When it comes to how long to cook a turkey, you don’t want to play guessing games.

If your Traeger turkey cook time is too short, you’ll end up with an undercooked bird that could make your loved ones sick. If you cook your bird for too long, you’ll recreate the famous dry turkey scene from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. There’s not enough gravy in the world to fix that!

Unfortunately, the answer to “How long does it take to cook a turkey?” doesn’t have a quick answer. Your timing is going to depend on several factors, including weight, stuffing, and cooking methods. But don’t worry because we’ve rounded up all the answers you need for a crash course in cook times that’ll help you make sure the bird comes out picture-perfect on Turkey Day.

Let’s get started.

To Smoke: One very low-and-slow method of cooking a turkey is smoking. If you make smoked turkey, cooking at 225 to 275 degrees Fahrenheit for the start of the cook will deliver the best results.

You can monitor your turkey's internal temperature through an internal meat thermometer like a MEATER.

How To Prep a Turkey for Cooking

Before we get into how long you should cook a turkey, first you need to know how to prep it. While our ultimate guide for how to smoke a turkey can be found in the link, here's a quick step-by-step process to get you started.

1. Preheat The Grill: Fire up your pellet grill and get it preheated, so it's ready to turn your turkey into a masterpiece.

2. Defrost Your Turkey (if necessary): If you're cooking from frozen, make sure your turkey’s fully defrosted. If you're brining from a frozen turkey, make sure to read our expert article.

3. Remove Giblets: Reach inside and pull out the giblets; you don't want those riding shotgun on this flavor train.

4. Season Your Turkey: Coat the bird in your favorite rub, making sure every inch gets a hit of seasoning. You can use our orange brine & turkey rub, or you can pick from our other favorite premade rubs. While you're at it, make sure to get our exclusive turkey pellets too for ultimate flavor. If you decide to brine a turkey for smoking or the turkey injection routes (or both), make sure to take a look at our guides.

5. Truss Your Turkey: Truss the turkey up tight, keeping it ready for an even cook all the way through.

6. Learn How Long To Cook It: Calculate the turkey cook time based on the size of your bird, so you know exactly when to feast.

How Long To Cook a 20-Pound Turkey at 325 Degrees?

If you’re cooking a 20-pound turkey at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, you should plan for a cooking time from 4 ½ hours to 4 ¾ hours. The exact length of time you’ll need to cook your bird depends on whether it’s stuffed, though.

An unstuffed 20-pound turkey will naturally cook faster, so it will take around 4 ½ hours. By stuffing your bird, you’re adding that extra 15 minutes onto your wait for a cooking time of closer to 4 ¾ hours.

To be clear, these cooking times are approximate, and they’ll vary a little bit based on your cooking method. That’s why you should always use a food thermometer and check the internal temperature of your turkey before calling time. It's best to plan an hour of extra cooking time into your day, just in case.

For turkey, the USDA recommends an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing, and the thickest part of the turkey breast. Hit that temp, and your bird is properly roasted.

How Long Do You Cook a 15-Pound Turkey at 325 Degrees?

You should cook a 15-pound turkey at 325 degrees Fahrenheit anywhere from 3 ½ to 4 ½ hours. Bear in mind this time range is for a bird of between 14 and 18 pounds, and the exact timing will (again) depend on whether your turkey is stuffed.1

An unstuffed bird of 15 pounds will likely finish at around the 4-hour mark (or just before). A stuffed turkey will take at least 4 hours to cook, and typically takes an extra 15 minutes until you’ve hit that desired internal temperature.

But no matter what method you’ve used, the same USDA rules on inner temperature apply for a 15-pound turkey. Don’t stop cooking your bird until your thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the thigh, wing, and breast.

How Long To Cook a 12-Pound Turkey at 325 Degrees?

You should cook a 12-pound turkey at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 3 ½ hours. If you want to break down those times and get more precise, it will all depend on whether your turkey is stuffed or unstuffed (see a pattern here?).

An unstuffed 12-pound turkey will take around 3 hours to cook at 325 degrees. Meanwhile, a stuffed 12-pound bird will take closer to 3 ½ hours. The exact timing is going to vary depending on cooking method, your oven, and other factors, but this is a pretty good range.

Just like other turkey sizes, knowing when you're done smoking a turkey on a pellet grill is based on internal temperature. When in doubt, stick with the USDA guidelines: 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to gauge your temps in the thickest part of the thigh, wing, and breast to be sure you’re not misreading.

How to Know When Turkey is Done

The best way to make sure you're cooking your turkey the appropriate amount of time though is to use an internal meat thermometer. The best way to do that is through the MEATER. This wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer will expertly track how your bird is cooking and let you know via the app so you don't have to stress about it all day.

Just make sure to put it in the thickest part of the turkey. Insert the thermometer in the deepest part of the breast and thigh, making sure not to hit any bones, to get an accurate reading.

You'll know your turkey is done if it's reached 165°F.

How To Carve a Turkey

Though carving a turkey can seem intimidating, it doesn't need to be. The most important things to know are to be patient, and let the turkey rest. That way, the juices redistribute and keeps your turkey juicy from grill to table.

See our steps and guide on how to carve a turkey so that you're ready to go on Thanksgiving Day.

Best Turkey Guides

Thanksgiving is a high-pressure holiday, and while there are a lot of guides out there, check out these expert guides on how to cook a turkey on a pellet grill so that you can cook your Traeger turkey like a pro:

• Smoked Turkey: How to Smoke a Turkey Step-by-Step
• Best Pellets for Smoking Turkey
• Turkey Selection Guide: How Big of a Turkey Should I Get?
• How to Brine a Turkey for Smoking & Roasting
• Can You Brine a Frozen Turkey
• How to Spatchcock a Turkey
• 10 Smokin' Leftover Turkey Ideas
• Thanksgiving Turkey Cook Time and Guide
• How to Carve a Turkey Like a Pro