Slow-roasted turkey is marvelously tender, with meat that literally falls off the bone and golden, rich golden-brown skin. It’s an easy, hands-off way to prepare turkey, and yields consistently excellent results.
Jump to Recipe | Why Cook a Turkey Overnight? | Timing | Safety | Tips | Variations
Why slow roast a turkey overnight?
To slow roast a turkey, you’ll bake in a very slow oven over a period of several hours – typically 8 to 12, depending on the size of the bird. And this long, slow process results in impossibly tender meat that literally falls off the bone, and a golden, deep flavor, and crisp brown skin.
Even better, it’s a fairly hands-off approach and that means you have more time to spend with friends and family. And you’ll have plenty of time to whip up sides, put the final touches on dessert and set the table.
Timing Your Turkey
Slow-roasting is a simple, easy process that requires little active time in the kitchen. However, because it takes so long for the turkey to cook through, you’ll need to carefully plan when you first put it in the oven.
Allow about 12 hours total. That means if you plan to serve your meal at lunch time, you’ll want to toss it in the oven around midnight. Or, if you plan to serve it in the evening, you’ll need to wake early to get the bird in the oven.
Safety
Slow roasting poultry was once common practice. And it was a popular way to cook turkey until recently. Many earlier generations grew up roasting their turkeys overnight in the oven.
Most bacteria on your bird will rest on its surface areas, not deep in the meat. Remember the “danger zone” for food borne illness is 41 to 130 F. So make sure that your turkey comes to 135 F within about 4 hours and 165 F before you serve. And your turkey should be safe to eat.
To ensure your bird stays safely within those temperature windows, choosing small to medium birds works best. I recommend using a higher temperature and different technique for very large birds. This maple-brined turkey recipe works well.
Tips for Slow-Roasting Your Turkey
- Choose small to medium birds (12 – 16 pounds) as larger birds run the risk of taking too long to come to safe temperatures.
- Stuff your turkey with herbs, lemons and onions. Herbs, lemons and onions gives your turkey flavor and helps keep it moist.
- Bake your stuffing on the side instead of in the bird.
- Mind the internal temperature. The internal temperature of your bird should reach 165 F when taken from the thigh for safety.
- It’s okay to cook the bird over temperature. Meat will seize and then yield and become even more tender as it cooks, so I typically cook my bird to 180 F.
- Tent the bird with foil if you notice it browning too quickly.
- Allow it to rest before serving. Your turkey will need to rest about 40 minutes to stay moist. That’s just enough time to warm up your sides in the oven.
- Serve the turkey with plenty of sides like sourdough stuffing, cranberry mandarin relish, maple-glazed root vegetables and a nice autumn fruit salad.
- Use your leftovers for turkey bone broth and turkey and wild rice soup.
Slow-roasted Turkey Stuffed with Onions and Herbs
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 14 pound turkey (giblets removed)
- 2 large yellow onions (quartered)
- 2 large lemons (quartered)
- 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
Equipment
- Roasting Pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 F.
- Beat the butter together with thyme, sage and sea salt until well-combined.
- Rinse the turkey and pat it dry. With a butter knife, loosen the skin of the turkey from the flesh of the breast. Spread the herb butter between the skin and the meat of the turkey breast, and place the seasoned turkey on a rack in your roasting pan.
- Stuff the turkey’s cavity with onions and lemons. Pour wine into the pan. And then tuck it into the oven, basting with the pan juices every 2 to 3 hours.
- Increase the heat to 375 degrees and continue roasting for 30 to 45 minutes or until the skin is a rich brown and the meat has reached an internal temperature of at least 165 F.
- Allow the turkey to rest about 30 minutes before carving.
Variations
Once you’ve made the basic recipe, you can vary some of the ingredients and flavors. As long as you keep to the basic method and technique, you’ll have a delicious bird.
Try a spice rub instead of herb butter. While the herb butter in this recipe’s delicious, you can whisk spices together with olive oil and brush use that instead.
Try stuffing the turkey with oranges and spices instead of lemons and onions. Citrus and onions keep the bird moist as it cooks, and orange make a great swap for lemons.
