Bacon-Wrapped Turkey
This isn't your average Thanksgiving bird.
By Ree Drummond and Text by Kate Trombly OBrien
Bacon is such a magical ingredient. It's delicious on its own, but when you wrap it around ordinary foods, it instantly makes them into something special. Over the years, Ree Drummond has come up with all kinds of bacon recipes: bacon-shrimp skewers, bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles, and even bacon-wrapped corn on the cob. "If you're not wrapping your corn on the cob with bacon, you're missing out on all the fun!" she says. This year, though, she's going a step further and wrapping her Thanksgiving turkey in bacon! Yep, this bacon-wrapped turkey is dripping in smokey, porky goodness and is sure to be the star of your Thanksgiving menu.
Why do you put bacon on turkey?
Wrapping your turkey in bacon is a one-stop shop for flavor. The bacon will impart moisture from the fat, saltiness, and a nice smoky flavor, too. By wrapping a turkey in bacon, you eliminate the need to brine the turkey before you cook it or baste it while it's cooking.
How do you keep bacon wrapped around the turkey?
This recipe makes it easy. Rather than sloppily wrapping the whole bird in strips of bacon, you weave the bacon into a lattice pattern first, and then drape it over the top of the turkey, no tooth picks required. Not only does it look stunning, it holds in place with ease.
How do you keep bacon from burning on turkey?
It's easy! Just grab some foil and loosely tent the turkey to prevent the bacon from burning during the long cook time. Then, when three hours are up, remove the foil, crank up the oven to 450 degrees and continue roasting the turkey to give the bacon and chance to crisp up.
Should you wrap the turkey in foil when roasting?
No! Wrapping the turkey tightly in foil will result in rubbery bacon and turkey skin. Instead, lightly tent the turkey in foil so hot air can circulate and crisp up the skin.Â
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?
Yes—adding a little water (like we do in this recipe) to the bottom of the roasting pan helps to create some steam in the oven and keeps the turkey from drying out as it cooks. Â
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
- Yields:
- 8 - 10 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 30 mins
- Total Time:
- 4 hrs 30 mins
Ingredients
- 14
strips thick-cut bacon
- 1
12- to 14-lb. turkey, thawed if frozen, neck and giblets removed
- 4 tbsp.
salted butter, at room temperature
- 2
garlic cloves, grated
Directions
- Step 1Preheat the oven to 325°. Place a 16-inch long piece of parchment paper on your work surface. Arrange 8 strips of bacon lengthwise on the parchment, side-by-side with no space in between, but not overlapping. Fold every other strip back halfway. Lay 1 strip of bacon across the unfolded strips, perpendicular to them. Unfold the bacon strips so they lay over the perpendicular one. Fold back the strips that haven’t been folded yet and add another perpendicular piece; unfold the strips over it. Repeat the folding and unfolding process until you have a lattice that's 8 strips of bacon by 6 strips. Place the bacon lattice in the freezer for 15 minutes.Â
- Step 2Place the turkey breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan; tuck back the wing tips. If there is a pop-up thermometer, remove it. Pat dry.Â
- Step 3Mix together the butter and garlic in a bowl; brush it over the turkey.Â
- Step 4Starting at the cavity end of the turkey, line up the parchment so you can lay the bacon lattice over the turkey and cover as much of the breast as possible. Using the parchment to help you, drape the lattice lengthwise over the breast and legs. Press the bacon into the butter. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine.Â
- Step 5Pour 3 cups of water into the bottom of the roasting pan. Loosely tent the turkey breast with foil. Roast, basting occasionally, until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 160°, about 3 hours. Remove the foil; increase the oven temperature to 450°F. Roast until the bacon is crisp and a thermometer registers 165°, another 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of your bird. Let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving.Â
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
60 Best Side Dishes for a Glazed Ham
If You Love Potatoes, These Recipes Are for You
Make a Towering Carrot Cake Trifle for Easter
How Much Ham Do You Need Per Person?
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below