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2 Hour Turkey!

November 23, 2014 by Mary Ellen 21 Comments

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

2 Hour Turkey
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.

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2 Hour Turkey!
Author: Mary Ellen
Prep time:  15 mins
Cook time:  2 hours
Total time:  2 hours 15 mins
Serves: Serves 6 - 8
 
12 lb. turkey bakes in less than 2 hours with a hint of citrus and herbs.
Ingredients
  • 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
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
  2. 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.
  3. Put the oranges and herbs in the cavity of the turkey.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Note: If turkey starts to get too brown, cover it with foil.
3.4.3177

More turkey recipes

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Boneless Turkey Breast with Pumpkin Stuffing

Turkey Stuffing Soup

turkey stuffing soup recipe from recipesfoodandcooking.com

Mary Ellen

Filed Under: Turkey

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Comments

  1. Sheena @ Hot Eats and Cool Reads says

    November 24, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    Sounds delicious and easy! I love what you put in the cavity! I bet it smelled fantastic!

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 24, 2014 at 5:12 pm

      It did smell fantastic! Thanks Sheena.

      Reply
  2. Valerie | From Valerie's Kitchen says

    November 24, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 10:19 am

      You’re welcome Valerie!

      Reply
  3. Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says

    November 24, 2014 at 8:31 pm

    Wow! That is amazing! I would have never thought that you could possibly roast a 12 lb turkey that quickly! It looks amazing. :)

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 10:18 am

      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.

      Reply
  4. Yvonne [Tried and Tasty] says

    November 24, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    That gorgeous bird was made in two hours?!? Oh my! It looks perfect!

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 10:18 am

      Yes, it was! Thanks Yvonne.

      Reply
  5. Sarah at the magical slow cooker says

    November 25, 2014 at 8:42 am

    I just got a free 12lb turkey when I got groceries yesterday. I will have to try this recipe Mary, it looks amazing.

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 10:16 am

      Yeah! Free is good…. I loved this recipe.

      Reply
  6. Renee's Kitchen Adventures says

    November 25, 2014 at 8:49 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 10:17 am

      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.

      Reply
  7. Marion@Life Tastes Good says

    November 25, 2014 at 10:16 am

    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!!

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 10:30 am

      Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

      Reply
  8. Sandra Shaffer says

    November 25, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    Wow! That’s awesome that this turkey can be cooked so quickly! More oven room for all the side dishes!

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 9:46 pm

      I know!

      Reply
  9. Kristin @ Dizzy Busy and Hungry! says

    November 25, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    You gotta love turkey in 2 hours. LOL. I love the citrus twist you added. Yum!

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 9:47 pm

      You sure do! Thanks Kristin!

      Reply
  10. Rachael says

    November 25, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    I love all the turkeys in this post, and love that it is 2 hours!!! Seriously. Amazing.

    Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      November 25, 2014 at 9:48 pm

      Thanks Rachael!

      Reply
  11. Jen says

    November 25, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    I love orange and rosemary together – and I love that this takes 2 hours!

    Reply

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