M. Becker says
Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Two Questions:
1. You mentioned the the internal temperature should reach 185F. Do you measure this from the breast or the thigh?
2. What is your opinion about icing the breast so it will cook at the same rate as the thighs?
Jenny says
Hi!
1) A safe temperature is 165 F; however, I like to see 185 F in the breast because that’s where it seems to really be tenderest to me.
2) I don’t think that’s necessary with this method; however, you can try it and I’d love to hear how it goes.
M. Becker says
Thanks so much for getting back to me! I can’t wait to try this method!
Jim says
Hi Jenny
I looked up the recipe early Wednesday morning and it said start at 425 and the go to 225. This morning, after doing that it now says start at 250 and stay there. Should I go to 250 after the 425 start?
Jenny says
Hi Jim, Some readers have had trouble with the early high temp and the bird browning to quick. So, I reverted the recipe to its original.
Sara Marie DeJesus says
The recipe says about 12 hours but doesn’t give times for varying weights. Can you add a chart for time according to weight?
Jenny says
I recommend making this recipe with the size turkey listed in the ingredients.
Theresa Lepiane says
Close to 40-60 minutes per pound, but this is just a ball-park figure. USE the meat thermometer. I’ve slow roasted chickens…4 hours for 4-5 pound birds. It may be different for larger birds or if you stuff them..
Christine says
Hi Jenny. I love your site. I have a pastured bird thawing in the fridge and I plan to cook it with your method tomorrow. My bird is only 11 pounds. How many hours would you recommend at the low temperature?? Also, I made your Autumn Fruit Salad to take to a family Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. It was not only gorgeous but also delicious and such a fresh compliment to the meal. I will be making that salad all winter. I did add a big pinch of salt to the dressing.
Mischa says
Will this work for a “regular “ store bought turkey? How long would a 28lb turkey take?
Jenny says
I don’t recommend slow-roasting birds of that size.
Sandy says
I did a turkey that big last year in at 5 am on 325 unstuffed took out at 2:15 for 3:00 dinner
Ashley Bierman says
Looking forward to using this recipe for our Thanksgiving turkey this week! Sounds delicious!
Nora says
What would you suggest the cooking time for an approximately 10lb turkey?
Thea Lewis says
How long to do the slow roast if our turkey is 26 lbs?
Christa says
What about dry brining the turkey first? Would that change the cooking time? I know brined turkeys cook faster
Jenny says
Hi Christa,
Yes, you can dry brine your turkey, but, no, it would not reduce cook time.
Christine L says
I used the recipe for our 16 lb pastured turkey this year, and it turned out ok, but a bit dry. I brined it for about 8 hours. Next time, I’ll try closer to 24 (ran out of time). When I went to turn the temp down after 45 min at 450F, the liquid had mostly evaporated, and part of the bottom of my pan was quite burned, and the skin was also very dark.
From there, I basted it every 2 hours, and had to add more liquid (I used a mixture of chicken bone broth and Pinot Grigio) for about 12 hours. By that time, the turkey was very brown, almost burned. I tented it and turned up the heat to 375 for another almost 2 1/2 hours before it reached 185F. Next time, I’ll slow cook it for another hour before turning up the temp.
Not sure why the meat was as dry as it was. Maybe I didn’t brine it long enough? But I will say that, once I scraped out the burn bits from the bottom of the pan, that was bar far the most delicious gravy I’ve ever made. And I make some pretty good gravy. In fact, the gravy was the highlight of the meal!
Overall, I think this is a great recipe, and I’m going to keep trying it (with chicken) until I perfect it. We just moved into a new home, and I’m still getting the hang of our oven, which is natural gas, and I think it runs a little hotter than our old electric. It’s definitely worth playing with this to find the low/slow sweet spot! Thanks
Karen says
I made this slow-rosted turkey this year and will never cook turkey any other way again. Yes I had to get up a 4am to put it in the oven, ( My sister got up at 3am to take the turkey out of the ref to bring to room temp and pre heat the oven) and agian at 5 to turn the oven down, but the was just planning. It was everything you said it would be, moist, tender, best turkey ever! Thank you for sharing the recipe. Going to try cooking chicken this way too.
