Juicy Turkey in an Oven Bag will be your new favorite way to make the perfect turkey. Below you will learn how to cook the best turkey in the oven.
No more dry and tasteless turkey. This recipe is the best and super easy too! Once you cook turkey like this, there is no going back, it is one of the easiest way to cook your bird.
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This turkey in an oven bag recipe is truly a game changer. It produces the most amazingly juicy turkey.
Also, by trapping the moisture and heat, oven bags collect all the juices. A seasoned butter is added to the top of the turkey to provide extra moisture during cooking. The butter and herb drippings make a great flavorful gravy.
If you’re looking for more turkey recipes, try these Turkey Salad, Easy Turkey Pot Pie and Spicy Turkey Meatballs.
With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
Why We Love This Turkey in a Bag Recipe
Not only does the oven bag make clean up easier, it also allows the turkey to cook faster. The result is a super moist, tender bird that will become your new favorite way to cook a turkey.
- Quick Prep: The turkey size oven bag allows you to put the turkey in the pan and forget about it. No need to baste.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or the refrigerator. The skin of the turkey will be brown and the turkey cooks beautifully.
- Family Friendly: Presenting your family with a moist and delicious bird will always be appreciated.
- Adaptable: Can make it low-carb or dairy free, etc…
- Makes Great Leftovers: Leftover turkey can be used for soup, sandwiches or casseroles.
Ingredient Notes to Cook Turkey in a Bag
- Turkey: A fresh turkey or a thawed turkey.
- Stock: Turkey stock, try a low sodium version for this recipe so you can control the amount of sodium.
- Vegetables: Onion, carrots celery.
- Stuffing: A prepared stuffing or a box stuffing mix.
Herb Butter
- Butter: Softened, try a low sodium version.
- Fresh thyme: This fresh herb is perfect for the flavor of the turkey.
- Poultry seasoning: This gives bland turkey a kick.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions to Cook a Turkey Recipe
Of course, it is also easy to adjust this recipe to make it even better for the needs of your family.
- Chicken: You can use an oven bag to use a roast a chicken too.
- Stuffing: While box stuffing is easy you can use your favorite recipe for stuffing.
- Turkey Roaster: An electric turkey roaster is a great way to cook the turkey and free up critical oven space.
How to Make Thanksgiving Turkey in a Bag
You add the turkey to the bag, the bag into the pan and seal the ends of the bag and cook. It could not be easier.
These are the basic steps for making the best turkey in a bag. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Step 1: PREP THE OVEN AND TURKEY
First, adjust your cooking rack of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then place the bag into pan.
Step 2: HERB BUTTER
Next, combine the butter, fresh thyme, salt, pepper and the poultry seasoning.
Step 3: CLEAN YOUR TURKEY
Meanwhile, clean your turkey by rinsing thoroughly with cold water. Remember to do the cavity. Next, pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Season the outside and cavity of turkey with salt and pepper. Next, fill the cavity with stuffing. If not stuffing the bird, fill the cavity will extra vegetables.
Step 4: APPLY BUTTER
Rub herb butter all over the outside of the bird, including the underneath. Then sprinkle the flour into the oven bag. Place chopped onion, carrots and celery in the bottom on the bag.
Step 5: SEAL OVEN BAG
Next, place the turkey on top of the vegetables and pour in stock; close the bag using the provided tie. Cut six slits in the bag, about ½ inch long, on the top of the bag.
Step 6: COOK TIME AND TURKEY REST
Roast turkey for 2-3 hours in the roasting pan, depending on the size (Unstuffed: 13 minutes per pound, stuffed: 15 minutes per pound). Remove the turkey from oven when the internal temperature (between the leg and breast) reaches 165 degrees F. Finally, allow to rest for 15-30 minutes before carving. Open the bag and place turkey on a platter to carve.
How Long to Cook a Turkey in a Bag
When cooking your turkey in a turkey oven bag, it will cooker faster. Which is just another reason you will love cooking it this way. The cook time depends on the size of the turkey. The turkey is done when a meat thermometer is placed in the thickest part of the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Turkey in a Bag Cooking times:
- Turkey will take approximately 2 to 2 ½ hours for a 12 to 15 pound turkey.
- About 2 ½ to 3 hours for a 15 to 20 pound turkey.
- For 20- to 24-pound turkey it will take 3 to 3 ½ hours.
Recipe FAQs to Roast Turkey
Expert Tips for Ways to Cook a Turkey
Oven bags are made to withstand the heat of your oven. This oven bag with the tie included is the safe way to cook the turkey in a bag. Do not use a standard household bag.
- To thaw a turkey: For a frozen turkey allow to thaw 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey in a refrigerator.
- Add Fresh Sage: Sage is a wonderful fall flavor, perfect for turkey.
- Turkey Breast: Try a bone-in or boneless turkey breast in the bag.
- Variation tip: Feel free to use gluten free flour in the bag or when you make the gravy with the giblets from the turkey.
- Unstuffed Turkey: If not using a stuffing remember to place vegetables in the cavity of the turkey.
- Turkey Bag: Make sure that you get the appropriate size bag for your turkey. Do not for get to coat the bag with flour. Cut bag to allow steam to vent.
What to Serve with Juicy Turkey in an Oven Bag
- Turkey Gravy without Drippings
- Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams
- Pressure Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Juicy Turkey in an Oven Bag
Ingredients
- 20 pound Whole turkey, 12-20 pounds
- 1 Herb Butter, recipe below
- ½ teaspoon Salt and pepper, each
- 2 tablespoons Flour
- 1 Onion, peeled and quartered
- 2 Carrots, peeled and chopped into chunks
- 2 Celery stalks, cleaned and chopped into chunks
- ½ cup Turkey stock
- Prepared stuffing , or 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 stalk of celery
Herb Butter
- 2 tablespoons Butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 teaspoons Fresh thyme, minced
- 2 teaspoons Poultry seasoning
Instructions
- Place cooking rack on the lowest option; Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the oven bag in a rimmed roasting pan.
- Combine all ingredients for herb butter together (I do this in a food processor); set aside.
- Clean turkey – remove neck and gizzards from the cavity.
- Rinse the turkey thoroughly with cold water, including the cavity.
- Pat dry with paper towels.
- Season the outside and cavity generously with salt and pepper.
- If stuffing the bird, fill the cavity with stuffing. If not stuffing the bird, fill the cavity will extra vegetables.
- Rub herb butter all over the outside of the bird, including the underneath.
- Sprinkle the flour evenly over the bottom of the bag.
- Place chopped onion, carrots and celery in the bottom on the bag.
- Add turkey on top of the vegetables and pour in stock; close the bag using the provided tie.
- Cut six slits, about ½ inch long, on the top of the bag.
- Roast turkey for 2-3 hours, depending on the size (Unstuffed: 13 minutes per pound, stuffed: 15 minutes per pound).
- Remove from oven when the internal temperature (between the leg and breast) reaches 165 degrees F. Allow to rest for 15-30 minutes before carving.
Expert Tips
- To thaw a turkey: For a frozen turkey allow to thaw 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey in a refrigerator.
- Add Fresh Sage: Sage is a wonderful fall flavor, perfect for turkey.
- Turkey Breast: Try a bone-in or boneless turkey breast in the bag.
- Variation tip: Feel free to use gluten free flour in the bag or when you make the gravy with the giblets from the turkey.
- Unstuffed Turkey: If not using a stuffing remember to place vegetables in the cavity of the turkey.
- Turkey Bag: Make sure that you get the appropriate size bag for your turkey. Do not for get to coat the bag with flour. Cut bag to allow steam to vent.