How long to cook stuffed 13 pound turkey

Today, I will show you how long to cook a turkey at 325ºF. This guide includes the varying baking times for different sizes of turkey. And, it also takes into account whether or not the turkey has been stuffed or not. 

And, if you are looking for some other handy baking guides, you should take a look at this Baked Chicken Wings Recipe and Chicken Enchiladas tutorial.

• How Long To Cook A Turkey at 325ºF
• Turkey 325 Cooking Time – Minutes Per Pounds
• How Long To Cook A Turkey at 325ºF If It Is Stuffed?
• FAQs On How Long To Cook A Turkey at 325ºF
  • Why do you rest a turkey at room temperature before baking it?
  • How do you get your turkey skin crispy?
  • How long to cook a turkey at 350ºF?
• More Delicious Recipes
• Easy Herb Butter Turkey Recipe At 325ºF

This is by no means a straightforward answer. And, there are actually a ton of factors to consider and calculations to do. So, let’s start right at the beginning.

The only constant for these calculations is the baking temperature. Today, as you know, we look at cooking a turkey at 325.

Now, the size of the turkey is the main factor that alters the baking time. Turkeys come in many different sizes. On average, they weigh between 10-20 pounds each.

Below are the average baking times for different weight groups. All of these times apply to turkeys being baked at 325.

• 10-12 pound turkey will bake for 165-180 minutes (2 3/4 to 3 hours)
• 13-14 pound turkey will bake for 180-210 minutes (3 to 3 1/2 hours)
• 15-16 pound turkey will bake for 210-240 minutes (3 1/2 to 4 hours)
• 17-20 pound turkey will bake for 240-270 minutes (4 to 4 1/2 hours)

Turkey 325 Cooking Time – Minutes Per Pounds

Now, the reason that this is important is that it can help you do quick calculations. 

If you work out the average minute per pound above, you will see that the larger the turkey is, the shorter the minutes become. A 20-pound turkey only bakes for about 13.5 minutes for each pound. But, a 10-pound turkey bakes for 16.5 minutes per pound.

This may seem like an insignificant amount. But, adding it up, it could easily result in an over-baked or underbaked turkey!

So, a good rule of thumb to follow is to bake a turkey at 325 for 15 minutes per pound (if it is above 15-pounds). This will ensure you don’t underbake your large turkey.

And, for turkeys between 10-14 pounds, bake them for 13.5 minutes a pound. You can also just use the estimated times provided above.

How Long To Cook A Turkey at 325ºF If It Is Stuffed?

Stuffed turkey does take a little bit longer to bake in comparison to unstuffed turkey. But, for the herb-stuffed turkey, we are making today, the baking times remain the same. 

The rule only applies when you stuff the turkey with thick, dense stuffing (like any bread-based stuffing).

The stuffing will increase the baking time by about 15 minutes. So, if you have a 17-20 pound stuffed turkey, it will now take about 255-285 minutes (4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours) to bake at 325.

FAQs On How Long To Cook A Turkey at 325ºF

Why do you rest a turkey at room temperature before baking it?

Resting your turkey at room temperature allows the meat to heat up slightly. This in turn helps it bake much more evenly and surprisingly, a little bit faster. The baking times above apply to turkey that’s at room temperature before it is baked.

How do you get your turkey skin crispy?

At 325, the skin won’t get crispy unless you bake the turkey uncovered from the start. Otherwise, you will have to finish the turkey on the grill setting for a couple of minutes or bake it at a higher temperature. 

How long to cook a turkey at 350ºF?

If you bake your turkey at a slightly higher temperature, the cooking times will reduce by a couple of minutes. You can work on 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. For a stuffed turkey, you can work on 15 minutes for every pound. So, a 15-pound unstuffed turkey will take 195 minutes (3 1/4 hours) at 350.

More Delicious Recipes

• Grilled Potatoes
• Tasty potatoes salad
• Kachumbari Salad
• Cucumber Onion Salad

Easy Herb Butter Turkey Recipe At 325ºF

This delicious butter and herb stuffed turkey recipe is incredibly easy to make and doesn't involve a ton of prep. It leaves your turkey super tender, juice, and packed with flavor.

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 3 hrs

Resting time 30 mins

Total Time 4 hrs

Servings 10

Calories 438 kcal

• 10-12 pound turkey, prepped
• 1 cup salted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 cup fresh rosemary
• 1 cup fresh thyme
• 1 cup fresh sage
• 10 garlic cloves, minced
• Sea salt flakes, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• To start, prepare your turkey. If you have frozen turkey, make sure that it is completely thawed inside the fridge. It takes about 24 hours per 5 pounds, so give it a couple of days. The turkey should also be brought to room temperature before you start prepping it.

• Next, remove the giblets and neck from the turkey. Pat it dry with paper towel. Then, place the turkey inside the roasting tray on top of a roasting rack. Set it aside.

• Preheat your oven to 325ºF (160ºC). Place the oven rack in the center of the oven.

• Place the softened butter inside a mixing bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of thyme and rosemary, and 2 teaspoons of sage. You can also add the minced garlic. The herbs can be finely minced. The remaining herbs should stay whole for the stuffing.

• Mix the herb butter together and season it with more salt and pepper if it's needed. Set it aside.

• Then, start seasoning your turkey. Rub some sea salt flakes and black pepper in the cavity. Once finished, add the remaining fresh herbs.

• Next, loosen the skin of the turkey and rub butter underneath it. You don't have to add a thick layer, but add over as much surface area (under the skin) as possible. Reserve 3 tablespoons of herb butter.

• Tuck the wings underneath the turkey and make sure it's in the center of the roasting rack.

• Soften the remaining herb butter completely. It shouldn't be melted. Brush it all over the turkey, covering every inch well. If you rub out, make more herb butter.

• Finally, cover the pan with foil and bake the turkey for about 2 3/4 to 3 hours.

• Once you reach the halfway mark of the estimated baking time, remove the foil and continue baking the turkey.

• After the initial baking time, check the doneness of the turkey before removing it from the oven. The internal temperature should be 165ºF (74ºC). You can use other techniques to check the doneness (they are the same as for chicken).

• Once your turkey is baked to perfection, remove it and leave it to rest for 30 minutes before serving. This ensures that the juices (and flavor) remain inside the meat when it gets cut.

• Serve with your favorite side dish, like rusted potatoes, rice, or salad.

Calories: 438kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 55gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 414mgSodium: 650mgPotassium: 413mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 930IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 822mgIron: 40mg

Do you cook a stuffed turkey at 325 or 350?

How long do I cook a stuffed turkey per pound?