Jenny says
I am SO happy to hear it! It really is a labor of love.
Maria says
What happens if the wine(liquids) are omitted all together? Can’t do wine or orange juice, or any non-alcoholic wine of any kind. Will the turkey cook in its natural juices and cook fine this way ok?
Kris Sampson says
Awesome recipe! Do you know how long I would need to roast at 225 degrees if I’m only making a 9 lb turkey? Thanks!
Jenny says
I’d cut the time in half, and make sure it reaches 185 F.
Maren Trocki says
I know this is a long shot before Thanksgiving, but we received a much larger bird from the Farmer’s Market – 23lbs! Do you know how much cooking time we would need to add?
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
Tarra says
Hi Jenny, how would you modify this to cook a 5-6 lb chicken?
Thanks, Tarra
Jenny says
Hi Tarra,
Try this recipe: https://nourishedkitchen.com/easy-roast-chicken/
Cynde S says
I love this idea but I absolutely CANNOT make thanksgiving turkey without the family’s traditional bread stuffing 🙁
S. Cecile says
how long would you cook a ten pound bird stuffed?
Jenny says
I recommend following this recipe using the ingredients and method outlined above, note that this slow-roasted turkey is not stuffed and I do not recommend stuffing slow-roasted birds.
Holly Ellerton says
Will this work for a 25# turkey? How many more hours do we need to roast it? Is there a good formula to follow?
Kathy says
I always brine my turkey. Would this replace the brining process? Just wondering which technique would be more tender, and hate to experiment on Thanksgiving Day!
Kathy says
oh good grief – I somehow missed all the comments where people were asking about brining! I’ll go look through them now – sorry!
Christine L says
Thanks so much for this recipe! We picked up a pastured turkey this year from one of our local farms, and I was wondering how best to cook it. I had originally planned on brining it, but wonder if that’s necessary if we use your recipe? Would love your thoughts!
Jenny says
If you brine it, try the apple cider brine from my first cookbook.
Christine L says
Thanks, I’m so glad I already had your book! Recipe looks great, and I’m commencing the brine now (we’re celebrating on Friday)
Susan says
This sounds like a great way to cook a turkey, but I have a question: do you leave it breast side up for the entire cooking time? I remember my mother cooking turkeys and she never put anything under the skin. She just cooked the turkey breast side down (it was stuffed with her stuffing), and then turned it breast side up for the last half hour or so of cooking, to crisp the breast skin. The breast meat was always reasonably moist, but I can remember at least one time when the turkey went flying across the kitchen when she tried to turn it…
Gayle says
I have been preparing Turkey for at least Six (6) Years. I’ve been always a slow cooker. I read on some sites about preparing Turkey. Some say to cook at 325 degrees so it will kill bacterial infection for an hour, then lower the flame. I have always started my oven to the highest level of heat, then when reached at level, I placed my Turkey in oven and lowered the degrees to 280 all through the entire process until Golden Brown, and falling off the Bone. I had great reviews on my cooking. I find like you wrote in your site, slow cooking will be excellent as long as you are cooking over 170 degrees. I would like your reply about my preparing of a Turkey.
Thank you for your immediate assistance in this message. Happy Thanksgiving!
Gayle!
Jenny says
I don’t see a question and don’t understand what you’re trying to ask.
Erica Easley says
Do you brine your turkey? We are getting pastured this year (for the second year!).
Jenny says
Hi ERica,
I don’t usually brine my turkey, but I recommend trying the apple cider brine in my first cookbook: https://www.amazon.com/Nourished-Kitchen-Farm-Table-Traditional/dp/1607744686
Stari Benedict says
This looks like a wonderful way to get a moist in the licious bird. I wonder if you have any advice on how long to cook at 225° if you were bird does not weigh as much as the one in the recipe. The one I have purchased is 12 or 13 pounds. Did you arrive at the length of time by calculating minutes per pound?
Karen says
I am excited to be cooking my first turkey this weekend! I am excited to use your herb butter turkey recipe! I am planning to use a roaster oven for the 12 hours. Do you know if should transfer it to a regular oven that finial hour and half for the browning, or will it brown in a roaster oven?
