Thanksgiving 101: How Much Stuffing Should You Make Per Person? (2024)

FAQs

Thanksgiving 101: How Much Stuffing Should You Make Per Person? ›

How much stuffing should you make? About ¾ cup per person or per pound of turkey. Note: Not all of that stuffing will fit in the cavity if you are planning on stuffing the bird.

Plan to serve about 3/4 cup of stuffing per guest. That amounts to roughly 4 cups of prepared stuffing for 5 guests and 7-1/2 cups for 10 guests. However, if you have grand plans for using leftovers in Stuffin' Muffins or turkey potpie with a stuffing crust, feel free to make a little bit more.

21, 2011— -- Everyone loves your Thanksgiving turkey, but do you really know how much stuffing is the right amount to make? In order to fill the cavity of the bird you are stuffing, you should make 3/4 cup of stuffing per person.

One serving of stuffing is one half of a cup, or the equivalent of an ice cream scoop. Each helping contains about 180 calories.

Stuff both the neck and body cavities of a completely thawed turkey, allowing ½ to ¾ cup of stuffing per pound. Don't pack stuffing too tightly, as it may cause uneven cooking.

If stuffing a whole turkey, chicken, or other bird, spoon the stuffing in loosely - about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, because heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment.

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

How much stuffing per person? A 14-ounce bag of stuffing makes about 11 servings; a 6-ounce box of stuffing mix makes 6 servings.

Roasting the bird slowly, at a lower temperature is the best way to achieve tender meat. You should still prep the bird with butter, salt, and pepper, as described above (or dry-brine it). To cook, set your oven to 325°F and roast for 3½ to 4 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird.

To determine serving size, you can weigh the food and divide it by the number of servings. Many recipes also provide the recommended serving size. For this calculator, we researched the recommended serving sizes according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Heart Association (AHA).

How to tell when stuffing is done? ›

You need a thermometer. Since you've used the term “stuffing,” we'll assume you're talking about the bread casserole baked inside of a turkey at Thanksgiving in the United States. Since it's cooked inside the turkey, you know that it's done when the internal temperature of the stuffing is 165° F.

The general rule of thumb is 1–1½ pounds turkey per person. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don't end up getting eaten.

Especially if guests are arriving hours before dinner will be serve! I recommend 4 appetizers or bites per person. Most resources out there will recommend between 1 and 2 pounds of turkey per person. I think it's safe to plan for 1 1/2 pounds per person.

A 20-pound turkey will feed between 12 and 14 people.