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A close-up of the crispy, golden skin on a roasted spatchcock turkey. The texture is perfectly rendered, highlighting the recipe's success.
FL Recipes

Spatchcock Turkey Recipe (The Juiciest, Fastest Way to Cook a Turkey)

This Spatchcock Turkey Recipe is a holiday game-changer! Learn the secret to perfectly even cooking, ultra-crispy skin, and a drastically reduced roasting time for the juiciest turkey ever.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 10 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

For the Turkey
  • 1 whole turkey (12-14 lbs) fully thawed and patted dry
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Garlic Herb Butter
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh sage chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme chopped
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Equipment

  • 1 Poultry Shears
  • 1 Large Rimmed Baking Sheet
  • 1 Instant-read meat thermometer

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Pat the thawed turkey completely dry with paper towels.
  2. Place the turkey breast-side down on a large cutting board. Using heavy-duty poultry shears, cut along one side of the backbone. Repeat on the other side to remove the backbone entirely. (Save it for gravy!)
  3. Flip the turkey over and press firmly on the breastbone with the heel of your hand to flatten it.
  4. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped rosemary, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper.
  5. Gently loosen the skin over the breast and thighs. Rub about half of the herb butter mixture directly onto the meat under the skin.
  6. Combine the remaining herb butter with the olive oil and rub it all over the outside of the turkey skin.
  7. Place the turkey on a wire rack set inside a large, rimmed baking sheet. Tuck the wing tips under the breast.
  8. Roast for 70-90 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160°F in the thickest part of the breast and 170-175°F in the thigh.
  9. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. This is essential for a juicy turkey.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcalProtein: 58gFat: 30g

Notes

Why Spatchcock? This method cuts cooking time nearly in half and results in perfectly even cooking.
Dry is Key: Make sure your turkey skin is as dry as possible before applying the butter for the crispiest result.
Don't Skip the Rest! Letting the turkey rest before carving is crucial for locking in the juices.
Keyword roasted turkey,spatchcock turkey,thanksgiving turkey

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