Jenny says
Hi Karen, I’ve never cooked a turkey in a roaster oven, so wouldn’t be able to provide you with any guidance.
Mark says
“Spread the herb butter between the skin and the meat of the turkey breast, and place the seasoned turkey.” What does place the turkey mean?
Dami says
After reading the plethora of food safety recommendations, I frequently wonder how human-kind has survived to this day. Not that I eschew all food safety recommendations, but sometimes it’s overwhelming.
I think I will be trying your method this year for Thanksgiving. First, my bird will probably be in the 12-13 pound range. Second, I intend to wet brine it and let it sit in the fridge uncovered for a few hours before the slow roast. Do you foresee any problems or have any recommendations if I do this?
Thanks!
Debi says
When the heat is increased do you remove the foil tent?
Also do you wake every 2 to 3 hours to baste or how do you handle basting if slow roasting overnight? Thanks!
Cassy Friberg says
Amen. To you. My family is the same. Regulations got us scared….but my great grandmother who raised my family always had a bitch about how they ran things. She was living proof – through the Great Depression none the less- how they could shove it up their you know what. Thank you. <3 keep the knowledge Alive!
Christine says
Thanks for this recipe. I followed it for our holiday bird this week. Mine was 12 pounds. I roasted it for 10 1/2 hours at low heat and then blasted the heat for 20 minutes to get a little golden exterior. It was one of the best turkeys I’ve ever eaten. The breast was moist, the brown meat was succulent. Next time I’ll put the onions and herbs on the bottom of the pan to give the gravy more flavor. I think this will be even tastier with a larger bird, like the one you cooked, because more time in the oven will yield a darker fond on the bottom of the pan. Thanks again. We’re looking forward to the leftovers.
Mrs. Mac says
Just made this slow roast turkey recipe for the third year … thank you for sharing the family secret!
Christal says
Wouldn’t time of cooking be determined by the size? We have a 22lb turkey to cook, how long would it be cooked for?
Jenny says
Hi Christal,
When you slow-roast, you’re really cooking it *beyond* the point at which it’s done – so cooking time is a little more flexible in this respect. Keep in mind though, that slow-roasting is not really recommended for birds over 20 pounds.
David says
Where can I buy one of these turkeys? Whole foods???
Jenny says
You should be able to find them at farmers markets or look for local providers here: http://eatwild.com
EILEEN CERDA says
I’m sure an electric roaster would work, i have my frozen 18 lb turkey in the oven cooking for a Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. .. will pkst how it turns iut
Cindy says
Do you think this would work in an electric roaster?
Michelle P says
Just wondering if I cooked my Turkey from Frozen over night if It would yield the same results ?
Jessica says
Success! I cooked my turkey like this this year, and it was amazing! Here’s what I did: I had a 10 pound bird. Rubbed a TON of seasoned butter all over, stuffed it with onions and lemons. Poured the white wine in the bottom along with more Onions and lenons. Then I covered it and cooked it at the temp Jenny said to. Basted every 3 hours. It was fall off the bone ready in 8 hours. Brown and tender and none beautiful. I didn’t even have to uncover it and cook it at the higher temp. It was done and yummy!
Jill says
Hi Melissa,
I have the same predicament, 2 small turkeys, 6.5 lb and 7.25 lb. Maybe we bought them from the same farmer ;). I’m not experienced at cooking turkey, especially a pastured/heritage bird and am a bit nervous. Not sure how long to cook these little guys. Scared of dry turkey. I was planning on using a roasting pan. Does anyone have a reason as to why not to use a roasting pan?
Chani says
Can you use lard instead of butter?
Melissa says
Yum. Butter has more of its own flavor… but I bet the lard would produce a beautiful skin. ? Clarified butter might be a really good choice if you are trying to stay away from the milk solids in the butter. Or a combination?
Marcia Ballard says
I cook all my turkeys overnight at 265-290. 4″ of water in pan, lots of spices and salt on top. People have almost cried before – it’s THAT good! (Sorry to brag). So yummy!
