Spatchcock Turkey – The Large Man’s World ®


Make your subsequent vacation turkey a star with this spatchcock turkey recipe. This fast and simple method butterflies the fowl for evenly cooked juicy meat and additional crispy pores and skin. 

spatchcock turkey.

Due to this spatchcock turkey recipe, our Thanksgiving and vacation dinners have change into an absolute breeze.

If you’re new to this technique, Spatchcocking or butterflying refers to making ready an entire hen or turkey for cooking by eradicating the spine after which flattening it to create a flat floor and butterfly-like form. 

In comparison with a traditional Thanksgiving turkey, cooking the poultry utilizing this technique is additional speedy and cooks the meat extra evenly, so each chunk is juicy, tender, and moist.

Desk of Contents
  1. Why this recipe works
  2. Elements wanted
  3. The best way to spatchcock a turkey 
  4. The best way to roast a spatchcock turkey
  5. Can I smoke this?
  6. Tricks to make the very best recipe 
  7. Storage directions
  8. Serve this turkey with  
  9. Steadily requested questions 
  10. Spatchcock Turkey

Why this recipe works

  • Simpler to cook dinner AND season. Belief me, it’s a lot simpler to rub each inch of a flattened turkey in comparison with the entire fowl intact.
  • By no means overcooked and dry. Our largest fear when cooking conventional Thanksgiving turkey recipes was overcooking the breast meat whereas ready for the issues and leg to cook dinner. Not right here, although! The flat, even form ensures that each piece cooks to temperature in the identical timeframe.
  • Crispy turkey in a flash. Not solely is that this technique a lot quicker, however it additionally exposes the turkey pores and skin to the warmth, leading to superbly golden and crispy exterior.

We love cooking turkeys utilizing this technique over conventional means. For those who’d moderately serve particular person cuts than the entire fowl, you’ll love my baked turkey drumsticks, turkey tenderloin, and turkey wings too.  

spatchcocked turkey.

Elements wanted

You don’t want a lot in addition to a number of seasonings and the fowl itself to make a spatchcock turkey. Listed below are the substances: 

  • Entire turkey. Whereas this technique works for any turkey, I discover a turkey weighing 11-13 lbs to be the right dimension to feed a crowd (6-8 folks) and match within the oven simply.
  • Turkey dry rub. I wish to season turkey with coarse kosher salt, brown sugar, poultry seasoning, and smoked paprika. Loads of different spices and herbs go properly with turkey, which you will discover under.

The best way to spatchcock a turkey 

Discover ways to spatchcock a turkey with these straightforward steps:

Thaw and take away the giblets: As soon as the turkey is thawed, attain into the neck cavity and punctiliously pull out the bag of giblets. 

Take away the spine: Place the turkey breast facet down with the neck cavity going through you. Fastidiously lower alongside one facet of the spine by means of the ribs and bones. Repeat on the other facet, then take away the spine.

turkey with backbone removed.

Flatten the turkey: Flip the turkey over so the breast facet is going through up. Gently apply stress to the breastbone with the palm of your hand to flatten the fowl.

turkey flattened on rack.

The best way to roast a spatchcock turkey

As soon as your turkey is butterflied, it’s time to cook dinner! Right here’s the way it’s accomplished:

Season and refrigerate: Rub the turkey seasoning mix everywhere in the fowl, then place it within the fridge.

Roast the turkey: Place the turkey on a roasting rack set inside a roasting pan full of a number of inches of water. Roast the turkey within the oven till the thigh meat is cooked by means of. 

Relaxation, carve, and serve: Tent the turkey with foil and set it apart to relaxation earlier than carving and serving

turkey salted and rubbed with spice.

Can I smoke this?

Do you know that should you personal a smoker, you’ll be able to simply use this technique to make a smoked spatchcock turkey? It’s so hands-off, the meat is juicy, and it has a stunning smokey taste.

As soon as the turkey is spatchcocked, right here is the way to smoke it:

  1. Preheat your smoker to a temperature of 225°F.
  2. Place the spatchcocked turkey straight on the smoker grates, breast-side up, then shut the lid.
  3. Smoke the turkey for about 2 1/2- 3 hours, or till the thickest a part of the breast registers 165°F (74°C).
  4. As soon as totally cooked, relaxation the turkey for quarter-hour earlier than carving.

Bear in mind to make use of delicate flavored wooden chips within the smoker, like apple wooden chips or alder wooden chips.

Tricks to make the very best recipe 

I do know it may be intimidating working with such a big fowl, however observe these methods for fulfillment each time.

Use sharp shears: Sharp kitchen or poultry shears are key for making a clear, steady lower alongside the spine. 

Use the giblets and spine: Save the turkey giblets and spine to make selfmade turkey gravy and inventory. For those who don’t plan to make use of them instantly, refrigerate or freeze them till you’re prepared. I like to make use of the inventory in my turkey soup.

Don’t skip refrigerating! The seasoned turkey ought to sit within the fridge for 8 to 24 hours. This helps dry out the pores and skin (yielding crispy golden pores and skin) and provides the seasonings time to seep into the meat. I discover 12 hours (in a single day) to be the blissful medium.

Baste the fowl: I all the time baste the turkey in its juices to maintain the meat moist and flavorful because it’s roasting. Belief me, the flavour distinction is noticeable.

Relaxation and carve with care: Let the roasted turkey relaxation for 15 to twenty minutes earlier than carving for the very best outcomes. I discover carving from the middle outwards to be the simplest option to preserve the slices of meat intact. Additionally, eradicating the legs and wings first makes it a breeze.

Storage directions

To retailer: Wrap the leftover carved turkey in plastic wrap or place it in an hermetic container, then refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.

To freeze: Leftover cooked turkey freezes properly for two to three months.

To reheat: Reheat the leftover spatchcock turkey on a baking sheet, lined, at 325°F. You too can zap it within the microwave.

turkey spatchcock.

Serve this turkey with  

Steadily requested questions 

How lengthy does it take to roast a spatchcock turkey?

The roasting time could range relying on the scale of the turkey, however an 11 to 13-pound turkey typically takes between 70 to 90 minutes to roast in a 450°F oven.

How have you learnt when spatchcock turkey is completed cooking?

One of the best ways to test for doneness is with a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest a part of the thigh because it’s roasting. You’ll know the turkey is able to come out of the oven when the juices run clear and the interior temperature reaches 165°F.

Forestall your display screen from going darkish

  • Take away the giblets from the turkey then lower the spine and flatten it. As soon as flat, pat dry with a paper towel. 

  • In a small bowl, combine salt, brown sugar, poultry seasoning, and paprika. Rub over the turkey. Refrigerate uncovered 8 hours or in a single day.

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan with one water.

  • Roast 70-90 minutes or till the thigh meat reaches 165°F.

  • Tent with foil and relaxation 15-20 minutes earlier than carving.

TO STORE. Wrap the leftover carved turkey in plastic wrap or place it in an hermetic container, then refrigerate for 3 to 4 days. TO FREEZE. Leftover cooked turkey freezes properly for two to three months. TO REHEAT. Reheat the leftover spatchcock turkey on a baking sheet, lined, at 325°F. You too can zap it within the microwave.

Serving: 1servingEnergy: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 37gFats: 15gSodium: 2679mgPotassium: 1025mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 692IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 4mgNET CARBS: 8g

Disclosure: This put up could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. I’ll earn a small fee for my endorsement, suggestion, testimonial, and/or hyperlink to any services or products from this web site.



Supply hyperlink

Stay in Touch

To follow the best weight loss journeys, success stories and inspirational interviews with the industry's top coaches and specialists. Start changing your life today!

Related Articles