Let’s face it; yes we are all “thankful” on Thanksgiving, but much of the day’s focus is on the food. It is the one day a year we all eat – and eat – and eat. And often, our ovens – like our stomachs – aren’t nearly big enough to fit all that food come Thanksgiving Day.
No worries, we have the solution. Whether you’re cooking for a house full or just for two, let the mouthwatering aroma of roasted turkey fill your home this Thanksgiving with one of our delicious, oven-free, turkey dinner recipes.
Slow Cooker Herb Turkey Breast delivers big on taste but is perfect for small gatherings. You won’t have to worry about what to do with all those left overs either. Using the slow cooker locks in the juices, giving you a tender, juicy turkey, fit for any feast.
It also makes cooking simple. Brush the breast with oil and rub on a mixture of savory herbs. Add onion and celery and set to cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 3.
As Thanksgiving approaches, many home cooks start planning how they’ll roast the star of the holiday meal – the turkey! With your regular oven already busy cooking casseroles, pies and other sides, finding room for a large turkey can be tricky. That’s where a countertop roaster oven comes in handy!
A Hamilton Beach roaster oven is the perfect solution for freeing up space in your main oven while delivering a moist, delicious turkey In this article, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to roast a tender, juicy turkey using a Hamilton Beach roaster oven.
Why Use a Roaster Oven for Turkey
Roaster ovens offer several key benefits that make them ideal for cooking turkey
-
Large capacity Roaster ovens can accommodate up to a 28 lb turkey, taking the strain off your regular oven.
-
Moist turkey: The tight fitting lid locks in heat and natural juices for a super moist bird.
-
Handy features: A lift-out rack simplifies getting the heavy turkey in and out. The keep-warm setting holds it at the ideal temperature.
-
Cooks faster: Roaster ovens can cook a turkey up to 40% faster than a conventional oven.
-
Frees up oven space: With the turkey in the roaster, your oven is free for all the side dishes and desserts.
How to Choose the Right Turkey
When selecting a turkey for your Hamilton Beach roaster oven, here are some tips:
-
Choose a fresh or completely thawed turkey between 14-15 lbs.
-
Avoid stuffing the turkey, as this can lead to bacteria growth. Cook stuffing separately.
-
Make sure frozen birds are fully thawed in the fridge for at least 2 days before cooking.
Preparing the Roaster Oven and Turkey
Before cooking, prep your oven and turkey:
-
Remove giblets and neck from the cavities. Reserve for gravy.
-
Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat dry.
-
Rub skin with oil or melted butter to help brown.
-
Generously season the outside and underside of skin.
-
Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove rack.
Cooking Times for Roaster Oven Turkey
A 14-15 lb turkey takes only 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours to roast in a Hamilton Beach roaster oven. For comparison, a traditional oven takes 3-4 hours.
Always use a meat thermometer to determine doneness rather than relying on time. Cook until the breast registers 165°F.
Resting, Carving and Serving the Turkey
Once cooked, follow these steps:
-
Let the turkey rest 30 minutes before carving so juices redistribute.
-
Carve the breast meat first, slicing thin pieces across the grain.
-
Remove the legs and continue carving the rest of the meat.
-
Arrange turkey on a platter with herbs or fruit garnish to serve.
Handy Tips for Roaster Oven Turkey
Follow these tips from the Hamilton Beach test kitchen:
-
Rub herb butter under the skin for extra flavor.
-
Use a meat thermometer for accuracy. Don’t rely on the pop-up timer alone.
-
Tent turkey with foil while resting to retain moisture and heat.
-
Add onion, celery and herbs inside the cavity for flavor.
-
Let turkey rest 20-30 minutes before slicing for juices to absorb back into the meat.
-
Use drippings to make delicious gravy and stuffing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to cook a turkey in a roaster oven?
Figure around 90 minutes per pound, so a 14 lb turkey will take 2 1⁄2 – 3 hours at 325°F. Check the temperature.
What size turkey fits in a roaster oven?
Hamilton Beach roaster ovens accommodate birds up to 20-28 lbs depending on the model.
Should you stuff a turkey in a roaster oven?
No. Stuffing won’t cook properly and can cause bacteria growth. Cook it separately.
What temperature should you use to cook turkey in a roaster oven?
Cook at 325°F, monitoring temperature until the breast reaches 165°F.
How do you get crispy turkey skin in a roaster oven?
Rub the skin with oil or butter before cooking. Baste periodically and increase heat if needed.
Putting It All Together
As you can see, a Hamilton Beach roaster oven makes cooking moist, delicious turkey simple! Follow proper thawing, seasoning and food safety tips for best results. With your turkey in the roaster oven, enjoy a stress-free Thanksgiving with more room to oven-roast side dishes.
Slow Cooker Herb Turkey Breast
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons dried sage
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (6 to 7) pound turkey breast, thawed
- 2 celery ribs
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- Brush turkey breast with oil. Stir sage, paprika, rosemary, salt, thyme and black pepper in small bowl; rub herbs over turkey skin.
- Place celery and onion in crock. Add turkey breast.
- Cover and cook on HIGH 3 hours or LOW 5 hours until meat temperature registers 165°F.
- Let turkey breast sit 15 minutes before carving.
- The roaster oven cooks a turkey in less time than a regular oven, but use a meat thermometer to make sure your turkey is thoroughly cooked.
- Turkey cooked in a roaster oven will be very moist, but less brown than a traditionally roasted turkey. Seasoning rubs add flavor and enhance the appearance of a roaster oven cooked turkey.
If you’re entertaining a crowd, you can’t go wrong with the Quick Roast Turkey prepared in a roaster oven. This easy to make turkey is perfect for Thanksgiving. By using a roasting oven, the turkey self -bastes itself since juices from the turkey collect on the lid, then continually drip back down onto the turkey. This creates a moist, juicy turkey sure to get rave reviews from family and friends.
Like the slow cooker, once in the roaster you can forget about the turkey until it is ready to carve. And since the turkey cooks in the roaster, the traditional oven is open for your appetizers, potatoes, casseroles, roasted vegetables, stuffing, rolls, pastries…
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
- 14 to 15 pound turkey, fresh or totally thawed
- 1 onion, cut in half
- 1 stalk celery
- 1/4 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
- In a medium size bowl, stir onion powder, salt, cracked black pepper, paprika, rosemary, thyme and sage. Set aside.
- Remove the rack from the roaster oven. Cover and heat oven to 325°F.
- Remove giblets and neck from cavities of turkey. Set aside and use for giblet gravy.
- Place turkey on rack. Stuff cavity with onion and celery. Brush turkey with butter or oil. Rub turkey with seasoning mixture.
- Using handles on rack, place rack with turkey in roaster oven and cook 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meat thermometer registers 165°F.
- The roaster oven cooks a turkey in less time than a regular oven, but use a meat thermometer to make sure your turkey is thoroughly cooked.
- Turkey cooked in a roaster oven will be very moist, but less brown than a traditionally roasted turkey. Seasoning rubs add flavor and enhance the appearance of a roaster oven cooked turkey.