Tina H. says
What does “overnight” translate to in hours?
rosalie says
Please clarify if calculating cooking time using 45 min per lb as a guide includes last 1.5 hr stretch of higher temp?
Is the 1.5 hr at raised temp of 375 the same time and temp for the last stretch for all bird weights. If not, what is the formula to apply to make appropriate adjustment?
Does the bird remain tented during the last 1.5 hrs at higher temp and if so, will this still result in a yummy crispy skin?
Would the following timeline be accurate for a 12 lb turkey ready to serve at 4 pm:
4:30 into the oven at 225 degrees
2:00-3:30 at 375 degrees (covered or uncovered?)
3:30-4:00 rest before carving
Does tenting mean draping foil or parchment loosely over top and sides of bird or should there be a complete sealing of the bird?
One last thing: should I alter temps and/or cooking time for two 12 lb birds being cooked in the same gas oven in two separate pyrex roasting pans (10 x 14″ x 2.5″ sides) placed side by side with the rack positioned so the birds are cooking in the middle of the oven?
It would be so helpful if your recipe included more details which would undoubtedly minimize readers having so many questions about cooking times for different bird weights, etc. Also, I’ve not seen many replies to reader’s questions so I hope you’re are replying privately and just not posting them to the website. Otherwise it will be quite frustrating to not get answers to my inquiries as I will not feel confident enough in winging it on my own and will have to bail and live with the classic dried out bird. Hopefully I hear back in time to cook my bird using this method.
Thank you.
Rosalie
Melissa says
Hi Rosalie, I asked a question just above yours and am fully not expecting to get an answer back (I only posted to see if other readers happen across it with experience). Jenny posted this original recipe in 2011 and is unlikely to still be checking it for replies besides that she cannot possibly reply to everyone’s comments and questions on all recipes – so I understand. I think we all post in the hopes that at least someone might have some good ideas!! I will say to you: don’t worry and be confident! This is a very forgiving method! I say, do what you wrote above. Having two turkeys in the oven may just make it a bit more steamy. Just go for it! Yes, tenting means LOOSLY covered. For my slow-roasted chickens, I leave the lid on my Dutch oven for the final higher-temp roast and they turn out beautifully browned. I would say try to leave it on as it is! If no browning is happening or skin is rubbery, take the tent off. You could always turn the broiler on for a few minutes at the end (watch it closely as the tips might brown quickly) to give it color if all else fails. I am sure that the meat will be fabulous though. Good luck.
Melissa says
Looking for a little insight from anyone that happens to read this before thanksgiving! Our local farm had quite a few very small (though fully mature) heritage turkeys. So I bought two 6-pounders. Any wisdom for cooking two small birds? I see Jenny mentions 45 min per lb in the comments, but should I also raise the temp to 275 like with chickens? Shall I cook to the size of each bird 45min x 6 lbs = just 4.5 hours. Combined in one pan? Any wisdom from someone that’s done the same using the slow-roast method?
Valerie says
Sounds like the farmer conned you. That was a small chicken. I don’t think there is any such thing as a six pound, fully grown turkey. Especially a heritage turkey.
Heather says
Do you thaw the bird beforehand or put it in the oven frozen?
Natasha says
wondering the same thing.
Rachel says
I’m thinking the cooking time should read 13 hours, not minutes. And one of the sentences is the #2 instruction seems to be missing some words. Would love to know what it was supposed to say. Thanks!
RACHEL says
I cooked my turkey this way last year with great results. I DID make a few minor changes though. I brined my turkey before hand and I cooked the turkey at 500 degrees for the first 20-40 minutes as per Alton Brown. This year I am going to brine my bird for 3 days, then marinade, the slow roast. I know it’s mean, but I want to but my mothers dry turkey to shame.
Oh also, I stuffed the bird last year. No one was sick out of the 20 people who had some. The leftovers where delicious.
