Thanksgiving is the one day a year you roast a 20 lb bird for a crowd. You don't want to find out on Thursday morning that it hangs over the edge of your pan, or that the pan flexes when you lift it out full of hot drippings.
Thin foil pans and small bakeware roasters cause most of that stress. Many don't say what size turkey they hold, and many can't go on a burner, so you end up scraping the drippings into a pot to make gravy.
We compared five roasting pans for turkey, from a small pan for a turkey breast to a covered oval roaster. One holds up to a 25 lb turkey per its listing, comes with a V-shaped rack, can go on the stovetop for gravy and goes in the dishwasher.
Not sure? Let us pick for you
What are you roasting this year?
Our pick for you: #1All-Clad Stainless Steel 13 x 16 Inch Roaster with Rack
It holds up to a 25 lb turkey and goes on gas or electric burners for gravy. Not for induction.
All-Clad Stainless Steel 13 x 16 Inch Roaster with Rack
Fits a 20+ lb turkey (per listing)
Stovetop-safe for gravy
Dishwasher safe
A heavy-gauge polished stainless steel roasting pan, 16 by 13 inches and 5 inches high, with a V-shaped nonstick rack that lifts the bird so heat moves around it. The listing gives its capacity as 25 lb. It's oven and broiler safe to 600°F, works on any stovetop except induction, and is dishwasher safe.
Holds up to a 25 lb turkey, per the listing
V-shaped nonstick rack holds the bird up off the drippings
Goes on gas or electric burners, so you can make gravy right in the pan
Dishwasher safe; oven and broiler safe to 600°F; limited lifetime warranty
Not for induction cooktops, and the nonstick rack is rated only to 375°F
Cuisinart Chef's Classic 16 Inch Roasting Pan with Rack (7117-16URP1)
Stovetop-safe for gravy
Dishwasher safe
An uncoated stainless steel roasting pan with an aluminum-encapsulated base and a stainless steel rack. It measures 20.7 by 12 by 4.9 inches with its riveted handles. It works in the oven to 500°F, under the broiler and on the stovetop, including induction, and the whole set is dishwasher safe.
Induction compatible, so it works on every kind of burner for gravy
Stainless steel rack lifts the turkey and lets fat drain
Dishwasher safe; oven safe to 500°F and broiler ready
Similar model shown. Photo: WindyWinters, CC BY 2.0
8.5/10
Granite Ware 19 Inch Oval Roaster with Lid and Rack
Fits a 20+ lb turkey (per listing)
Dishwasher safe
A speckled black oval roaster with a domed lid and an oval rack. The listing says it holds up to a 20 lb turkey or roast and measures about 19.5 by 14.6 by 7.1 inches with the lid on. It's dishwasher safe and free of PFOA and PTFE, per the listing.
Holds up to a 20 lb turkey or roast, per the listing
Lid included, plus an oval rack
Dishwasher safe
Made without PFOA or PTFE, per the listing
The listing doesn't say it can be used on a stovetop
At about 7.1 inches tall with the lid, check that it fits your oven with the racks in place
Illustrative photo. Photo: TheKohser, CC BY-SA 3.0
8.2/10
Circulon Total Bakeware Nonstick Roaster with Rack, 17 x 13 Inch
Fits a 20+ lb turkey (per listing)
An extra-large heavy-duty steel roaster with a nonstick finish and a U-shaped rack. It is 17 by 13 inches and 3.8 inches deep, and the listing gives its capacity as 24 lb. It is oven safe to 450°F and has wide handles.
Holds up to a 24 lb turkey, per the listing
Nonstick finish for easier cleanup
U-shaped rack keeps meat off the bottom of the pan
Wide handles for a firm grip; oven safe to 450°F
Sold as oven bakeware; the listing doesn't say it can go on a stovetop
Farberware Bakeware Nonstick Roaster with Flat Rack, 11 x 15 Inch
A smaller nonstick steel roaster with a removable chrome-plated flat rack and wide dual-riveted handles. The listing calls it right for pork roasts, legs of lamb, whole chickens or small turkeys. It is about 16 by 11.25 inches and 2.25 inches deep, and oven safe to 450°F.
Right size for a turkey breast, a whole chicken or a small turkey
Removable flat rack raises meat so fat drips away
Nonstick inside and out; made without PFAS or PFOA, per the listing
Heavy-duty steel built to resist warping; oven safe to 450°F
Listed for small turkeys only, with no stated weight limit
The All-Clad roaster is our top pick because it does the whole Thanksgiving job in one pan: it holds a big turkey, lifts it on a rack, goes on the burner for gravy and then into the dishwasher.
Look for a stated turkey weight on the listing. Leave about an inch or two around the bird so heat can move and the skin can brown. A pan rated to 20 to 25 lb covers most Thanksgiving turkeys. See our guide to roasting pan sizes.
Get a rack
A rack lifts the turkey out of its own juices so the bottom browns instead of steaming. V-shaped racks cradle a whole bird; flat racks suit a turkey breast or a roast. All five here include one.
Stovetop-safe means easier gravy
Stainless steel pans that can go on a burner let you make gravy right in the pan. Check your cooktop: the All-Clad isn't for induction, the Cuisinart is.
Lid or no lid
A covered roaster like the Granite Ware holds steam in; an open pan browns the skin more. You can always tent an open pan with foil.
Questions about roasting pan for turkey
What size roasting pan do I need for a turkey?
Check the turkey weight on the listing first. For a 12 to 16 lb bird, a pan around 16 inches long usually works; for 20 lb and up, look for a pan that states that weight. Also measure your oven.
Do I need a rack to roast a turkey?
It isn't required, but a rack holds the bird above the drippings so the bottom browns and doesn't sit in liquid. Every pan here includes one.
Is there a roasting pan for a 30 lb turkey?
None of the five pans here lists a 30 lb capacity; the largest stated is 25 lb. For a bird that big, look for a listing that names 30 lb and measure your oven before you buy.
Can I make gravy in my roasting pan?
Only if the listing says the pan is stovetop safe. The All-Clad and Cuisinart are; check your cooktop type, since the All-Clad is not for induction.
Bottom line: the best roasting pan for turkey
For Thanksgiving, the All-Clad stainless roaster is the one to get: it holds up to a 25 lb turkey per its listing, goes on the stovetop for gravy and cleans up in the dishwasher. Choose the Cuisinart if you cook on induction, the Granite Ware if you want a lid, the Circulon for a large nonstick pan, and the Farberware for a turkey breast or a small bird.
Do You Need a Rack to Roast a Turkey? — What a roasting rack does for a turkey, the difference between V, U and flat racks, and what to use instead if your pan didn't come with one.
