If youre in charge of planning Thanksgiving this year, consider it a sign that your family and friends have a lot of trust in you! As you plan for the holiday, you might be wondering what size turkey to get for your gathering. Luckily, weve got all the info you need on how much turkey breast per person is recommended for your Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, you can adjust these calculations if you have family members who are likely to come back for extra servings of turkey, as well as those who might skip the turkey altogether and load up on vegetable dishes. Because were all about making sure your holidays run smoothly, weve also included estimates for side dishes and desserts, so you dont need to guess how many pies or pounds of potatoes you might need to grab during your pre-Thanksgiving shop.
Planning the perfect Thanksgiving or holiday meal means getting the turkey right. Under-buying turkey can leave your guests hungry while over-buying leads to wasted food and money. So how much turkey breast should you buy to feed 8 people? Follow this guide for stress-free turkey shopping and cooking.
Calculating How Much Turkey You Need
The first step is determining how much turkey you need for 8 guests. Here are some tips
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For adults, allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
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For children, allow 1/2 pound of turkey per child.
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If you want plenty of leftovers, increase to 1 1/4 pounds per adult.
So for 8 adults, you would need 8 pounds of turkey. If you had 8 adults and 4 kids, you’d need 8 pounds for adults and 2 pounds for kids, so 10 pounds total.
It’s better to slightly overestimate than underbuy. An extra pound or two won’t hurt if people have big appetites or you want more leftovers.
Bone-In vs Boneless Turkey Breast
You can buy a whole bone-in turkey breast or a boneless turkey breast. Here’s how to calculate for each:
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Bone-in – Figure 1 pound per person, since the bone weight is included. For 8 people, buy an 8 pound bone-in breast.
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Boneless – Figure 3/4 pound per person since no bone. For 8 people, buy a 6 pound boneless breast.
Bone-in often has more flavor, but boneless can be easier for smaller ovens. Choose based on your preference.
Cooking Tips for Turkey Breast
Here are some tips for roasting turkey breast for a crowd:
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Brine the breast overnight in saltwater for extra juicy flavor.
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Cook at 325°F to keep it moist and tender. An 8 lb breast needs about 2 1/2 – 3 hours.
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Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F at thickest part.
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Let it rest at least 20 minutes before slicing for juicier meat.
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Roast in a pan just large enough to fit, with some room around it.
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Rub the breast with oil or butter and generously season inside and out.
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Make gravy with the tasty pan drippings.
Ensuring Your Guests Get Enough
To make sure your 8 guests have enough food with turkey as the main event:
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Make plenty of side dishes like mashed potatoes, vegetables, and bread.
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Consider a ham or other entree as a backup if turkey runs low.
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Have second helpings ready in the kitchen or keep warm in oven.
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Let guests help themselves buffet-style for faster serving.
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Use big platters for easy sharing and passing around the table.
Enjoy Your Turkey Feast!
With an 8 pound turkey breast and hearty sides, your 8 guests will have a wonderful holiday meal. Follow these simple tips for buying, prepping and cooking turkey for a crowd. Proper planning helps take the stress out of hosting so you can relax and have fun!
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 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)
How long does it take to cook an 8 pound turkey breast at 350?
FAQ
How many turkey breasts for 8 adults?
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.Nov 14, 2024
How many people will a 5 lb boneless turkey breast feed?
If you’re working with bone-in turkey breast, double the weight outlined below. To preface, if you’re cooking for 10 people, you’d aim for 5 pounds of boneless turkey breast, which would therefore equate to 10 pounds of bone-in turkey breast.
How big of a turkey do I need for a family of 8?
How Much Turkey Per Person. The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per guest. If you’re buying boneless meat, assume about 8 ounces per guest.Nov 12, 2024
How much turkey for 8 adults with leftovers?
The rule of thumb is 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person with leftovers and 1 pound of turkey per person without leftovers. If your guest list includes a lot of kids, lean towards a smaller size turkey. If your guests are big eaters, lean towards a larger turkey.
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.
How many people can a 7 pound turkey breast feed?
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: 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.
How much Turkey do you need to cook a turkey breast?
Let’s say that your guest list consists of four people. Five pounds of turkey (with the bone still in) would be about right. Therefore, if you’ve got to serve eight people, then you would need 10 pounds. If you don’t have time to break down a whole turkey for the breasts, you can smoke a butteball turkey.
How much boneless turkey breast should I buy per person?
Boneless turkey breast: Plan to purchase 1/2 lb per person or an average adult of uncooked boneless turkey breast. Let’s do some math for example. For 4 people, multiply 0.5 lb times 4, you need to purchase 2 pounds. Here is a handy chart for a quick reference:
How much turkey breast should a 3 pound turkey breast eat?
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:
How much meat is in a 7 pound turkey breast?
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: