how long to cook stuffed turkey
A stuffed turkey generally takes about 15–17 minutes per pound at 325°F (163°C), but you should always go by temperature, not just the clock.
Core timing guidelines
- At 325°F, many food-safety and test-kitchen guides suggest roughly 15–17 minutes per pound for a stuffed bird.
- As a rough example at 325°F for stuffed turkeys:
- 10–12 lb: about 3¼–3½ hours
- 12–14 lb: about 3½–4 hours
- 14–18 lb: about 4–4¼ hours
- 18–20 lb: about 4¼–4¾ hours
- 20–24 lb: about 4¾–5¼ hours
Safe internal temperatures
- The most important rule is to cook until all of these are reached:
- Stuffing center: 165°F (74°C)
- Turkey breast: about 165–170°F (74–77°C)
- Thigh: about 170–175°F (77–79°C)
- Start checking temps about 30–45 minutes before the earliest estimated finish time, then every 15–20 minutes.
Stuffed vs unstuffed time
- A stuffed turkey usually needs around 30–45 minutes more than the same turkey unstuffed because the heat has to penetrate into the stuffing.
- Loosely fill the cavity rather than packing the stuffing tightly so heat can circulate and the stuffing can reach 165°F safely.
Simple step-by-step plan
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
- Prepare stuffing; pre-cook any meat in it (like sausage) before mixing.
- Loosely stuff the turkey cavity, then place the turkey breast-side up in a roasting pan.
- Roast using the time-per-pound estimate, but rely on a meat thermometer for doneness.
- When stuffing and meat hit safe temperatures, remove the turkey and rest it 20–30 minutes before carving.
Quick reference timing table (325°F, stuffed)
| Turkey weight | Approx. time (stuffed) |
|---|---|
| 10–12 lb | 3¼–3½ hours |
| 12–14 lb | 3½–4 hours |
| 14–18 lb | 4–4¼ hours |
| 18–20 lb | 4¼–4¾ hours |
| 20–24 lb | 4¾–5¼ hours |
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.