Thanksgiving Turkey

This year I volunteered to make a turkey for our pre-Thanksgiving dinner with our small group at church. I’ve made two Thanksgiving turkeys now (the first for a pot-luck Thanksgiving that we hosted for some graduate school friend a few years ago when work and school prevented all of us from traveling home), and I’m really happy with how they turned out. I know that cooking a whole turkey seems a little bit scary, so I thought I’d share the recipe and show you how easy it can be:

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole, thawed turkey (about 1 to 1.5 lbs per person, and plan to let it defrost in the refrigerator for several days if you buy it frozen)
  • Oil or butter (optional)
  • 1 medium to large onion
  • 1-2 apples (I usually get Fuji)
  • 1 package of poultry herbs (this is usually in the produce section of the grocery store – I think it’s a couple sprigs each of rosemary, thyme, and sage)
  • Salt, pepper, paprika
  • 1tbsp flour
  • 1 Reynolds oven bag
  • 1 aluminum roasting pan

Directions
1. Pre-heat oven to 350F.

2. Toss flour in the oven bag (to prevent the bag from popping).

3. Make sure your turkey is defrosted and you have removed everything from the inside (neck, giblets, occasional bag of gravy), then place the turkey inside the oven bag and in the roasting pan.

4. Rub or brush oil or butter over the turkey (not necessary if you purchase a Butterball).

5. Chop apple and onion into eights. Place about half of the onions, apple, and herbs in the bag under the turkey and half inside the turkey cavity.

6. Sprinkle turkey with salt, pepper, and paprika.

7. Tie bag closed and cut 6 slits into the top.

8. Cook turkey until a meat thermometer inside the fattest part of the inner thigh reads 180F. I follow the times on the oven bag instructions, which are 1.5-2hrs for 8-12lbs, 2-2.5hrs for 12-16lbs, 2.5-3hrs for 16-20lbs, or 3-3.5hrs for 20-24lbs.

Easy, right? Here are pictures of both of my turkeys:

IMG_2277

After Thanksgiving, if you’re looking to use up the leftover turkey, check out my Turkey & Andouille Gumbo recipe!

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