Best Slow Roasted Turkey Recipes

SLOW-ROASTED TURKEY BREAST WITH GRAVY

Steps:

• Adjust your oven rack to the lowest position. Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Rinse and dry the turkey breast. Even when I purchase a brined turkey breast, I still like to lightly salt the turkey breast under the skin. You, of course, do not have to. If the turkey breast that you purchase has NOT been brined or koshered, liberally salt the breast under the skin.
• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat with the oil. When hot, add the turkey, breast-side down. Add the onion around the edges of the bird. Add the garlic on top of the onions. Cook several minutes or until the skin has browned. Flip the bird over so that the breast is facing upward. Stir the onions and garlic. Cook a couple minutes longer. If you have a probe thermometer, insert it into the thickest part of the breast - making sure the probe is not sticking up in the air in a way that would impede your covering the turkey breast with a lid. Cover the pot with aluminum foil and top with a tight-fitting lid. Crimp the foil around the seam of the pot to ensure steam does not escape. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 160F - roughly 2 1/2 hours.
• When the turkey is done, remove it from the oven and flip the bird over so that the breast is submerged in the accumulated juices. Cover and let rest 15 minutes. During this time, the internal temperature will increase to at least 170°F.
• Remove the turkey from the pot and place it on a large platter. Keep it tented so it stays warm. Strain the liquid and solids from the pot into a large bowl. Use the back of a ladle to make sure you smash the onion/garlic to extract all of the juices. Discard the vegetable solids. Skim some or most of the fat that settles on top of the broth and discard any unwanted fat. Measure how much turkey broth you have. If you do not have at least 4 cups, add some chicken stock to come up to a total of 4 cups of liquid. If you like particularly thin gravy, you can add an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cups of turkey/chicken broth. If you like thicker gravy, reduce the liquid by 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
• To make the gravy, heat a saucepan over medium heat with three tablespoons of butter. After the butter has melted, add the flour and whisk to combine. Cook the butter/flour mixture for about 5 minutes or until it is brown in color. Add the turkey broth and whisk to make sure there are no lumps. Bring to a boil then simmer about 5 minutes. Too thin? Simmer another few minutes or until the gravy is your desired thickness. Too thick? Add more turkey broth, chicken broth, or even water. When the gravy is your desired level of thickness, taste it and add some salt and pepper, if needed. You'll probably need at least some salt.
• Serve the turkey breast and gravy with some mashed potatoes.

DRY-BRINED TURKEY BREAST WITH SLOW-ROASTED LEGS

Steps:

• Dry-brine the turkey: Combine the salt, 2 teaspoons pepper and the chopped thyme and rosemary in a small bowl. Cut off the turkey legs (thighs and drumsticks together). Put the turkey breast and legs on a rimmed baking sheet. Season the turkey breast inside and out and the legs all over with the salt mixture. Stuff the turkey cavity with 1 halved garlic head, the halved lemon, 4 thyme sprigs and 2 rosemary sprigs. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Position one oven rack in the bottom position and one right above it; preheat to 350˚. Combine the remaining halved garlic head, 4 sprigs thyme, 2 sprigs rosemary, the sliced lemon, bay leaves and shallot in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add the olive oil and stir to combine. Place the turkey legs skin-side up in the baking dish and cover with foil.
• Roast the turkey legs on the bottom oven rack until just tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 2 hours. Uncover the legs and continue to roast until the skin is golden and the legs are completely tender, 1 to 1 1/2 more hours.
• Meanwhile, for the turkey breast: Set a rack in a large roasting pan. Place the turkey breast breast-side up on the rack; let sit at room temperature 30 minutes. Once the turkey legs have been roasting for about 30 minutes, place the roasting pan with the breast on the rack above the legs; roast until the skin is deep golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part without touching the bone registers 160˚, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Let the breast rest 30 minutes before carving. (If the turkey breast is done before the legs, move the legs to the higher rack to help them brown. If the legs are done before the breast is done resting, set aside and tent with foil to keep warm.)
• Serve the turkey legs and breast with the roasted garlic, lemon and shallot.

SLOW-ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.While oven is heating, wash turkey in cold water, removing giblets, neck, tail and any pinfeathers.
• Rub oil over all sides of turkey.and place turkey in uncovered roasting pan in oven.
• Bake for 1 hours at 300 degrees to kill bacteria. Then lower oven heat to 180 degrees (desired internal temperature). Bake for remaining 20 hours.
• If wings or thighs begin to brown too fast, wrap them with foil. About 2 hours before time to serve the turkey, check for doneness. If necessary, raise the oven heat to 350 degrees to finish cooking or browning.

SLOW-ROASTED TURKEY WITH APPLE GRAVY

Steps:

• Brine the turkey: Tear the bay leaves to release their natural oils. Place in a large bowl with the buttermilk, sugar, salt, black pepper and cayenne, and stir to dissolve the sugar. Place the turkey in a brining bag or clean unscented garbage bag, pour in the buttermilk mixture and tightly tie the bag closed. Place in a pot or bowl that holds it snugly, making sure the legs are fully immersed in the brine, and refrigerate for at least 48 hours and up to 72 hours.
• Make the turkey: Position a rack at the bottom of the oven and heat oven (not convection) to 450 degrees. Tear the bay leaves to release their natural oils. Spread the apples, fennel, onions, 12 bay leaves and half of the thyme, ginger, garlic and orange across the bottom of a large roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt and the whole peppercorns.
• Drain the turkey and wipe dry. (Discard the brine.) Place the turkey in the pan breast side up, and rub its cavity with salt and ground pepper. Stuff the cavity with the lemon and the remaining bay leaves, thyme, ginger, garlic and orange. Tuck the wings underneath and tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Sprinkle the turkey with salt and ground pepper, and drizzle everything with oil. Drizzle more oil all over the turkey and rub to generously and evenly coat the skin. Transfer to the oven and roast until browned in spots all over but not burned, 20 to 40 minutes. (Ovens vary widely in how quickly they brown such a large bird, so start checking at 20 minutes and keep going until it's spotted all over.)
• Pour 2 cups water into the pan, cover the turkey with foil and loosely crimp around the edges of the pan. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees and slide the pan back into the oven. Slow-roast until the turkey is almost cooked through (a meat thermometer will register 150 degrees in the thickest part of the breast and 160 degrees in the thigh), about 4 hours.
• Uncover, baste all over with the pan juices and roast uncovered until the skin is more evenly browned and the meat registers 155 degrees in the breast and 165 degrees in the thigh, 30 to 45 minutes. The internal temperature will continue to rise as the turkey rests. Let cool slightly in the pan, then transfer the turkey to a serving platter.
• Make the gravy: Smash the fruits and vegetables in the roasting pan. Set a colander with small holes or a medium-mesh strainer over a bowl or pot, and pour in everything from the pan, working in batches if needed. Press hard on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible along with fruit and vegetable pulp. Discard the solids in the colander; scrape any strained pulp into the bowl. Skim and discard fat from the strained juices.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk until deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. While whisking, add the defatted pan juices a little at a time, whisking until smooth, then stir in the brandy. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Keep warm over low.
• When ready to serve, season the gravy to taste with salt and pepper. Carve the turkey and serve with the hot gravy.

SLOW-ROASTED HERITAGE TURKEY WITH ORANGE AND SAGE

Steps:

• One day before roasting turkey, salt cavity. Prick oranges all over with the tines of a fork and stuff inside turkey cavity along with sage. Using a 3-foot-long piece of kitchen twine, loop in half over the neck and pull under the back, crossing twine. Pull twine between legs and breasts and flip bird over; tie drumsticks together tightly. Place turkey on a rimmed baking sheet, breast side up, and refrigerate uncovered overnight.
• Heat butter in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat until melted and bubbling. Skim foam from top and let butter continue to cook until the milk solids sink to the bottom and begin to brown and become fragrant, about 30 minutes. Set a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee liner over a metal container and strain butter into container. Let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use. Reheat browned butter before using.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Fit a roasting pan with a rack and transfer turkey to rack; season with salt and pepper. Let stand 15 minutes.
• Brush turkey with some of the browned butter and transfer to oven. Roast, rotating every hour and brushing with browned butter, for 2 hours.
• Using an instant-read thermometer, check temperature of turkey by inserting into the largest part of the thigh. Continue cooking turkey until it reaches 140 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 1 to 1 1/2 hours more. Remove turkey from oven and let stand 30 minutes; increase oven temperature to 475 degrees.
• Drain fat from roasting pan and clean rack. Place turkey on clean rack and return to oven. Cook, turning frequently, until skin is browned and crispy, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 20 minutes before carving. Serve.

SLOW-ROASTED TURKEY WITH GRAVY

Steps:

• 1. For Turkey: Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 275F. Arrange onions, celery, carrots, thyme, and garlic in even layer on rimmed baking sheet. Pour broth into baking sheet. Place wire rack on top of vegetables (rack will rest on vegetables, not on bottom of baking sheet). 2. Brush turkey pieces on all sides with melted butter. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over turkey. Place breast skin-side down and drumsticks and thighs skin-side up on rack on vegetable-filled baking sheet, leaving at least ¼" between pieces. 3. Roast turkey pieces 1 hour. Using wads of paper towels, turn turkey breast skin-side up. Continue roasting until instant-read thermometer registers 160F when inserted in thickest part of breast and 170 to 175F in thickest part of thighs, 1 to 2 hrs longer. Remove baking sheet from oven and transfer rack with turkey to second baking sheet. Allow pieces to rest at least 30 minutes or up to 1.5 hours. 4. For Gravy: Strain vegetables and liquid from baking sheet through colander set in large bowl. Press solids with back of spatula to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard vegetables. Transfer liquid in bowl to 4-cup liquid measuring cup. Add chicken broth to measuring cup (you should have about 3 cups liquid). 5. In medium saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat; when foaming subsides, add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until flour is dark golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Whisk in broth mixture and bay leaves and gradually bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until gravy is thick and reduced to 2 cups, 15 to 20 mins. Discard bay leaves. Remove gravy from heat and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Keep gravy warm. 6. To Serve: Heat oven to 500F. Place baking sheet with turkey in oven. Roast until skin is golden brown and crisp, about 15 mins. Remove baking sheet from oven, transfer turkey to cutting board, and let rest 20 min. Carve and serve.

MODERNIZED SLOW-ROASTED THANKSGIVING TURKEY WITH GRAVY

Steps:

• 1. Combine onions, celery, carrots, and garlic in a baking tray. 2. Sprinkle thyme on top. 3. Pour chicken broth over vegetables. 4. Place a metal rack on top. 5. Brush the turkey with some salt (2tbsp), pepper (1tbsp), and butter 6. Place Turkey Breast skin side down on the rack drumsticks and thighs skin side up. (You should have separated the thighs, drumsticks, and breast) 7. Place rack in oven for an hour. 8. Flip the pieces of turkey over and place back in the oven for another hour. 9. Remove and check temp. (Breast meat at 165°F, Drumsticks and thighs at 170-175°F) 10. Place turkey on board, strain vegetables into a bowl. (Put the strainer on the bowl) 11. Press on vegetables to extract vegetable juices along with broth. 12. You should get about 2 cups of liquid. Fortify this with 1 cup chicken stock. 12. Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat and melt 3 tbsp butter 13. Add flour. Blend until golden-brown. 14. Add drained juices while continuing to mix. 15. Add two Bay leaves. 16. Heat oven to 500°F and place turkey back on metal rack on baking tray and place back inside oven until skin is over-crisped. 17. Place chicken on carving board and let sit for 20 minutes. 18. Remove gravy from stove and serve with turkey after carving turkey. 19. Serve with vegetables and EAT!

SLOW-ROASTED TURKEY WITH CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• Place breast halves and leg quarters in a large bowl; sprinkle with salt. Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight.
• Combine reserved giblets, wings and backbone in a large Dutch oven. Add 10 cups water, 8 celery pieces, 4 onion quarters, and 4 carrot pieces. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 5 hours or until mixture measures 8 cups. Cool to room temperature. Cover and chill stock 8 hours or overnight.
• Skim solidified fat from surface of stock; discard fat. Return stock to high heat; bring to a boil. Boil for 30 minutes or until stock measures 3 cups. Strain mixture througha sieve, reserving stock. Discard the solids.
• Remove turkey from refrigerator, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Arrange turkey pieces skin side up, in a roasting pan, and arrange remaining 8 celery pieces, 4 onion quarters, and 4 carrot pieces in pan. Brush turkey skin with 2 tablespoons cream; sprinkle with black pepper. Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of breast registers 165 degrees F, basting every 30 minutes with 2 1/2 tablesppons stock. Remove from oven. Place breast halves and leg quarters on a jelly-roll pan or cutting board. Let stand, covered, for 30 minutes. Discard skin.
• Add 1 cup stock to bottom of roasting pan; carefully scrape browned bits from bottom of pan. Place a zip-top plastic bag inside a 2-cup glass measure. Pour drippings into bag; let stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to top). Seal bag, and carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Strain drippings through a sieve into a medium saucepan, stopping before the fat layer reaches the opening; discard fat and solids. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups stock to pan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine remaining 6 tablespoons cream and cornstarch, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Stir until sauce thickens.

SLOW-ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Recipe called for putting the turkey in for about 20 mins. then turning it down to 200 degrees for 40-50 minutes/lb. I put it in at 500 for 20 mins then turned it to 250 degrees and left it for about 3 (possibly 4) hours total. Turned out perfectly! Another person's input: I use an old Cutco book to calculate my baking time and temp....I like to really slow roast my bird. It says: For an 18-20 lb bird, bake at 300 degrees 15 minutes for each pound. For a 20-25 lb bird, bake at 300 degrees 13 minutes for each pound. My bird is 23 lbs. So I will be putting it in the 300 degree oven at 8 AM to remove at 1 pm and carve at 2 pm. Oh, I am taking my bird out of the freezer and putting in the frig Wednesday night. The week before thanksgiving. My bird needs 6 days to thaw and I will be cooking my giblets Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving. I don't want to fight a lot of ice as I try to prepare the turkey. I butter, salt, pepper and add my rosemary to my turkey the night before Thanksgiving. Allow yourself one day to work with the turkey. If it takes 5 days to thaw in the frig, then you will want to place the frozen bird in the frig 6 days before Thanksgiving. I cooked another one that was 24 lbs, at 500 for 30 min then turned it to 300 thinking it would take about 4hrs 24 min total. It was done after 3hrs 45 min total.