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tasty thanksgiving turkey

(3 ratings)
LindaDeB avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Linda DeBenedittis
@LindaDeB
FALCON, CO

I have been trying to find a good turkey recipe for years. Over the past two years, I have tried several that had the potential but still not quite to our liking. This year, I took some basic ideas for seasoning a turkey and keeping it moist and created the following recipe. At our family gathering, this was a major hit. Absolutely no turkey leftovers! I was not happy about that since it was the tastiest, most moist turkey I have ever made.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

If you're looking to cook your Thanksgiving turkey in a new way this holiday season, we suggest following the steps to this recipe. Spatchcocking the turkey means it cooks faster and the meat turns out juicy and tender. The oil/rub mix, plus the veggies stuffed inside, add wonderful seasoning and flavor to the turkey.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(3 ratings)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 2 Hr
method Bake

Ingredients For tasty thanksgiving turkey

  • 13 lb
    fresh turkey, spotchcocked (butterflied)
  • 1/4 c
    extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tsp
    sage, dried
  • 2 tsp
    (each) salt and pepper
  • 1/2 tsp
    crushed red pepper
  • 1 Tbsp
    orange zest
  • 1
    orange (can be the one used for zest), cut into pieces
  • 1
    apple (I used a Gala), cut into pieces
  • 4
    celery stalks, cut into pieces abot 3 inches long
  • 4
    carrots, cut into 3 inch pieces
  • 1
    sweet onions, cut into eight pieces

How To Make tasty thanksgiving turkey

  • Olive oil and seasonings in a bowl.
    1
    In a small bowl, mix olive oil, salt, pepper, sage, crushed red pepper, and orange zest. Set to the side to allow flavors to blend.
  • Trimming a spatchcocked turkey.
    2
    Wash turkey that has been spotchcocked (I had the grocery butcher do this for me, and they also gave me the backbone removed with some meat on it to use for soup later) with water and pat dry. Place on a cutting board and remove any fat tags from the ends with kitchen shears.
  • Orange, apples, celery, and onions in a baking pan.
    3
    Cut up the orange, apples. celery, carrot, and onion. Spread out on rack of turkey pan.
  • Oiled turkey placed in baking pan.
    4
    Take the oil mixture and rub it into both the inside and outside sides of the turkey and also under the skin of the breast meat. Generously apply to all areas. Then flatten out the turkey and put it, skin side up, on top of the fruit and vegetables on the turkey roasting rack inside the turkey pan.
  • Roasting the spatchcocked turkey.
    5
    Place in an oven that is preheated to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered for the entire time. Bake for 45 minutes and rotate the pan. Then bake another 45 minutes and rotate again. Bake the final 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees in the deepest part of the thigh without touching the bone. Also, juice should not be pink. Allow turkey to sit for at least 20 minutes before cutting to allow juices to go back into the meat (it really makes a difference).
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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