• servings 10

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon coarse salt

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

  • 1 whole fresh turkey (about 12 pounds)

Directions

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Stir together oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.

  2. Step 2

    Rinse inside and outside of turkey; pat dry with paper towels. Spatchcock turkey (see our how-to). Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, breast side up. Let stand for 30 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Brush or rub turkey all over with oil mixture. Roast, rotating sheet halfway through and basting twice, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let stand for 20 minutes before carving (see our how-to).

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Reviews (11)

  • Winnegrrl
    9 Apr, 2013

    Wow! put in at 45o degrees and checked in 50 minutes--my bad--skin burned black over breast and legs!
    Should have known better.
    Will try another at 375.
    Have done Ina Gartens perfect roast chicken at 400 with good results, though.

  • lagoar
    1 Apr, 2013

    The best turkey I have ever roasted. Thanks to some comments, I did a very quick clean of my oven first to avoid any smoking. Even when I left the turkey in the oven 10 or so minutes longer than I needed to, it was the most moist and delicious turkey I may have ever tasted, let alone made. I will never roast turkey any other way. Thank you.

  • mayborninfebruary
    22 Dec, 2012

    To Karen16, I'm sorry that happened to your house. I did a lot of research on spatchcocking prior to roasting mine, and I found that the fat on the pan can sometimes smoke up. An easy solution I utilized was placing the turkey on a bed of onions, which not only flavored the meat and pan juices wonderfully, but it kept the pan moist enough to avoid smoking. Hope you give it another chance sometime!

  • mayborninfebruary
    22 Dec, 2012

    I will never make a turkey any other way again! The breast meat was so tender and juicy and it cooked up so fast. I had a 14-pounder and it was done in 80 minutes! I thought I would miss the spectacle of bringing a whole turkey to the dinner table and the ooh's and ahh's, but i took the time to carve and arrange it beautifully and I would say that my guests were equally as impressed, if not more when they tasted it! Make this next Thanksgiving!

  • Kathryn1960
    27 Aug, 2012

    Roasting your turkey or chickens using this method always comes out juicy and crispy. And the cooking time is reduced so I don't feel like I have to get up at 4:00 AM to have Thanksgiving Turkey ready by 1:00. LOVE IT!

  • ChardonnaySunset
    21 Nov, 2011

    We tried this 2 yrs ago with a 22 lb turkey. We cooked it on our Weber grill at around 375 and used the cookie sheet. It was a big hit and very juicy. My sis-in-law did it the next year and added fresh herbs w/ olive oil under the skin. It turned out perfect and the oven was free for all the other side dishes.

  • Karen16
    6 Dec, 2010

    My open-concept house is now full of greasy smoke. 450 degrees????...This is a turkey not a pizza! I reduced the temp. and legnthened the time so I can breath. Perhaps I missed something. I am glad that I tried this on a non-holiday day! Oh my! Clean up will take several days.

  • Nannahall
    25 Nov, 2010

    I usually always to a large 20lb or bigger bird this way, very successfully. It takes about 2-2.5 hours; use a thermometer as Martha suggests for your first time. I have tried it on a flat wire rack and it gets done faster, but I like the flavors that it absorbs when you lay it over herbs and veggies. Then I puree those vegies to thicken my gravy. I'll be honest....I do not like white meat at all...but I'll eat this it's so moist!

  • Sheryll
    25 Nov, 2010

    I agree with SJRL, cook two 12 pound turkeys, just as easy an the white meat won't dry out so much as with a huge bird. And not so blasted heavy when lifting each bird separately. I thought about brining my turkey this year, but could not get one smaller than 14 pounds, so will be spatchcocking it instead, it is just so much easier to me.

  • SJRL
    22 Nov, 2010

    I don't know that I would ever do a 21 pound turkey - I'd rather do 2 10-12 pound turkeys. A 21 pounder is likely to dry out regardless of method before it cooks through.

  • Katiegram
    25 Nov, 2009

    Can this be done with a 21 lb turkey? How long would it take in the oven?

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