Can there be Thanksgiving without a turkey? Hardly! Take out the guesswork and make sure your bird always comes out juicy and flavorful with this handy printable {FREE} Turkey Cheat Sheet, Utensil Wraps and Family Recipe Cards.
Cooking a whole turkey is not rocket science, and anyone can do it! You just need to follow a few simple guidelines and your guests will be fighting for leftovers. Even as a beginner in the kitchen, you will get great results if you use this cheat sheet.
I also added some bonus pages so we can all properly celebrate Thanksgiving! One of them is a blank recipe page you can print as many times as you need to write down your family’s favorite Thanksgiving recipes. The other sheet includes some cute utensil wraps you can use to make your Thanksgiving table as festive as it should be!
🍂 Why It Works
Flawless Holiday | Whether you are cooking stuffed or unstuffed, the total time will depend on its total weight. Obviously, the larger the bird, the longer it will have to stay in the oven. Our printable Turkey Cheat Sheet lists cooking times for both stuffed and unstuffed versions based on their weight. Easy peasy!
Everything You Need to Know | If you are using a frozen turkey, be sure to thaw it before cooking. Otherwise, the cooking time won’t be the same, and the bird might not get cooked properly in the center.
Learn How to Brine | This is easier than you realize and I can’t wait to show you how to use a super simple recipe to make the juiciest turkey out there.
Simple Table Setting | The table is best kept simple and elegant which is done with the printable culinary wraps that will be placed on all of the tables over the cloth napkins.
🦃 How It Works
Step One: Assuming you know how many guests are coming, you will need to calculate how big the bird should be to feed everyone. If you have some people who are still undecided, you might want to leave a bit of wiggle room. Plus, you’ll want extra for the leftovers.
Step Two: Make the brine using your favorite herbs, and spices and allow the bird to marinate for at least six hours in the refrigerator.
Step Three: Weigh your turkey and find the weight in the first column of the table. If it’s stuffed, the total cooking time will be in the second column. For unstuffed, bake it according to the time in the third column.
🧂Turkey Cheat Sheet
How much to buy per person
Use the Thanksgiving Planner Binder, to make a handy shopping list so nothing is forgotten.
With the printable, calculating how much turkey you need per person is super easy! Here are the magic formulas:
No leftovers: # Of guests x 1.25 = x Pound turkey
Some leftovers: # Of guests x 1.5 or 1.75= x Pound turkey
Simple Brining Method
Once you figure out how big the bird should be, it’s time to make the brine. This will ensure your turkey will be extra flavorful and tender. This is the basic brine formula:
1 Gallon water + 1 cup of salt + ½ cup of sugar + 1 cup aromatics/flavorings
Customize it with your favorite herbs and spices and try different combinations for every turkey you make.
Last, but not least, you should find the perfect cooking time for your turkey based on its final weight.
| Turkey Weight (lbs.) | Stuffed | Unstuffed |
| 8 | 3 hrs | 2 hrs + 45 mins |
| 10 | 3 hrs + 15 mins | 2 hrs + 55 mins |
| 12 | 3 hrs + 30 mins | 3 hrs |
| 14 | 3 hrs + 45 mins | 3 hrs + 45 mins |
| 16 | 4 hrs | 4 hrs |
| 18 | 4 hrs + 15 mins | 4 hrs + 15 mins |
| 20 | 4 hrs + 30 mins | 4 hrs + 30 mins |
| 22 | 4 hrs + 45 mins | 4 hrs + 45 mins |
🍗 Family Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe
I printed this sheet in multiple copies and wrote down the Thanksgiving recipes my family loves most. I recommend you do the same and you will have a much easier time planning your Thanksgiving dinner!
This sheet will allow you to write down all the essential information you need for a recipe: number of servings, prep time, cook time, ingredients, and directions. I also added a “notes section” where you can write down any other relevant details.
Our favorites after stuffing is the mashed rutabaga, mashed cauliflower and Brussel sprout stalk.
🍴Thanksgiving Utensil Wraps
I’m a big fan of effortless decor and one of the easiest ways to do it is with the help of printables. The printable utensil wraps are a great last-minute decor idea for your festive table setting, but don’t forget the {free} conversation starter cards so there aren’t any empty moments at the table with guests.
Once you print the page, fold and cut it lengthwise on the dotted line. Then fold each wrap on the horizontal dotted line and glue the sides. Once they dry you can insert your cutlery and place them on the table. Feel free to print as many as needed!
🍽️ Turkey Cooking Expert Tips
A tender roasted turkey will surely be the highlight of your Thanksgiving dinner so going through all the steps is definitely worth the effort. Here are some practical tips that will ensure your bird turns out just right.
Thaw your turkey in the refrigerator or in cold water. The first option is the best, but it does take longer so be sure to plan ahead. Thaw your turkey in its original wrapping, breast side up. Allow for one day of thawing for every four pounds of turkey.
Thawing in cold water is much faster. In this case, you should thaw the bird breast side down and make sure there’s enough water to cover it completely. Change the water every few hours and allow for 30 minutes of thawing per pound of turkey.
Once the turkey is thawed you can brine it. I recommend brining for at least six hours, but 12 hours is even better, especially for larger turkeys.
In the oven, bake the bird breast-side down for the first hour. This will ensure the turkey remains moist as most of the juices will collect in the breast during that time. After you flip it, keep an eye on it and cover it loosely with foil if it starts to brown too fast.
Internal temperature needs to be 180 degrees for thigh, 170 degrees for breast and 165 degrees for stuffing according to Butterball.
Allow the turkey to rest 20 minutes before serving so the juices will evenly redistribute.
After the holiday, snag an extra bird or two for the freezer, as a lot of grocery stores will slash the prices after the holiday to get rid of them. This is a great time to prep for those frugal months ahead.
Having leftovers to stockpile in the freezer? Use the Freezer Storage Tips 101 Printable for how long to freeze foods to keep them fresh.
🖨️ Snag the Printable
Get ready for Thanksgiving with our free printable Turkey Cooking Cheat Sheet, Family Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe Sheet, and Thanksgiving Utensil Wraps. Enter your name and email in the form below and the file will appear in your inbox shortly. Enjoy!
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