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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.
Jump to:
- Turkey Cooking Time
- Turkey Cooking Times and Temperatures
- Turkey Temperature Chart (Printable)
- Cooking a Turkey
- Turkey Temperature FAQs
- Where to Put the Thermometer in a Turkey
- How much turkey per person do I need?
- When to Thaw Turkey
- Turkey Smoking Times
- Spatchcocked Turkey Cooking Time
- Turkey Grilling Times
- Deep Frying Turkey Times
- Turkey Breast Cooking Times
- What to Serve with Turkey
- Seasoning for Turkey
- Recipe
- Turkey Temperature + Turkey Seasoning
- Reviews
Turkey Cooking Time
Top tip for cooking turkey: No matter what method you use, the internal temp for turkey will read 180°F with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh and 170°F when inserted into the breast. When measuring internal turkey temperature, always use a meat thermometer.
Turkey Cooking Times and Temperatures
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 for safe temperature, 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) |
Turkey Temperature Chart (Printable)
Cooking a Turkey
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.
From traditional roasted turkey to Instant Pot Turkey, Air Fryer Turkey, Smoked Turkey, Grilled Turkey, and even Deep Fried Turkey, this turkey cooking chart has it all!
Enjoy cooking a perfect turkey this year – even better if you try one of my best turkey recipes!
Turkey Temperature FAQs
Turkey is done when the minimum internal temperature 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 the turkey.
I always recommend cooking your turkey at 350° F. Ultimately, the key to a perfectly cooked turkey is not just the temperature but also monitoring the internal temperature of the turkey itself. Make sure to use a meat thermometer and cook the turkey until it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh without touching the bone. This is the most important factor in ensuring that your turkey is safe to eat.
Where to Put the Thermometer in a Turkey
- Insert a thermometer into the thickest portion of the turkey breast-side or the innermost portion of the thigh meat or dark meat, when cooking a whole turkey.
- Make sure the thermometer does not touch the bone or pan.
- When inserting the thermometer into breast meat, insert it from the side.
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 how to execute a fully thawed turkey safely and efficiently.
Try my favorite roasted turkey recipes:
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 at the temperature of 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 |
Spatchcocked Turkey Cooking Time
| Turkey Weight | Cook Time for Spatchcocked Turkey at 300℉ (Smoker) |
|---|---|
| 10 lbs. | 2.5 hours |
| 15 lbs. | 2.5-3 hours |
| 18 lbs. | 4.5 hours |
| 20 lbs. | 5 hours |
For a roasted spatchcock turkey, cook at 450℉ for 25-30 minutes, then lower the temperature to 400℉ and roast for about 4-5 minutes per pound until the internal temperature reads 180°F with a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh and 170°F when inserted into the breast.
Try one of my best smoked turkey recipes:
Turkey Grilling Times
Turkey grilling times vary based on the grill, the size of the 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:
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:
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. If you like white meat, this is a great choice for you and your family.
Temperature for Turkey Breast
The proper temperature for turkey breast is 165°F.
You can cook turkey breast in many ways, but I love making it in the Instant Pot, Air Fryer, or Sous Vide! For exact measurements and times, follow these recipes:
For a printer-friendly version of every turkey temp chart shown above, see: Turkey Temperature Chart (printer-friendly PDF)
What to Serve with Turkey
- Instant Pot Carrots
- Turkey Gravy
- Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe with celery
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Creamed Corn Casserole
Seasoning for Turkey
Check out my easy Thanksgiving Dinner Tips, and use the leftovers to make Turkey Stock, Turkey Carcass Soup, or my other Leftover Turkey Recipes!
See my Steak Temperature Chart, Pork Temperature Chart, and Chicken Temperature Chart next!
Recipe
Turkey Temperature + Turkey Seasoning
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.
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