Best Overnight Turkey Recipes

OVERNIGHT TURKEY

Steps:

• SAFETY NOTE: This method is designed for turkeys cooked ONLY in heavy-duty roasters with roaster lids, such as the old blue enameled ones. This method is NOT designed for use with semi-translucent oven roasting bags, uncovered roasters, or turkeys covered with aluminum foil, as they may not retain a high enough heat for long enough to complete the cooking process.
• Remove all internal organs from both ends of the turkey.
• I usually cook these in a pot to make broth (strained, of course) for my dressing, discarding the organs after cooking. If you make giblet gravy, chop and include these cooked organs in your gravy.
• Rinse and drain turkey. Spread seasonings of your choice all over the turkey, inside and out.
• Put the onion, celery and garlic cloves inside the turkey, along with several bay leaves.
• Place turkey, breast side up, in a HEAVY-DUTY roaster and cover with roaster lid.
• Look on the outside of the bag in which you bought the turkey.
• Find the baking chart and the size of your turkey.
• Here is how to calculate the length of time to cook your turkey: Use the chart on the turkey bag, (using 13 lb. turkey as example).
• If it says cook 4 hours at 325 degrees, DIVIDE THE RECOMMENDED COOKING TIME IN HALF (4/2=2 hours) and ADD 30 MINUTES.
• Thus, the cooking time for this example would be 2-1/2 hours at THEIR recommended temperature of 325 degrees.
• Cooking time for a larger turkey would be calculated in the same manner.
• When cooking time is up, DO NOT open oven door.
• No Peeking! This will lower the oven temperature.
• Turn oven OFF and leave covered roaster in the oven until morning OR 6+ hours, removing roaster while it is still nice and warm.
• When you open the roaster, the turkey will be falling off the bones, and ever sooo moist.
• NOTE:If you have any question about the turkey reaching the safe internal temperature of 170 degrees, insert one of those new thermometers that let you put a temperature probe through the side of the oven door and into the turkey.
• Set timer to alert you when it reaches 170 degrees.
• My alert goes off every time, so I know this method is cooking the turkey safely.
• NOTE: If you like an even moister turkey, soak it in a brine/buttermilk solution for several hours before roasting.
• Or you can use an injector to inject liquid seasoned marinade into the turkey meat before cooking.
• SAFETY NOTE: Once the turkey reaches room temperature, it should be served or refrigerated.

OVERNIGHT HIGH-HEAT TURKEY

Steps:

• About an hour before you go to bed, preheat oven to 500 degrees.
• Wash turkey thoroughly and empty the neck and carcass cavities.
• Do NOT stuff the bird (that's not negotiable).
• Rub outside of turkey with olive oil.
• Place bird in roaster and pour water over.
• Cover with a tight-fitting lid and bake at 500 for one hour.
• DO NOT TAKE LID OFF AT ANY TIME!
• After one hour, turn down oven to its lowest setting (without actually turning it off).
• Leave bird in oven, lid on and go to bed.
• Wake up to a bird that is tender, juicy, brown and ready.

OVERNIGHT TURKEY CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat; saute mushrooms until tender. Cool completely. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and water chestnuts., Place bread in a single layer in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; spread with mayonnaise mixture. Top with mushrooms. Layer with cheeses. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, soups and milk; pour over top (dish will be full). Refrigerate, covered, overnight., To serve, preheat oven to 350°. Remove casserole from refrigerator while oven heats., Bake, uncovered, until bubbly and heated through, about 1 hour. Toss bread crumbs with melted butter; sprinkle over top. Bake until lightly browned, 8-10 minutes.

OVERNIGHT TURKEY CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. In a sprayed or buttered 9x13-inch baking dish. spread the dressing. Mix the onion, diced turkey, salad dressing, salt and pepper and cranberry relish. Spread this mixture evenly over dressing. Mix together eggs and 1 1/4 cups milk and pour over turkey mixture; refrigerate overnight. Next morning,combine the soup and the 1 c. milk blending well and pour over mixture. Bake at 325^ for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The last 15 minutes of baking sprinkle cheese evenly over top. YUM!