2 Hour Turkey – A 12 lb. turkey can be baked in less than 2 hours without dressing.

2 Hour Turkey
Yes, that’s right I cooked this turkey in just less than 2 hours! I saw the recipe yesterday over on the Safeway.com site and made a few changes to it but the basic principal is the same. This is a 12 lb. turkey and it was not stuffed with dressing. The cavity of the bird was stuffed with oranges, rosemary and a little thyme. This turkey smelled amazing while it was baking.
I decided at the last minute to add a citrus twist to this turkey because I had gone and bought some of the first of the season oranges that are oh so good today. I intended to just get 2 bags of them and I did but, one of the bags was a quarter of a bushel. Now I’m not all that sure what I am going to do with all these oranges but I am sure gonna try to use them all. Did you know that dogs love oranges? My 2 dogs do, they will even beg for them.
This is the first turkey I haven’t brined since i don’t remember when. This turkey was so moist and juicy using this quick bake method. I brushed the turkey liberally with butter before seasoning the outside. I don’t know why I haven’t been doing it that way all this time. With the butter on the skin first the salt and pepper stayed where I put it even after the other basting.
While we’re talking turkey, if your turkey has one of those timers in it that pop up, remove it, by the time it pops up you will have overcooked your turkey. The thermometer is the best method and you’ll never have an overcooked dry turkey again. You can also add some vegetables if you desire to the bottom of the pan to help enrich the broth. I would use an onion, some celery and a couple of carrots.
- 1 10 - 12 lb. turkey
- 1/2 cup butter
- salt and pepper
- 2 oranges - cut in half
- sprigs of thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 cups water
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
- Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. Rinse well with cold water. Place in a pan on a wire rack. Salt the inside. Add the water to the bottom of the pan.
- Put the oranges and herbs in the cavity of the turkey.
- Melt the butter. Brush on liberally all over the turkey. Salt and pepper the turkey on the outside.Put an oven safe thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh where it meets the breast. At this point do not cover the turkey, only if it gets too brown do you need to.
- Place turkey in the oven on the lowest shelf of the oven. Turn down to 450 degrees.Set timer for 30 minutes. Rotate turkey and brush again with the butter. Repeat 2 more times. Bake turkey until it reaches 165 degrees. Remove from oven and let set until the turkey reaches 180 degrees.
- Note: If turkey starts to get too brown, cover it with foil.
More turkey recipes
Sounds delicious and easy! I love what you put in the cavity! I bet it smelled fantastic!
It did smell fantastic! Thanks Sheena.
Who knew you could cook a turkey at such a high temp with a beautiful result like this! This is great info. Thanks so much!
You’re welcome Valerie!
Wow! That is amazing! I would have never thought that you could possibly roast a 12 lb turkey that quickly! It looks amazing. :)
I’m with you Carrie. I thought the same thing. It also made a very moist turkey so I will be using this method again.
That gorgeous bird was made in two hours?!? Oh my! It looks perfect!
Yes, it was! Thanks Yvonne.
I just got a free 12lb turkey when I got groceries yesterday. I will have to try this recipe Mary, it looks amazing.
Yeah! Free is good…. I loved this recipe.
That is one gorgeous turkey!! When I saw the title that you cooked it inn only 2 hours, I was so curious!! I’ve never done turkey in a high oven, but I roast my chickens high, so I could totally see how this would work, and I LOVE the addition of oranges!
I was curious too when I first saw the recipe, I figured the worst that could happen was I’d have to cook it longer.
It’s beautiful! I have done the high-heat with chicken before, but never tried it with turkey. I love how turkey smells up the house – yummmm! So excited for the big day :) Happy Thanksgiving!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Wow! That’s awesome that this turkey can be cooked so quickly! More oven room for all the side dishes!
I know!
You gotta love turkey in 2 hours. LOL. I love the citrus twist you added. Yum!
You sure do! Thanks Kristin!
I love all the turkeys in this post, and love that it is 2 hours!!! Seriously. Amazing.
Thanks Rachael!
I love orange and rosemary together – and I love that this takes 2 hours!