate is that a single 3-pound half breast will provide enough turkey for 4 people, allowing for decent portions.
If feeding only 2 or 3 guests, a 3-pound half breast gives you extra for leftovers. For 5 or more people, buy two half breasts totaling 6 pounds.
How Many Will a 7-Pound Whole Breast Feed?
A whole turkey breast is made up of two halves, so a 7-pound whole breast contains about 3.5 pounds of meat in each half. After cooking, figure you’ll get around 5 to 6 pounds of finished turkey.
With 5 to 6 pounds of cooked meat, serving 1/3 to 1/2 pound per person, a 7-pound whole turkey breast will feed:
- 10 to 12 guests if serving 1/3 pound each
- 8 to 10 guests if serving 1/2 pound each
A good estimate is that a 7-pound whole turkey breast will provide enough meat for 8 to 10 people, with moderate portions.
Buy another breast if serving more than 10, or opt for a half breast for under 6 guests. A 7-pound whole breast gives you ample extra meat for leftovers.
Allow for Other Menu Components
When calculating how much turkey breast to buy, keep in mind the rest of your holiday meal. Side dishes like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and vegetables will help fill up your guests as well.
Here are some tips:
- If serving a turkey breast alone, get more meat per person.
- Buy less per guest if your meal includes hearty sides.
- Allow at least 2 side dish options if getting the minimum 1/3 pound turkey.
- Vegetables, salad, bread and dessert also reduce the turkey needed.
Taking the entire menu into account, 1/3 to 1/2 pound turkey per person is sufficient for well-rounded holiday meals.
Estimate Your Guests’ Appetites
Some guests will naturally eat more than others at holiday gatherings. When determining quantities, think about the appetites of who’s coming to dinner:
- Men, teens, and active people often consume more.
- Women, seniors, and kids usually eat smaller portions.
- Make sure to have extra if any big eaters are attending.
- Add a bit more if guests will be drinking alcoholic beverages.
If you’re unsure, it’s better to overestimate than underestimate how much turkey breast to buy. Having extra is ideal for leftovers.
Check Time Required if Cooking Day-Of
One last thing to consider – make sure your turkey breast size aligns with your timeframe if cooking it the same day you’ll be eating. Larger turkey breasts take longer:
- A 3-pound half breast needs about 1.5 hours roasted or grilled.
- A 7-pound whole breast requires around 2.5 to 3 hours.
It’s tough to estimate perfectly, so give yourself wiggle room if the turkey ends up taking longer to reach a safe internal temperature.
In Summary
- A 3-pound half turkey breast feeds 3-4 people
- A 7-pound whole turkey breast feeds 8-10 people
- Allow 1/3 to 1/2 pound cooked turkey per person
- Factor in side dishes when calculating quantities
- Add extra if serving big eaters or heavy drinkers
- Make sure cook times work with your schedule
Use this handy guide to determine the right turkey breast size for your guest list this holiday season. With smart planning, you’ll end up with a perfect amount – plus delicious leftovers!
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 much does a 10 lb turkey breast feed?
What size turkey breast for 8 adults?
How many people will a 7lb turkey breastfeed?
How many people does a frozen turkey breast feed?
How many people can a 7 lb turkey breast feed?
Six to eight people can be fed from a whole (six to seven-pound) turkey breast (two breasts still connected at the breast bone). How much turkey breast do I need for 8 adults? 8 people = 4 pound turkey breast. 10 people = 5 pound turkey breast. 16 people = 8 pound turkey breast. Oct 14, 2022. How long do you cook a 9 lb turkey breast?
How much turkey breast should I Cook per person?
It’ll depend on whether you’re cooking a whole bird, just the turkey breast boneless, or only the turkey breast bone-in. While opinions differ, in general, most will tell you that you should plan to serve between 1 and 1.5 pounds of bone-in turkey per person, whether that’s a whole turkey or just the bone-in breast.
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 breast should you buy for a party?
Essentially, if you’ll be serving four people, you should plan on purchasing 5 pounds of bone-in turkey breast. For a party of eight, boost the total yield to 10 pounds. If your party consists of 10 people, purchase 13 pounds of bone-in meat.