https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:29:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2653391 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 20:08:28 +0000 Foodnerd81 2653391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: oh thanks for letting me know! Not worth the extra drive then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2653382 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 19:42:02 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2653382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to TJs today to check out their turkeys and it's pretty big. Guess we'll be doing breasts also. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2653366 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 19:08:41 +0000 brady80 2653366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're having 5 adults and getting a turkey breast. I did a dry run a few weeks ago and it worked out perfectly. We had leftovers and it was really easy to cook. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652857 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 22:20:43 +0000 sapphire 2652857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I need dark meat - breast alone wouldn't do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652800 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 19:57:57 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2652800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: I had no idea TJ's sold small turkeys! I'm totally going to check it out. </p> <p>Its just me and my husband and now LO1 so we've had just the breast last year, and roasted a chicken the year before. Its not satisfying without having the real whole turkey! I'll settle for the breast if I have to, but from experience, I think having a whole turkey is more festive and more delicious! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652791 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 19:36:48 +0000 Foodnerd81 2652791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'm sold on doing a whole small turkey. I saw. Frozen ten pound on when I looked briefly she even if I can't find smaller we can just freeze leftovers. My mom did stuffing inside the turkey but I'll probably do t separate to make it easier and reduce my fear of food poisoning everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652786 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 19:32:38 +0000 MsMini 2652786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do the small turkey, but I also do turkey stock etc! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652763 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 18:46:36 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2652763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you can't find a small enough turkey, our local butcher does 'half' turkeys. They cut a 14 or 15 lb turkey in half for me so it was the perfect size and half breast and leg/thigh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652755 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 18:07:49 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2652755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When it's just us, I cater Thanksgiving.</p> <p>It's $20 per person and we get at least three days worth of leftovers. I figure its more cost effective than doing the whole shebang. Especially considering my kids might not eat it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652743 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 17:24:01 +0000 bookwormmama 2652743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My MIL has done breasts every year I've known her/gone to their house for Thanksgiving. They have a smoker, so she actually does 2 small ones, one smoked and one in the oven. I only eat white meat (as does most of the family) and there's only 5 adults and 1 picky toddler, so it makes the most sense. And it is way easier on her, so I completely understand and would recommend going that way if you don't need a lot of meat and want to keep things less stressful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652725 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:49:13 +0000 SweetiePie 2652725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked my mom the same thing one year and she said definitely don't do a breast only, it dries out easier/less juicy.<br /> I would do a small turkey, 7-8 lbs. remember a lot of the weight is actually bones and innards. So they usually recommend 2lbs per adult. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652722 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:34:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 2652722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: that's a great idea. I'll make sure to pick one of those bags up when I go shopping. Why not make things easier? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652721 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:31:18 +0000 Foodnerd81 2652721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: I do regular whole chickens in The slow cooker now. You don't get a pretty crispy skin (which I don't eat anyway) but the meat comes out super tender and falling off the bone and is definitely cooked through. When I'm ambitious I even make stock after-take the meat off and put all the bones back in with some onions and carrots and a splash of vinegar then top up with water, back in the same slow cooker, on low overnight. But lately I'm way too lazy for that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652708 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:04:17 +0000 HappyBaker 2652708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: One idea for how to cook it - when I did my first thanksgiving turkey I used one of those plastic Cooking Bags - the instructions for cook time were fool proof and it came out really good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652700 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:56:39 +0000 cascademom 2652700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom's done turkey breasts when it's only been a few of us. We liked it. She's actually making turkey breasts for our family, my mom, my dad since my brother's family is hosting Thanksgiving dinner at their house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652698 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:49:54 +0000 avivoca 2652698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Small turkey! I can't roast a chicken to save my life (I've tried three times and failed), but I've successfully roasted a turkey three times now and nobody got sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652683 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:19:03 +0000 MaryM 2652683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did just a breast one year it was just me and my parents. My dad thought that was ridiculous and just not thanksgiving. But I don't like dark meat so I didn't mind it. </p> <p>DH did cornish hens last year and that was nice (it was just the two of us). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652677 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:12:37 +0000 snowjewelz 2652677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a small family (just immediate family here), but we hate white meat so we just find the smallest turkey possible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652674 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:09:30 +0000 erinbaderin 2652674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Especially if you don't think it's really Thanksgiving without turkey I would do a whole turkey. If you have too many leftovers you could always make turkey pies or something similar and freeze them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652663 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:50:12 +0000 gotkimchi 2652663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think whole turkeys taste better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652662 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:49:05 +0000 looch 2652662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do a bone in breast and 4 legs for the guys that like dark meat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652597 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 11:42:10 +0000 lamariniere 2652597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's hard to find turkey here, so I roasted two chickens last year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652596 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 11:38:44 +0000 bubblegum 2652596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year and it's about 10 of us and I'm still doing just a turkey breast! So much easier </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652588 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 11:24:08 +0000 peachykeen 2652588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Generally (at least around here) you can get a full turkey for about the same price as a turkey breast (or sometimes even cheaper - go figure). We primarily eat the white meat, but I like to give DD the dark meat for the iron content and we also use leftover dark meat for soups, etc. So I guess I vote for the full turkey :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652585 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 11:18:20 +0000 Mrs D 2652585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do a small turkey!</p> <p>I make turkey enchiladas with the leftovers...SO yummy! And not thanksgiving-y... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652570 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:57:16 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2652570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'm going to do a small turkey for 6 people. DH prefers dark meat and would miss it If I just got a breast. We're going out of town the next day so I'm going to freeze the leftovers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652566 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:49:22 +0000 ShootingStar 2652566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on what you want to eat. Do you guys like dark meat and drum sticks? Or do you just like white meat? Do you want to stuff the turkey, or will you just bake it on the side (or skip it)? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652564 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:41:22 +0000 MrsSCB 2652564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just do turkey breast for a small group. The smallest size (I order in advance from Whole Foods) is 3-4 lbs. so you can definitely still have leftovers. Might depend on whether someone really likes dark meat, though. I have a good recipe for an herb rubbed turkey breast if you're interested! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652546 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:28:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 2652546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@psw27: I totally am treating her like a light eating adult. The kid loves meat! </p> <p>@youboots: hmm I haven't been to TJs in ages. I wonder how insane it will be the week of thanksgiving. I was thinking I'd buy frozen this week to make sure I have it. </p> <p>@bebe211: we eat chicken all. The. Time. So I want a turkey for sure. It's just not thanksgiving without it to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/small-turkey-or-breast-only#post-2652542 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:23:48 +0000 psw27 2652542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On the Butterball calculator I put in 4 adults (treating your youngest as an adult LOL), 1 kid, that you are "light eaters" and that you want leftovers and it suggested a 7 pound turkey so I would go with that! </p>