LilMsPisces says
Most people would read the entire article before I think …i know I do….I intestinal issues and have slow cooked meat for decades with no issues….if you had issues, I dare suggest it was a coincidence just to put your mind at ease. 🙂
Sharon says
Warning! and disappointing…. I just have to be honest. I have a very sensitive stomach and I didn’t realize this recipe has a possibility of being dangerous. I never expected that this recipe could be dangerous at all as I just went directly to the recipe without reading the ‘prequel’. I really wish you had made the point more boldly in the actual recipe, not in the ‘prequel’ .If I had read about any possible dangers, with my intestinal problems, I wouldn’t have taken a chance on a turkey that cost $60. That turkey was meant to last me through a couple months in the freezer as I have a low income and the turkey was a gift.
Though I used an organic turkey, and definitely followed all hygenic measures before cooking the turkey, my intestinal issues got worse…i only ate the turkey, nothing else.
While it may be a coincidence that my intestinal issues got worse,I feel it would be better if you made a bolder statement within the body of the recipe so I could have made a more informed decision, done research, and at least had more knowledge before I used the recipe This recipe came to via my eamil. My guess is that most people, like me, don’t read all the writing surrounding the recipe, and just follow the recipe as I did.
ps…. I have enjoyed your website this year up until this point, and I still thank you for your help and support, though I hope you make some changes to the way you print this recipe.
Rox merryman says
Can I add a few strips of bacon under the breast skin ?
Rox merryman says
Wonder how long a 14 lb turkey will take ?
Will cooking breast down help or is it not necessary ? I take it you add no moisture to pan ?
Can you inject breast with in juice at end of cooking ?
Catherine says
Thank you for this posting because this year we purchased for the first time a heritage turkey and i would have prepared it just like the conventional turkeys from past years. After 12 hours of slow cooking the flesh was starting to loosen I raised the temp. at 13hours and left it browning for another 1 and a half hour. The meat was delicious and moist. My husband said it was the best turkey he ever had as did our guests.
Thank you for sharing.
Lois says
Jenny,
I am so excited to be making this turkey myself for the first time ever for my husband’s family. I had it at my daughter-in-law’s house a few years ago, and it was the best ever, ever, ever. The meat literally fell off of the bones as it was so tender and juicy. I can’t stand over cooked, dried out turkey breast meat, so when asked to bring the turkey this year, this is the recipe I searched for and found, smile, smile.
So I’m cooking a 21.89 pound turkey, so I am increasing the cook time to adjust for the extra three almost four pounds. I like what you said about larger birds and don’t worry too much about the cook time and think of it as a pot roast. When you said that it put my mind at ease, as I remember how my mother’s pot roast would be so tender and fall off the bones, so I am not going to worry about the extra time beyond the twelve hours that I am going to cook mine. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I’ll let you know how it turned out. We are celebrating our Thanksgiving this weekend when all the family can be here, so yeah, this post is posted Thanksgiving Eve of 2013 and I haven’t even started cooking it yet, lol. I’m going to get plenty of sleep before I start on the venture too. It will be so worth it, that tender, juicy meat, yeah.
Karen says
I keep reading warnings about slow cooking a turkey. If the internal temp is 170 degrees, isn’t that enough to kill bacteria? I am so nervous I am going to give my guests food poisoning!
Laura Busch says
The recipe has listings for minutes at the top. Do you mean hours for the 23?
Joan says
Never mind, I missed it.
Joan says
Is the wine poured in the pan? Can I use turkey stock instead?
Kayla says
Do you start out with a chilled or room temp bird?
Rachel Jackman says
My name is Rachel, and I am cooking my first big thanksgiving dinner. I only have a couple days left to prepare and and still learning. I have a 22 lb turkey from Costco. It is currently defrosting in the fridge. I wanted to try brining it although I have never done so. We are eating at 1:30 so I need to slow cook it over night. I ran across this post and hoped you might be able to help me. What exactly do I need to do in order to get this turkey done by 11 am to allow cooking time for other sides I will be serving that day. Please help!
