Thanksgiving time saver #1 is for the turkey. Spatchcock (butterfly) your turkey and get evenly cooked, perfect skin & quick delicious turkey this year.
SPATCHCOCK TURKEY
Okay, so what the heck is spatchcock? Fancy word for “butterfly.” In a nutshell, it’s when you cut out the backbone of a turkey (or chicken), so it can lay flat.
Benefits are a-plenty with this little kitchen hack!
#1: Evenly cooks the meat
There’s no dry breast, undercooked thighs, etc. It’s just even-Steven all around.
#2: Crispy Skin
Gorgeous skin? Yes ma’am! On the whole bird. Thighs & breast get equal browning.
#3: Decreased Cooking Time
It’s gonna shave a bunch of time off because it’s laying flat on a pan. No slow roasting here. It’s the quick & dirty of turkey cooking techniques.
How to Spatchcock a Turkey (or Chicken) Video
Spatchcock (Butterfly) Turkey With Rosemary Orange Butter
Quick, evenly cooked, crispy skinned turkey for this Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
- Whole Turkey (defrosted)
- 1 Stick of Salted Butter
- 3 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
- 1 Orange Zested
- Salt & Pepper
Notes
- Thawing the Turkey: A frozen turkey takes about 1 day of thawing in the fridge for every 4 LBS of turkey. So, if you have a 12lb turkey, it'll take at least 3 days of sitting in your fridge to thaw completely. If you want don't have that kind of time, then stick it in your sink filled with cold water. You'll have to keep track of the temperature in the water & drain and refill every 30 minutes to make sure it stays at the right temp. Also, flip the bird in the water every 30 minutes to ensure an even thawing. Thawing the bird in the sink takes at least 30 minutes per LB of turkey. DO NOT USE HOT WATER TO HURRY UP THE PROCESS.
- If you've never thawed a turkey before, I advise you to look over the USDA's recommendation for the safest way to do this without giving anyone food poisoning. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/11/18/how-safely-thaw-turkey
- Seasoning: I love this combo of rosemary & orange, but you don't have to use it to get a great flavor! Use what you have (or what you can find). Dried herbs work great here, too. Thyme, sage, garlic, Italian seasoning, etc. all work wonderfully. Just use those in the butter instead of the rosemary & orange zest.
- Oven Size: You may need to remove a rack from your oven (or lower a rack) to fit the roasting pan in the oven.
- Roasting Pans: If you do not have a large roasting pan, don't use a cookie sheet. Go get a disposable aluminum pan from the grocery store. It'll work perfect.
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Spatchcock Turkey for Easy Thanksgiving
I’m telling you — this little trick will save you from freaking out over the turkey this year. You’ll never have to worry about whether or not the thighs are done & if the breast is gonna be dry.
Say goodbye to nasty dry turkey!
Get on the Spatchcock Bandwagon this year. When you pull that beauty out of the oven, it’ll be so worth it!
🦃 Gobble! Gobble! 🦃
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Ever “stuff” a spatchcocked turkey? Can you build a bed of stuffing under the bird and then roast it?
Hmmm….I haven’t! But, if you do, please let us know:)