Cooking Turkey Overnight in Oven Bag
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cooking turkey overnight in an oven bag is all about decreasing stress on the big day. This easy overnight turkey recipe ensures that in the morning you have the most mouthwateringly moist and tender turkey meat imaginable.
Cooking turkey overnight in an oven bag is a Thanksgiving dinner game-changer. This overnight turkey method is awfully easy and your entire bird will be moist, tender, and juicy, even the white meat! What’s more, the bird is done first thing when you wake up so you can use that super-rich broth and some of the meat to put into your dressing and turkey gravy for the big meal.
The instructions couldn’t be easier. Just remove the turkey giblets, pop your turkey in an oven bag with the flour, shove the butter you-know-where, and then roast the turkey overnight. Then on the day, you can use your oven to cook all those delicious Thanksgiving side dishes.
Before we dive into the recipe, I just wanna say that there’s no one right way to cook a turkey. This is just another method to add to your repertoire! Clearly, because there are a lot of different turkey recipes on Southern Plate. Like turkey on the grill, slow cooker turkey, and deep-fried turkey. This is just another method to add to your repertoire!
What You Need To Cook A Turkey Overnight
- Turkey
- Flour
- Butter
- You’ll also need an oven bag that’ll fit your turkey and a roaster pan so the turkey broth doesn’t overflow!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
How to Cook Turkey Overnight in an Oven Bag
Look in the turkey cavity and make sure there are no turkey giblets (bags of anything). If there are, remove those.
Grandmama always saves hers for giblet gravy. You do what your heart tells ya to do.
Put one tablespoon of flour in the oven bag, then shut it and shake it.
Place the turkey breast side down in the oven bag (the oven bag should now be sitting in your roasting pan).
Breast side down is key here for moist white meat. It may look funny but trust us!
Stick that butter where the sun don’t shine (up the little gobbler’s rear, sorry gobbler).
Seal the bag and cut a few small slits in the top.
Turn the oven to 250 and cook overnight.
I don’t put mine in until 10:30/11 and then take it out at about 6 in the morning. You want to cook it for about 7 hours but no more.
When you wake up, your entire house will smell like turkey and the broth will be SO RICH and wonderful!
At this stage, I recommend always using a thermometer to check the temp of the meat. 165 degrees F for the breast and 170 degrees F for the legs.
Slice the turkey and place it on a platter. Spoon the leftover turkey juices or broth over if you like.
Cover with cling wrap or foil and refrigerate until it’s time to serve.
Reheat it on low in the oven until warm and toasty. How long will depend on how thick you slice the turkey.
How To Store A Cooked Turkey
- Store leftover turkey in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- You can also freeze turkey leftovers for up to 3 months, either in an airtight container or double-wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Is it safe to cook a turkey overnight?
Yes, cooking turkey overnight is safe and highly recommended. Slow-roasting the turkey on low allows the meat to cook without releasing all the moisture. This equals the juiciest, most tender turkey imaginable.
What’s the lowest temperature you can cook a turkey overnight?
You really don’t want to go any lower than 250 degrees and you want to make sure the turkey reaches the desired temperatures above before serving.
How do you cook a turkey the night before and keep it moist?
The key to cooking turkey overnight and keeping it moist is to cook it in the oven bag. This traps the moisture inside.
How long does it take to cook a turkey overnight?
It takes 7 hours to cook a turkey overnight if you follow this recipe. When cooking turkey overnight, I also use the same cooking time whether it’s a 13lb turkey or a 20lb turkey.
Is it safe to leave a turkey in cold water overnight?
No, it’s not safe to leave a turkey to thaw in a sink of cold water overnight. You want to be awake to monitor its progress and then put it in the fridge once it’s thawed.
How do you serve an overnight turkey?
Here are some Thanksgiving side dish suggestions:
- Crockpot Cornbread Dressing
- Oven-Baked Mac and Cheese (Southern Plate favorite)
- Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole
- Freezer Mashed Potatoes
- Fresh Green Beans
- 3 Bean Salad With Dressing
- Easy Creamed Corn
- Candied Carrots Recipe
- Homemade Dinner Rolls
- Roasted Asparagus
- Easy Turkey Gravy
Can we tempt you with these helpful recipes too?
- Leftover Turkey Recipes
- Turkey Hash Recipe
- 100+ Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas
- Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes
- Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
- Thanksgiving 2023 Menu
Ingredients
- 1 thawed turkey
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 stick butter
Instructions
- Look in the turkey cavity and make sure there are no giblets (bags of anything). If there are, remove those. Grandmama always saves hers for giblet gravy. You do what your heart tells ya to do.1 thawed turkey
- Put one tablespoon of flour in the oven bag, then shut it and shake it. Place the turkey breast side down in the oven bag (the oven bag should now be sitting in your roasting pan). Breast side down is key here for moist white meat. It may look funny but trust us!1 tablespoon flour, 1 thawed turkey
- Stick that butter where the sun don't shine (up the little gobbler's rear, sorry gobbler).1 stick butter
- Seal the bag and cut a few small slits in the top.
- Turn the oven to 250 and cook overnight. I don't put mine in until 10:30/11 and then take it out at about 6 in the morning. You want to cook it for about 7 hours but no more. When you wake up, your entire house will smell like turkey and the broth will be SO RICH and wonderful!
- Slice the turkey and place it on a platter. Spoon the leftover turkey juices or broth over if you like. Cover with cling wrap or foil and refrigerate until it's time to serve. Reheat it on low in the oven until warm and toasty. How long will depend on how thick you slice the turkey.
Notes
Nutrition
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Gratefully,
Stacey Lynn and The Southern Plate Family
I used this recipe to make my very first turkey it came out amazing and juicy no one could believe it was my first time. Even though i did use season salt and stuck a onion and garlic in side the turkey! This recipe was very helpful and will be using it again
Way to go Mariana!! I am so glad to hear it was a hit!!
This is my first thanksgiving to host and Im nervous!!! Thanks for this turkey-vice…it sounds just like my moms. I wish you would do just a holiday cookbook I love all your recipes and the fact that you are only a couple hours from me ensures that your recipes are also the ones I grew up with..Lovin’ you in North Alabama..
Hey Jennifer! I’m actually working on a printer friendly Holiday e-book right now. If all goes as planned it will be up for sale next week (cross your fingers). I’m going to make it all black and white and easy to print so all the recipes can be in one place for folks. I think we are going to charge anywhere from $3-$5 and it will have everything our entire family cooks during the holidays.
Either way, YOU GOT THIS!!! Your meal is going to be amazing!
Found this recipe in a google search. My turkey is waiting to head into the oven. It’s buttered up, seasoned, and upside down. LOL!. Can’t wait. I know it’s going to be good! 🙂
Hi,
I want to try this overnight method, but I love my dressing cooked inside the turkey cavity. Can I still cook a turkey overnight if it’s stuffed with dressing? Love your website and emails! Thanks for all you do.
Hey Jackie! Thank you so much! I’m afraid I m little help here. We have never cooked stuffing inside a turkey. We just make dressing and use the turkey broth to give it that pow flavor. I’m hoping someone else can jump in here and offer advice based on their experience.
Thanks for replying. Hopefully someone will know. I was so excited to see you replied to my question. In my world, you are a celebrity! Your website is my recipe Bible. Have a wonderfully blesses holiday season.
Jackie
Christy, you are just the cutest thing ever. I LOVE how you write, and how your wonderful personality seems to shine through. Thank you so much for the information about cooking a Turkey!
Alan
My wife and I have VERY successfully used the OVERNIGHT cooking method! After fully defrosting the turkey in the refrigerator, we use an oven thermometer to make use the oven is at 400 F. We use a roasting rack and fill the bottom of the pan with onions, carrots, celery and apples plus chicken broth. A TAYLOR wireless thermometer with a remote pager sensor is inserted into the breast of the turkey with it on its breast. The turkey is dried first then heavily coated with butter and seasoned. We put all of the giblets down with the veggies. The turkey and pan is sealed using heavy duty aluminum foil. The turkey s roasted for one hour at 400 F degrees then turned down to 200. Then we go to sleep. The wireless thermometer alerts us when the turkey reaches 165 F internally. We LEAVE THE TURKEY IN THE OVEN and TURN OFF THE OVEN altogether. We watch the remote to make sure the turkey doesn’t get OVERDONE. All of the gibliets (less the neck which always disappears) vegetables and apples are removed, put in a blender and LIQUIFIED. We allow the liquid in the bottom of the pan to completely cool and use the solid part to make a roux if needed. The vegetables will typically yield about a gallon of delicious gravy that needs no seasoning and nothing to augment its color!
Is it safe to cook a stuffed turkey overnight in a cooking bag? I don’t put any eggs in my stuffing.