Let’s talk turkey! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’re already thinking about what to do for dinner. I know first-hand that roasting an entire turkey can seem intimidating though. How big of a turkey do you need? Should you buy it frozen or fresh? If the former, how long will it take to thaw? How should you carve the turkey?
Fortunately, Canadian Turkey’s Whole Bird How-Tos provide all the information you require, practical resources, and how-to videos in one convenient location. With the help of the straightforward Whole Bird Turkey Calculator, you can quickly determine the required size, thawing time, and cooking time.
While this isn’t always the case, many families enjoy the large, customary gathering and roasted turkey dinner with all the fixings. A whole turkey makes sense for a large family dinner, but even the biggest turkey fan can struggle to finish an entire bird with leftovers on their own when you’re planning a smaller celebration. So what do you do when you’re celebrating the holiday with just one or two friends or family members? For smaller families, roasting a half turkey is just as delicious and festive as serving a whole bird.
Buying a single fresh or frozen turkey and asking the butcher to cut it in half is the easiest way to accomplish this. If you purchase it fresh, freeze the other half for later use. If it is already frozen, simply thaw the portion you require and store the remaining portion in the freezer for later use.
Are you looking for a delicious and festive way to feed a smaller group of people? Look no further than a roasted half turkey! This dish is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other special occasion It’s also a great way to use up leftover turkey after a larger holiday meal
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process of cooking a half turkey, from start to finish. We’ll cover everything from prepping the turkey to carving it and making gravy. So, grab your ingredients and let’s get started!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make a classic roasted half turkey:
For the turkey:
- 1/2 turkey, 3-4 kg (6.5 – 8.5 lbs)
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil
- 2 medium onions
- 6 large carrots
- 1 bunch fresh rosemary
- 3 large garlic cloves, unpeeled
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) white wine
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) chicken broth
For the rub:
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) salt
- 1/2 tbsp (7.5 mL) pepper
- 1/2 tbsp (7.5 mL) garlic powder
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) ground sage
- 1/2 tbsp (7.5 mL) ground rosemary
- 1/2 tbsp (7.5 mL) ground thyme
For the gravy (optional):
- Pan drippings from the turkey
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cooked onion
- 1/2 cooked garlic clove
Instructions
1. Prep the turkey:
- If your turkey is frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.
- Once thawed, remove the giblets and neck from the turkey cavity.
- Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat it dry with paper towels.
2. Make the rub:
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
- Rub the spice mixture all over the turkey, making sure to get it under the skin as well.
3. Preheat the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Prep the vegetables:
- Roughly chop the onions into 1-inch rounds.
- Peel and wash the carrots.
5. Assemble the turkey:
- Pour the white wine and chicken broth into a roasting pan.
- Line the bottom of the pan with the onions, carrots, unpeeled garlic cloves, and rosemary sprigs.
- Place the turkey on top of the vegetables, cut side down.
6. Roast the turkey:
- Roast the turkey for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees F (77 degrees C) in the breast and 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) in the thigh. You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
7. Rest the turkey:
- Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful turkey.
8. Make the gravy (optional):
- While the turkey is resting, make the gravy.
- In a saucepan, combine the pan drippings, cornstarch, milk, cooked onion, and cooked garlic clove.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Cook until the gravy has thickened to your desired consistency.
9. Carve the turkey:
- Once the turkey has rested, carve it into slices and serve it with the gravy and your favorite sides.
Tips:
- For extra flavor, you can stuff the turkey cavity with your favorite stuffing recipe.
- If you’re short on time, you can use a store-bought gravy mix instead of making your own.
- Leftover turkey can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
There you have it! A step-by-step guide on how to cook a half turkey. With this recipe, you’re sure to impress your guests with a delicious and festive meal.
Classic Roasted Half Turkey
- ½ turkey 3-4kg
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium onions
- 6 large carrots
- one bunch fresh rosemary
- 3 large garlic cloves unpeeled
- ½ cup white wine optional
- ½ cup chicken broth 1 cup if omitting wine
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp pepper
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp ground sage
- 1/2 tbsp ground rosemary
- 1/2 tbsp ground thyme
- If your bird is frozen, put it in the fridge for the entire night to thaw.
- Pat the bird dry with paper towels.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Rub both sides of the turkey with olive oil.
- Combine all spices to make a rub. Sprinkle generously onto both sides of the bird.
- Slice your onions roughly into 1-inch rounds. Peel and wash the carrots.
- Pour wine and chicken broth into your roasting pan. Arrange whole carrots, peeled garlic cloves, onions, and rosemary sprigs along the bottom of the dish. With the cut side down, arrange the bird atop all of the vegetables.
- Cook for 1½ to 2 hours, or until the turkey is thoroughly cooked. Test for doneness with a meat thermometer. Turkey’s internal temperature should be 180°F (82°C) in the thigh and 170°F (77°C) in the breast.
- Take the turkey out of the oven, and give it fifteen minutes to rest before carving.
- Enjoy!
Wondering what to do with leftovers? Canadian Turkey has you covered there too! Check out their Recipe Page for unique turkey recipes and delicious ideas for leftovers.
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own. Your experience may differ.