Best Cajun Butter Spatchcocked Turkey Recipes

SPATCHCOCK SMOKED TURKEY

Steps:

• Pat the turkey dry and turn it breast-side down on a cutting board. Using sharp kitchen shears or a knife, cut the backbone out of the turkey, reserving it for stock. Flip the turkey so it's breast-side up, then press down on it with your hands to flatten the bird.
• Whisk together the orange juice, oil, maple syrup and garlic in a large bowl. Reserve half of the marinade and set aside. Season the turkey on both sides with salt and pepper and place the turkey into the bowl with the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for 4 hours. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator an hour before grilling, so it can come to room temperature.
• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only on medium-high heat.
• Place the turkey skin-side up over indirect heat and cover the grill. Maintaining a temperature of 375 to 400 degrees F, smoke the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, about 90 minutes. Baste the turkey with the reserved marinade every 30 minutes during cooking.
• Remove the turkey from the grill and rest, tented with aluminum foil, for at least 20 minutes before carving.
• (Alternatively, you can bake the turkey on a rimmed baking sheet in a 375 to 400 degrees F oven for 90 minutes.)

SPATCHCOCK RANCH TURKEY

Steps:

• Place the turkey on a cutting board with the backbone facing up. Using kitchen shears, cut along both sides of the backbone to release it from the bird. Remove the backbone and discard. Flip the turkey over and use your palms to press against the turkey breasts and thighs until the bird is slightly flattened. Allow the turkey to come up to temperature for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Remove 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning from 1 packet and reserve. Mix together 8 tablespoons of the butter with the remaining ranch seasoning (from both packets) in a small bowl until well incorporated.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the carrots, celery and onions over the baking sheet. Lay the turkey on top of the vegetables, breast-side up. Spread the ranch butter all over and underneath the skin. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and put the turkey inside to roast.
• In the meantime, add the maple syrup and 1 cup of the chicken stock to a saucepan, then stir in the reserved 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning. Bring to a simmer just to warm through and incorporate the seasoning. Baste the turkey with this liquid every 20 minutes. (Allow 30 to 40 minutes of cooking time for every 3 pounds of turkey). If the skin turns golden brown before the turkey is completely cooked through, tent with aluminum foil until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 160 degrees F. Remove from the oven and tent the whole turkey with aluminum foil. Let rest 30 minutes. (There will be carryover cooking and the temperature will rise to 165 degrees F while resting).
• For the gravy, strain the juices left in the bottom of the roasting pan into a fat separator and pour the fat off the top. Place the saucepan used to make the basting liquid back on the stove over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and whisk in the flour, cooking for a minute. Slowly whisk in the remaining 2 cups chicken stock along with the juices from the pan. Season with salt and pepper and serve alongside the turkey.

CAJUN BUTTER SPATCHCOCKED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Fit an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack.
• To spatchcock the turkey, use a large chef's knife or kitchen shears to cut along both sides of the backbone. Remove the backbone and reserve for stock if desired. Place the turkey breast-side up on a cutting board and use your hands to press the center to break the breastbone and flatten the bird. Use your fingers to gently loosen the skin from the breast and the legs, then place the turkey on the prepared baking sheet.
• To make the Cajun butter, mix together the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl. Place the butter in another medium bowl and mix in the spice mixture until well combined. Transfer a quarter of the Cajun butter to a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside.
• Rub the turkey with the remaining room temperature Cajun butter under the skin and on top of the skin.
• Roast the turkey until the skin begins to brown, about 35 minutes.
• Microwave the reserved Cajun butter until melted, about 10 seconds. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, brush the melted Cajun butter over the crispy skin and roast until golden, about 20 minutes. Baste the turkey with the pan drippings and roast, basting once more, until the internal temperature registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 hour.
• Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest at least 15 minutes. Pour the juices from the baking sheet into a small serving bowl and reserve for drizzling over the bird. Slice the turkey breasts and transfer to a serving platter. Remove the wings, thighs and legs and transfer to the platter. Slice the 1/2 lemon into rounds. Garnish the turkey with the lemon rounds and herb sprigs if desired.

SPATCHCOCKED TURKEY WITH SAGE BUTTER AND GRAVY

Steps:

• For the turkey: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove and reserve the heart and giblets from the turkey cavity; remove and discard the liver. Flip the turkey upside down so the breast is on your cutting board. Using kitchen shears, cut along both sides of the backbone to remove it. Using your fingers, gently separate the skin from the breast meat while keeping it attached. (You want to create a pocket for the sage butter without tearing the skin.)
• Push the Sage Butter under the skin of the turkey, being careful not to puncture it. Rub the skin with olive oil, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the gravy: Put the bay leaves, garlic, apples, celery, carrots, onions, cinnamon stick and thyme in a roasting pan and sprinkle with salt. Add 2 cups of the chicken stock and 1 cup of the apple cider, as well as the heart, giblets and backbone of the turkey.
• Roast the turkey: Place a roasting rack on top of the vegetables and set the turkey on the rack. Roast for 1 hour 15 minutes. Tent the turkey with foil and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the leg (without touching bone) registers 175 degrees F. Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, finish the gravy: Strain all the veggies over a bowl; discard the veggies. Skim the fat from the pan juices and add it to the roasting pan; this is the fat for the roux.
• Set the roasting pan over 2 burners over low heat and whisk in the flour. Cook until the mixture looks like wet sand, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly whisk in the remaining 1 cup apple cider and 2 cups chicken stock, as well as the strained pan juices from the bowl. Cook until the mixture has thickened and reached a gravy consistency. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper as needed. Pour into a serving pitcher or bowl and serve with the turkey.
• Mix the butter with the sage and some salt and pepper until well blended. Set aside.