Lynda says
Rachel, in case you don’t hear back from her in time, this may not be the best time to brine. Your time is awfully short if you haven’t already started it in brine. I brine my 14lb turkey for 14-16 hrs, then you need to let it “dry” in the fridge (on a rack on a tray, no cover) at least 6 hrs, overnight is preferable, so skin will brown nicely, otherwise soggy. I have mine plotted on a different time frame than yours and can’t really switch gears to help you on that part, but I will say, I do the turkey so it’s out only an hour earlier than serving (tent to keep warm) and use that hour for all my oven items. I plan accordingly so an hour is enough. I find it helpful to cook certain things half way or to almost done a day or two before, and then they need very little time in oven. I make my rolls ahead and freeze and just thaw and warm that day (they are moister this way too). In that hour, I can also make the gravy, now that I have the drippings from the finished turkey. Don’t know if this will help, but this is the kind of info I wish I’d known that first thanksgiving! 🙂 Hope it goes well!!
Nina says
Hi, I cooked the recipe for Easter Sunday – can u please advise me on cooking times for a smaller turkey. I cooked an 11 lb bird as the instructions 12 hours & left the foil on for the last one and half hour cooking time. The leg meat was perfect & moist but the breast meat was dry. What did I do wrong? Should I have reduced the first part of the cooking time. I so want this recipe to work as I much prefer slow cooking methods. Finally, would this work for a turkey crown? Many thanks your feedback to my questions will be very much appreciated.
Sage says
Yes! This came out great for my Thanksgiving dinner! Absolutely tender and juicy! I’m SO relieved I didn’t blow $70 on a tough pasture-raised turkey!
Laurah says
I followed the older recipe for a 28lb bird, put it in at 1am at 275, didn’t baste for the first 6 hours, so I could sleep, and then basted every 2-3, turned up the heat at 3pm, and it was ready at 4:30, as planned. I took the foil off for the browning during that last 1.5 hrs. The gravy was the tastiest we’ve ever had, and the turkey was very tender and juicy, but in the future I would do this lower temp recipe and keep it in even longer, to get the full effect.
Jennifer says
Thank you for this recipe! I tried it for our Thanksgiving turkey yesterday, and it was absolutely delicious! It was so tender that it actually fell apart when my husband tried to take it out of the roasting pan. This is my turkey recipe from now on!
Kristin says
So thankful for this recipe! I put our 13-pound heritage-breed bird into the oven at midnight, with the aluminum foil completely sealed (wasn’t sure if this was “tenting” or not). Husband basted it at 4, then 8. I opened it up at 9 to baste it again … which is when I realized it had all fallen off the bones already. And a lovely brown, without ever having turned up the heat. Removed from the oven. I left it covered, atop the stove. I was concerned it was far too dried out to eat, but everyone assured me it was incredible. I have to agree it was lovely. Next time I will be more fastidious about basting more often, but otherwise we will certainly be following this recipe again next time.
cheryl/brian says
I woke up an hour late. Can I raise the roasting temperature of my turkey from 325 to 375 degrees. I put it in at 6:20 and need to finish at 11:30 so it can rest and I can make the gravy.
cheryl/brian says
I woke up an hour late. Can I raise the roasting temperature of my turkey from 325 to 375 degrees. I put it in at 6:20 and need to finish at 11:30 so it can rest and I can make the gravy. …Its stuffed and 20 pounds.
Read More at nourishedkitchen.com/slow-roast-turkey/ © Nourished Kitchen
Diane says
So foil or no foil for the last hour in 375? Mine is looking brown after the 12 hour roasting process
Diane says
Success! after 12 hours it was ready and brown. Gravy w the drips was great.
Remy says
Two questions!
Do you wake up every 2-3hrs after midnight to baste!? I’m wondering if the bird is going to dry out while I get some winks?
Mine is 27 lbs, completely range/pastured and I’m putting him in at 11 p.m. for a hopeful 2-3 p.m. removal. Is this realistic with the weight?
Amy says
When you raise the temp to 375 do you take the tent off? My first year hosting thanksgiving with an 18lb heritage, I want to get it right!! Thank you for a wonderful recipe. 🙂
Kristin says
I have the same question! It sure seems like you should. (Also, I notice your times in the header are a little off – 13 min.?)
