How long to cook a 15 lb turkey at 325

No guessing: here’s a go-to guide for turkey roasting times for a perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

Table of Contents Show

Quick Turkey Tips:
How Long to Roast a Turkey:
Ingredients
Directions
Chef's Notes
Nutrition Facts
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
How long does it take to cook at 15 lb turkey?
How long do you cook a turkey at 325 per pound?
How long to cook a turkey at 325 in the oven?

By Leah Brickley for Food Network Kitchen

Leah is a contributing writer at Food Network.

Roasting a turkey doesn’t have to be an intimidating task if you have a good game plan. We consulted the USDA — the authority on turkey talk — and here is a handy guideline for cooking success.

Quick Turkey Tips:

How much turkey per person: Plan on 1 1/2 pounds of (uncooked) turkey per person.
Thawing time: Budget enough time for thawing your bird: here's our thawing guide.
Cooking stuffing: Remember to remove the giblet packet and turkey neck (and make gravy!). It's safer to cook stuffing in a separate baking dish but if in-the-bird is what you prefer, pack it in loosely — it should register at 165 F with an instant read thermometer before serving.
Taking the turkey's temperature: Use an instant read thermometer to check your turkey's temp: insert the probe in the deepest part of the thigh — it should register 165 F.
Resting time: Let turkey turkey rest 20 minutes before carving.

How Long to Roast a Turkey:

These times all based on roasting a turkey at 325 F.

Unstuffed

4 to 8 pounds (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours
8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours
12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours
14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours

Stuffed

6 to 8 pounds (breast only): 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours
8 to 12 pounds: 3 to 3 1/2 hours
12 to 14 pounds: 3 1/2 to 4 hours
14 to 18 pounds: 4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours
20 to 24 pounds: 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours

It's safe to cook a completely frozen turkey but it will take at least 50 percent longer than a fully thawed bird. If cooking from frozen, remove the giblet packet with tongs about halfway through. Cook until the deepest part of the thigh registers 165 F with an instant read thermometer.

Ingredients

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Step 1
Remove and discard leg truss from turkey. Pull off and discard any lumps of fat. Remove giblets and neck (they're often packed in the neck or body cavity) and save for gravy. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. Rub turkey all over with butter.
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Step 2
Place turkey, breast up, on a V-shaped rack in a 12- by 17-inch roasting pan, or one that is at least 2 in. longer and wider than the bird. Insert a meat thermometer through thickest part of breast to the bone. (If using an instant-read thermometer, insert when checking temperature later.)
Step 3
Roast in a 325° or 350° (depending on size of bird; see below) oven until thermometer registers 160°.
Step 4
If turkey is unstuffed, tip slightly to drain juices from body cavity into pan. Transfer turkey to a platter. Let stand in a warm place, uncovered, for 15 to 30 minutes, then carve. If thigh joints are still pink (common in an oven-roasted bird), cut drumsticks from thighs, place thighs in a baking pan, and bake in a 450° oven until no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes; or put on a microwave-safe plate and cook in a microwave oven at full power (100%) for 1 to 3 minutes.
Step 5
Nutritional analysis per 1/4 pound boned cooked turkey with skin, based on percentages of white and dark meat in an average bird.
Step 6
Oven-roasted turkey: temperatures and times
Step 7
For a 10-13 lb. turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 350° oven for 1 1/2-2 1/4 hr.
Step 8
For a 14-23 lb. turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 2-3 hr.
Step 9
For a 24-27 lb. turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 3-3 3/4 hr.
Step 10
For a 28-30 lb turkey (weight with giblets): Bake in a 325° oven for 3 1/2-4 1/2 hr.
Step 11
Times are for unstuffed birds. A stuffed bird may cook at the same rate as an unstuffed one; however, be prepared to allow 30 to 50 minutes longer. While turkeys take about the same time to roast in regular and convection heat, a convection oven does a better job of browning the bird all over.

Chef's Notes

If using a frozen turkey, start thawing it in a pan in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days before roasting, depending on its size. During roasting, if turkey overlaps the pan rim, tuck a strip of heavy-duty foil along the sides of the pan to keep fat from dripping over.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

229 calories; calories from fat 39%; protein 32g; fat 10g; saturated fat 3g; sodium 82mg; cholesterol 93mg.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

Roast the turkey uncovered at a temperature ranging from 325°F to 350°F. Higher temperatures may cause the meat to dry out, but this is preferable to temperatures that are too low which may not allow the interior of the turkey to cook to a safe temperature.

How long does it take to cook at 15 lb turkey?

How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey?.

How long do you cook a turkey at 325 per pound?

Assuming you are roasting your turkey in a 325°F oven, plan on 15 to 17 minutes of cooking time for each pound of an unstuffed turkey. Plan on 20 to 22 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey. 8-12 lb. 12-14 lb.