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My Turkey Temperature Chart has all of the information you need to cook the best turkey on the block this year! No more dried out, overcooked turkey, or struggling to plan ahead – these are the best times and temps for turkey, no matter what cooking method you’re using. From traditional roasted turkey to Instant Pot, Air Fryer, Smoked, Grilled, and even Deep Fried, this turkey cooking chart has it all!
Jump to:
- Turkey Temperature Chart
- How much turkey per person do I need?
- When to Thaw Turkey
- Internal Temp for Turkey
- Turkey Roasting Times
- Turkey Smoking Times
- Turkey Grilling Times
- Deep Frying Turkey Times
- Turkey Breast Cooking Times
- Turkey Cooking Times FAQs
- What to Serve with Turkey
- Best Seasoning for Turkey
- 📌 Pin it for later!
- 📋 Recipe
Turkey Temperature Chart
I look forward to cooking an amazing holiday turkey for my family every year, and the key to making sure everything goes smoothly is to plan ahead. The best way to plan ahead for cooking a turkey is to know when to start thawing turkey and, of course, what the ideal internal temperature for turkey is!
My turkey temperature chart has everything you need to flawlessly prepare turkey, no matter what cooking method you’re using. And trust me, I have tried it all – from roasting turkey to deep frying, smoking, grilling, air frying, pressure cooking, and cooking a spatchcocked turkey and a turkey breast roast.
Enjoy cooking a perfect turkey this year – even better if you try one of my best turkey recipes and the Thanksgiving Side Dishes they pair best with!
How much turkey per person do I need?
You can easily calculate how much turkey per person you will need by following a rule of about 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. Therefore, a 20-pound turkey will feed about 15 people with some leftovers. This will work for any of the following methods for preparing a turkey.
When to Thaw Turkey
If you’re not sure when you should start thawing turkey for Thanksgiving – turkey takes a while to thaw! – first, check my guide on How Long to Thaw a Turkey. In this guide, I review all the ways you can thaw turkey safely and efficiently.
Internal Temp for Turkey
Top tip for cooking turkey: No matter what method you use, the internal temp for turkey will read 180°F with a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh and 170°F when inserted into the breast. When measuring internal turkey temperature, always use a meat thermometer.
Turkey Roasting Times
A turkey roasted in the oven will roast for about 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. For a stuffed turkey, calculate about 15 minutes per pound. This is a general rule, and due to oven temperatures and other factors, it’s best to use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temp of turkey rather than relying on exact times.
| Turkey Weight | Feeds | How Long to Roast Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| 10-18 pounds | feeds less than 10 people | roast for 3-3.5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed) |
| 18-22 pounds | feeds 10 to 15 people | roast for 3.5-4 hours at 350°F (unstuffed) |
| 22-24 pounds | feeds 16 to 20 people | roast for 4-4.5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed) |
| 24-29 pounds | feeds more than 20 people | roast for 4.5-5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed) |
Try my favorite roasted turkey recipes:
Amazing Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
Amazing Boneless Turkey Breast Roast
Turkey Smoking Times
Calculate how much time you need to smoke your turkey based on its weight. A smoked turkey should cook for about 15 minutes per pound with the temperature at 325°F.
| Turkey Weight | Feeds | How Long to Smoke Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| 8 pounds | 5 guests and under | 2 hours |
| 15 pounds | 10 guests and under | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| 20 pounds | 15 guests and under | 5 hours |
Try one of my best smoked turkey recipes:
Smoked Spatchcock Turkey
How to Smoke a Turkey
Turkey Grilling Times
Turkey grilling times vary based on the grill, size of a turkey, and other factors. Your turkey should be fully thawed before cooking. Use your meat thermometer to check the turkey temperature in the breast and thighs before removing it from the grill and add more time as necessary. I like to check turkey every 30 minutes when grilling to see how it is coming along.
If using a lower temperature than 450°F to grill turkey, calculate at 11 to 13 minutes per pound.
| Turkey Weight | Feeds | How Long to Grill Turkey at 450°F (indirect heat) |
|---|---|---|
| 8-12 pounds | 10 guests and under | 1.5-2 hours |
| 15-18 pounds | 12 guests and under | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| 20-22 pounds | 15 guests and under | 2.5 to 3.25 hours |
Try my best Grilled Turkey Recipe:
Amazing Grilled Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
Deep Frying Turkey Times
Deep frying turkey is a process that should be done very carefully – be sure to check out my recipe for Deep Fried Turkey below! Make absolutely sure your turkey is completely thawed and dry before deep frying.
No matter what size turkey you have, if you’re deep frying turkey, it will cook for 3.5 minutes per pound.
| Turkey Weight | Feeds | How Long to Deep Fry Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| 8 pounds | 5 guests and under | 28 minutes |
| 10 pounds | 7 guests and under | 35 minutes |
| 15 pounds | 10 guests and under | 53 minutes |
| 18 pounds | 12 guests and under | 63 minutes |
| 20 pounds | 15 guests and under | 70 minutes |
| 30 pounds (maximum) | 22 guests and under | 105 minutes |
Follow my recipe for deep fried turkey for best results:
Deep Fried Turkey Recipe
Turkey Breast Cooking Times
For smaller turkeys cooked in the Air Fryer or Instant Pot, you will need to use specific size turkeys and follow exact cooking times. A whole turkey will not fit in either appliance, and a turkey breast must be used instead. For exact measurements and times, follow these recipes:
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Turkey Cooking Times FAQs
Turkey is done when it reaches 180°F with a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh and 170°F when inserted into the breast. Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp of turkey.
Check the deepest part of the thigh and thickest part of the breast for the best read times on your meat thermometer when measuring the internal temp of turkey.
What to Serve with Turkey
- Instant Pot Stuffing
- Homemade Stuffing with Mushrooms and Bacon (Gluten-Free)
- Portuguese Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing Recipe
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Creamed Corn Casserole
- Sweet Potato Casserole
Best Seasoning for Turkey
Butter Injection for Turkey
Turkey Rub
Check out my easy Thanksgiving menu ideas!
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📋 Recipe
Best Turkey Seasoning – plus Turkey Temperature Chart
Equipment
- Small bowl for mixing
Ingredients
- 1½ Tablespoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon chicken flavor bouillon
- ½ Tablespoon sugar
- ½ Tablespoon dry mustard
Instructions
- Add 1½ Tbsp. paprika, ½ tsp. black pepper, 1 Tbsp. garlic powder, 1 Tbsp. chicken flavor bouillon, ½Tbsp. sugar, and ½ Tbsp. dry mustard to a small bowl.1½ Tablespoons paprika, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 Tablespoon garlic powder, 1 Tablespoon chicken flavor bouillon, ½ Tablespoon sugar, ½ Tablespoon dry mustard
- Whisk turkey rub seasoning together until blended. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For best results, brush your turkey with butter after seasoning. Trust us, this will give you the crispiest skin for any turkey!
- Pat seasoning over and under the skin of the bird for the best flavor.
Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe!