Cooking Turkey Overnight in Oven Bag
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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
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- Leftover Turkey Recipes
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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
Is the turkey breast supposed to turn out colorless (as in butt white) like mine did? But it was done per internal temp, not juicy either.
What size turkey do you usually get?
This sounds great and similar to what I’ve used before!! Definitely will be using this tomorrow!!!
DISREGARD MY LAST POST FOR “H-E-L-P”. THE POST I WAS LOOKING FOR WAS RIGHT HERE BY MERCEDITH LEWIS ON 11/17/2012, EVEN THOUGH I LOOKED HERE BEFORE AND MISSED IT. AND IT WAS HER, NOT YOU, THAT WENT OUT TO DINNER (AT WAFFLE HOUSE).
Oh I’m so glad you found it!!!!
Sandy, Im in suspense—-what did the person say? Glad you found it
Linda, to answer your question on what the woman said at the restaurant to help the women that were in a conundrum over baking a turkey. A stranger over heard them and said, “Hunny, I’m gonna tell you how to cook that turkey.” [such authority I thought]. She tells them to put a stick of butter in its cavity. Pour 5 cups boiling water around the bird. With lid on bake one hour at 500 degrees F. Turn the oven off and DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR FOR 5-6 hours. Then turn the oven back on at 350 degrees F for one hour. That’s it.
It was in a post by Mercedith Lewis on 11/12/2012 here on southernplate.
P.S. I forgot to add that you rub outside of bird with butter and salt ant pepper it.
H-E-L-P. honest to god i’ve searched ’til I no longer can for your blog about going out to dinner on thanksgiving where you ran into a stranger who overheard you talk about baking turkeys. That stranger told you “Honey, let me tell you how to bake a turkey” [paraphrased closely]. I wrote down what she told you and can’t find it now. I saw her wisdom of experience in the words. Is there any way you could revive that post or direct me to it? Pretty please with sugar.
Hey Sandy! I’m afraid you may have me confused with someone else. This is the method I use for oven turkey and I have two other recipes I use for the crock pot but that is how I’ve always made a turkey. I will try to find time to search around on google today and see if I can find what you are looking for 🙂
Hey Christy,
I just wanted to thank you for this recipe! I lived in Madison for over 20 years and my friend, and yours, Staci K told me about your blog. I have made my turkey this way for at least 6 years. We moved to the Smoky mountain area and this will be our 2nd thanksgiving here. I will be using your method as always on Wednesday night. It is always delicious and moist! I love having things planned and out of the way so I can enjoy our family as much as possible. On a side note, I found out my grandmother used this method all of her years and I didn’t even know it. Thanks again and hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Kris W
Hi Kris!! Thank you so much, I am so glad you are enjoying the turkey and I LOVE that your grandmother used the same recipe!!! I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!
CHRISTY, IT’S LATE AND I’M WORN OUT AND WAS TOO TIRED TO WRITE OUT A RECIPE BY A REVIEWER FOR FOOL-PROOF GIBLET GRAVY, SO I AND PASTED A ‘PRINT SCREEN’ TO ‘PAINT’ FOR MY OWN PERSONAL USE ONLY. I HOPE THATS OKAY. IF NOT, I’LL DELETE IT. PLEASE REPLY, TY.
No problem! I’m just glad you made it work for you! Have a great week!