By Becky Hardin
Published Nov 1, 2023
Find out exactly how long to cook the turkey , so you can stop stressing and start planning your Thanksgiving meal. Follow these simple turkey cooking time charts for roasting a whole turkey, per pound. I’ve included baking times for stuffed and unstuffed turkeys, as well as turkey breast.
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How long does it take to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving?
When Thanksgiving rolls around, one of the biggest stressors is cooking the perfect Thanksgiving turkey . For me, the hardest part of planning is figuring out how long it takes to cook the turkey.
To make things easier for myself (and for you), I put together these turkey roasting time charts (pound by pound), so I can estimate and plan without the hassle. I did the math for turkeys of all sizes–as small as 2-3 pounds, and as large as 24 pounds. You’ll find cooking time estimates for turkeys both stuffed and unstuffed. And I’ve included time charts for cooking turkey breast too!
How Long to Cook a Turkey Per Pound (Charts)
Note: These roasting times are all estimates–the exact time may vary depending on your oven, the meat-to-bone ratio of your turkey, and other factors. Make sure your turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before consuming.
Whole Turkey Cooking Time (Unstuffed)
As an estimate, cook a whole turkey in the oven for about 13-15 minutes per pound. I’ve done the math for you for a turkey between 8 pounds and 24 pounds, roasted at 325°F.
Turkey cooking time chart, per pound,roasting at 325°F.
Note: Smaller turkeys (under 12 pounds) and larger turkeys (over 20 pounds) don’t follow the 15 minute rule quite as well, so I’ve included a range. Always keep an eye on your turkey and check the internal temp to make sure you don’t overcook it.
Stuffed Turkey Cooking Time
As a general rule of thumb, add 30 minutes (per pound) to the roasting time if your turkey is stuffed.
Turkey cooking time chart, per pound (stuffed), roasting at 325°F.
Note: I don’t recommend cooking stuffing inside the turkey, because it is much harder to get fully cooked stuffing without overcooking your turkey. Instead, make stuffing outside of the turkey (aka dressing).
Turkey Breast Cooking Time
Generally, estimate 15-20 minutes of roasting time per pound for turkey breasts , cooking at 325°F.
Turkey breast cooking time, per pound,roasting at 325°F.
Thanksgiving Turkey
How do you know when the turkey is done?
The time charts will help you estimate roasting time for your turkey, but they are not 100% guaranteed. The best and most accurate way to know when your turkey is done, is to check the internal temperature .
- Begin checking the internal temperature of the turkey about an hour before it’s set to be finished, in 15 minute intervals.
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- Insert the meat thermometer in 3 different spots to make sure it’s fully cooked through: innermost part of the thigh, innermost part of the wing, and thickest part of the breast.
Turkey should reach 165°F before consuming. Since it will continue cooking slightly while resting, I recommend removing it from the oven when the breast reads between 150-155°F, and the thigh should be around 160°F. Dark meat is better when it’s cooked to a slightly higher temp, so it’s okay (good, actually) if it ends up closer to 170-180°F after resting.
When should I start cooking my turkey for Thanksgiving?
When it comes to planning your Thanksgiving turkey journey, their are a few things to consider in addition to the turkey roasting time.
- Turkey Thawing Time : Estimate 24 hours of defrosting time for every 5 pounds of turkey.
- Brining Time: If you are going to wet brine or dry brine your turkey , that may require extra time.
- Prepping to Roast: You’ll need to fully preheat your oven, and let your turkey come to room temperature. Estimate 1 hour for this.
- Turkey Resting Time: And after cooking, your turkey will need to rest before carving and serving. This time allows the juices to be fully absorbed by the meat. Estimate 20-45 minutes of rest time.
So start defrosting days ahead, get your oven ready an hour early, use the turkey cooking chart above to plan, and add about half an hour (rest time) before you plan to sit down and eat.
All turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165°F before consuming. White meat (breast) is best at 165°F, while dark meat (legs) is best at 170-180°F.
I recommend roasting your turkey at 325°F for slow and even cooking. Setting your oven to 350°F won’t make a huge difference, but it will cook slightly faster, so start checking it earlier.
Although I would recommend fully thawing your turkey, it is safe to cook a turkey directly from frozen without defrosting. But the cooking time will increase by at least 50%. For example, if roasting a thawed, 12-pound unstuffed turkey takes about 3 hours, then cooking it from frozen would take closer to 4 ½ hours.
Yes! Cooking a turkey with stuffing takes slightly longer than cooking a turkey without stuffing–about 30 minutes extra per pound–because you need to ensure the stuffing is fully cooked.
It takes 3-5 minutes per pound to deep fry a whole turkey . You can also deep fry turkey breast in about the same timeframe.
Estimate 30 minutes per pound when smoking a turkey at 225-250°F.
A spatchcocked turkey will cook much faster–about 8-10 minutes per pound, roasting at 425°F.
Now that you know exactly how long it takes to cook a turkey in the oven, you’ll be set for Thanksgiving day! Keep these turkey cooking time charts on hand (bookmark or pin) so that you have them handy when you need them every year.
Thanksgiving Cooking Guides
Get more help, guidance, and recipes for your turkey and Thanksgiving meal!
Thanksgiving Turkey (Easy!)
15+ Unique Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
How Long to Thaw a Turkey (with Turkey Thawing Chart)
Turkey Rub
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
