Cooking Turkey Overnight in Oven Bag
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
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE will somebody tell me how to make that yummy stuffing in the pan, that everyone but this poor Yankee seems to know how to make. I will be eternally grateful. Those little squares of stuffing are totally beyond my comprehension. (thank you for the dixie cornbread recipe) LOVE IT!!
Dressing recipe- I boil a chicken and use the broth from it and the meat in my dressing. I make 2 pans of corn bread(10-12″ skillet), 6 biscuits, 4-6 slices of white loaf bread. Crumble these together. I usually do this a day ahead and put in gallon storage bags. Chicken cooked day before also. The morning of I mix breads, box of stove top stuffing(for seasonings) together. Add 2-3 eggs, 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning, l large finely chopped or grated onion, chicken shreaded, and start with 1 cup of broth. Mix with hands in large bowl. Keep adding broth until you get it as moist as you like it. I like it almost mushy. Spread large pan with cooking spray. I cook mine 375 degrees for between 30 – 45 min. It depends on how deep your pan is and how you like it cooked. I have to cook several pans. Some like no onions, very dry and very moist. I try to please everyone. Hope this helps.
Jodi, I forget that some folks like celery, etc. in it also. Add what every you like. Since it is almost all cooked anyway. I taste on seasonings etc. Probably salt and pepper as you like. I usually put enough in my chicken that I don’t add very much. You might want to start with less poultry seasoning until you taste it. Hope you enjoy as much as we do.
I am so greatful to you for this recipe, I can taste it already. Maybe my in-laws will forgive me for all my yankeeness when I serve this with dinner 😀
Jodi
Here is a great cornbread dressing recipe…
1 cake of cornbread
1 Pan of bisquits ( I make homemade but if not, use good refridgerator kind)
stick of melted butter
sage, salt and pepper
Broth from cooked turkey
Boil chopped onions and celery in broth ( amount depends on your liking)
Boil neck and giblets (even liver if you like – I do!) till done, then chop up all meat and giblets when done.
Use big mixing pan like a stainless steel and crumble cornbread and bisquits. Add onions and celery, the meats and the butter. Start adding broth till you get a playdough effect. I like to use a little HOT water so it won’t be too greasy. Now add your sage and salt and pepper to taste. (I like to take lots of taste tests!) You will know when it is right when it holds it’s shape and has nice flavor. Spread into pan or pans and bake for about 30 min on 350. Turns out great everytime!
What kind of cornbread do you use?
That’s a fast (well because it is cooking while you sleep! lol) way of cooking a turkey. It sounds yummy. I’m not cooking the turkey this year, but maybe I’ll get a turkey anyway and try it. I usually use a recipe that uses olive oil and cheesecloth. Succulent and pretty but you have to babysit it a bit.
this is a great idea.i cook pork roast up side down as well fat up yum yum!!!
WHEN YOU REHEAT TURKEY PUT WET ICEBURG LETTUCE LEAFS ON TOP AND WARM IN A 300 DEGREE OVEN YUMMY AND STILL MOIST FROM THE WET LEAVES HUGS SALLY
I tried this last weekend! It turned out so moist and tender! I had a baking bag that said it fit up to 12 lbs and a 13 lb turkey! I held my breath and it just fit!
My husband said I could teach my mom a thing or two about cooking turkey now! That would take some diplomacy! LOL!
Thanks for the idea!
I never thought of cooking it upside down. Ha. Clever. We brined our turkey for the first time ever this thanksgiving and oh MY! It was yummy! I can’t wait to try it with chicken. I’m going to try cooking it upside-down next time. I guess we all get so set on trying to make it look like the pretty perfectly browned birds you see in all the pictures out there – but it always comes to the table already sliced up on a platter anyway…. so why are we so pressed anyway? lol
The slicing of the turkey is always a big part of thanksgiving around our family, everyone surrounds the carver waiting to get their hands on a sample while it is being carved…kinda like a pack of starving animals..hehe. So, everyone sees the product before it is sliced in our family–guess that is why it has to be “pretty”.
Wow, I have not cooked my Turkey from Thanksgiving yet, but I sure am
going to try it. I hate the white meat because its dry, well I hope this does the trick. Thank you so much for all of your tips, I just joined here and love it already. God Bless.