Laurah says
About to embark on this recipe with a 28 lb bird. Just realized that you have slightly altered this recipe from a previous post (Nov. 2011) when the temp was 275, the turkey was 12-14 lbs, and you said to take it out when it reached 165. I am assuming this newer version is the one to follow, but I am really nervous about when to start my turkey cooking for a 4pm finish. I was thinking 1pm, which allows 15 hours, at 275. Sound ok to you? (We don’t plan to eat until 5, and I’m serving lots of people, so I hope not to disappoint!)
Robin says
This is my first thanksgiving to host, so, this would be my first turkey roast too.
I don’t use any alcohol, even when cooking, is there a substitute that I can use instead of the white wine?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Stasha says
Some places do have non-alcoholic cooking wine, and Bevmo has a whole section of non-alcoholic wines.
cs says
orange juice 🙂
Ann T Ver RT says
WHITE GRAPE JUICE is closer to the taste of wine so it will not change the recipe (only use OJ if the recipe called for orange liquor).
Bill says
would you recommend brining the turkey before?
Jenny says
I don’t usually brine it, because I often am working with frozen turkeys and don’t thaw them in time to brine and slow-roast. This year I am brining my turkey – it can only add extra moisture and flavor.
Stacy says
Do you brine with Kosher salt or sea salt? The reason I ask is because if you use sea salt, would you use less than you would for Kosher salt?
Natasha says
can you start with a frozen bird?
Teresa says
I under stand the cooking times for the big birds as I have always cooked large birds. but this year there are fewer people so how long would I need to slow cook a 10-12 lb Turkey?
Missakelly says
I also amm wondering about cooking time. We butchered ours this afternoon and it is 32lbs! wOukld that bea full day of cooking?
Jenny says
I wouldn’t worry too much about cooking time on these: bigger birds do better with longer time frames, but when you slow-roast you’re cooking it well beyond official “done” time and temp and it’s that long cooking that makes it super tender (think of pot roast).
Missakelly says
Ok great. My biggest worry has been the turkey taking all of the oven time from my other dishes! I think I will put the turkey in around 6:00 pm on wed and depending on what it looks like in the morning, I might up the temp sooner to get cooked all the way.
Bonnie says
I have a 23 lb turkey that I am stuffing. Also am brining. PlS just tell me simply – what oven temp and how many hrs to cook. Taking bird out of oven to rest at 5 thanks. Bonnie
Jenny says
Hi Bonnie. Please do not make this recipe if you are stuffing your bird.
jenny says
Also – the cooking times tend to be about 45 minutes per pound.
Laura Chisholm says
Wondering if this would work with a 20lb bird. We posted the recipe on our webpage and had this question and it made me think because I want to try it using our turkey roaster and our bird will be about 20lb too. Any tips or changes for bird that size? We eat about 2pm ourselves so wondering how much earlier I might need to start the bird. thanks!
carla says
did you ever get a reply i have a 22lber i want to try this recipe with!?
meredith says
So… do you wake at 1am to put the bird in the oven? The recipe sounds lovely, but I’m not sure about the logistics of cooking time.
jenny says
Yes – I typically wake in the middle of the night or early morning to put the bird in the oven.
Jennifer says
Jenny–where is the VIDEO? Thanks!
Ann T Ver RT says
Most ovens have a pre-set timer to start and stop the oven.
Eric says
@ Ann T Ver RT – are you suggesting someone just put the bird in the oven while it’s off and letting the timer start it when necessary? You’re forgetting one thing…
Helen says
I also have a question on bigger birds…ours will be at least 25 lbs. is there a ration (ie 30 minutes a pound) for slow roasting?
Loriel @ Healthy Roots, Happy Soul says
Do you brine the turkey before hand?
Pat Jordan says
I can’t find the VIDEO on how to slow cook a Turkey either. What am I missing here?
adam16ster says
is it just me or is there no video?
Cheryleis says
Would like to see the video of slow-roast turkey, but it’s not there. How do I find it? thanks
vanessa says
Jenny How come you are cooking a frozen bird?
Jon says
I have been slow roasting turkey for many years. It sept arts on high, then brings it down. The recipe I follow is the one recommended for the AGA oven. It is just the style of slow roasting that differs. Use a recipe you like and convert the recipe to the turkey size…
Jennifer LoPresti says
Please load the Slow-Roasted Turket Video! Thank you:)