Dave's Famous Thanksgiving Turkey

Dave's Famous Thanksgiving Turkey

This is my brother's way of making a turkey, and it turns out perfect every single time! Takes a whole day, but the rave reviews are worth it! This turkey recipe assumes you will be stuffing the turkey.

Preparation Time
20 mins
Cooking Time
4 hr
Total Time
4 hr 20 mins
Calories
1078 Calories

Recipe Instructions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 320 degrees F (160 degrees C).
Step 2
Loosen skin over turkey breast and thighs with your fingers; insert 3 pats of butter under the skin over the breast and 1 pat under the skin of each thigh. Poke 10 holes into the turkey meat over the breast and thighs; press minced garlic into the holes. Loosely pack poultry seasoning herbs into the turkey cavity. Sprinkle the skin of the bird with garlic salt, seasoned salt, black pepper, and onion salt.
Step 3
Wrap turkey with slices of bacon, covering as much of the bird as possible. Place turkey into a roasting pan. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a small saucepan and brush butter over the whole turkey including bacon slices. Cover turkey with a tent of aluminum foil.
Step 4
Roast the turkey in the preheated oven for 3 1/2 hours, basting with 1/2 cup melted butter every 30 minutes. Remove aluminum tent, baste turkey with pan drippings, and continue roasting until skin is browned and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh, not touching bone, reads at least 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), 30 to 45 more minutes.
Dave's Famous Thanksgiving Turkey
Dave's Famous Thanksgiving Turkey
Dave's Famous Thanksgiving Turkey
Dave's Famous Thanksgiving Turkey

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
  • 1 (16 ounce) package bacon
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt, or to taste
  • 1 (15 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, or to taste
  • 5 teaspoons butter, cut into 1-teaspoon pats
  • 1 (1 ounce) package assorted fresh herbs (poultry seasoning blend)
  • 1 teaspoon onion salt, or to taste
  • 3 cups butter, melted - divided

Categories

Similar Recipes You May Like

Easy One-Pot Ground Turkey Pasta

Easy One-Pot Ground Turkey Pasta

Pan-Fried Turkey Burgers

Pan-Fried Turkey Burgers

Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade

Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade

Marinated Turkey Breast

Marinated Turkey Breast

Leftover T-Day Turkey Stock

Leftover T-Day Turkey Stock

Turkey Divan

Turkey Divan

Turkey Croquettes

Turkey Croquettes

Hearty Turkey Stew with Vegetables

Hearty Turkey Stew with Vegetables