Cooking a stuffed turkey can seem daunting but with some simple techniques and tips you can have a moist, flavorful bird that will be the star of your holiday table. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you cook a stuffed turkey to perfection.
Ingredients
- Whole turkey (thawed if frozen)
- Stuffing of your choice
- Chicken or turkey stock
- Herbs and spices for seasoning
- Vegetable oil or butter for basting
Equipment
- Roasting pan with a rack
- Basting brush
- Meat thermometer
- Kitchen twine (optional)
Prepare the Turkey
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Take the turkey out of the fridge 1-2 hours before cooking to bring it to room temperature. This helps it cook more evenly.
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Remove the giblets and neck from the cavities Reserve for gravy or stock if desired.
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Pat the turkey dry with paper towels, inside and out.
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Lightly coat the skin with vegetable oil or butter and season generously with salt and pepper.
Stuff the Turkey
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Gently stuff the main cavity loosely with your prepared stuffing. Do not pack it densely.
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Place any excess stuffing in a greased baking dish, cover, and refrigerate to bake later.
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Truss the legs together with twine to hold the shape if desired (optional).
Prep the Pan
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Place a rack in a large roasting pan and add 1-2 cups of stock.
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Put the turkey on the rack breast-side up and lightly rub with butter or oil.
Cook the Turkey
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Roast at 325°F, allowing about 15-20 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
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Baste every 30 minutes with the pan juices.
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Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, aiming for 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
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If the skin gets too brown, loosely tent foil over the turkey.
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The turkey is done when it reaches 165°F and the thighs feel loose.
Let It Rest
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When the turkey is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and let rest for 20-30 minutes before carving.
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This allows the juices to redistribute for a moist, tender turkey.
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Make gravy from the tasty pan drippings if desired.
Carve and Serve
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Carve the turkey and serve it with the roasted stuffing, veggies, cranberry sauce, gravy, and any other favorite sides.
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Enjoy this delicious stuffed turkey with your loved ones!
Cook the stuffing outside the turkey.
For uniform cooking results, the USDA recommends cooking the stuffing outside of the bird. If you insist on stuffing the turkey, stuff loosely and follow the steps below.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Check the wrapper to see how much the turkey weighs and determine approximate cooking time (see chart below). Remove the giblet bag from the breast and remove the neck from the turkey cavity. No need to wash the turkey, pat skin dry with paper towels.
- Mix stuffing and lightly fill cavity. Allow 1/2 to 3/4 cup stuffing per pound of turkey. It is safer to understuff than to overstuff the turkey. Stuffing expands during cooking. Refrigerate any leftover stuffing and bake in greased casserole during the last hour of turkey roasting time.
- Place turkey breast side up on a rack in a shallow (about 2 inches deep) roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer in thigh (see Turkey Safety: Using a Thermometer). Add up to 1/2 cup water to the bottom of the pan, if desired.
- Cover turkey loosely with a tent of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Cooking time takes longer for a stuffed turkey. For example, a 20 pound stuffed turkey will take 4 1/4 to 5 1/4 hours to cook. (See timetable below).
- Remove the foil cover after about 1 to 1 1/2 hours of cooking to brown the skin. Brush with vegetable oil to enhance browning, if desired.
- A whole turkey is done when the temperature in the innermost part of the thigh reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165°F as measured with a food thermometer. Check the temperature in the thickest part of the breast, the wing and the stuffing. The stuffing must reach 165°F or higher, if it is not, return it to the oven and continue cooking.
- Check the internal temperature of the stuffing. Insert the thermometer through the cavity into the thickest part of the stuffing and leave it for 5 minutes. Or use an instant red thermometer which will register the temperature after 15 seconds. The stuffing temperature will rise a few degrees after the turkey is removed from the oven. If the center of the stuffing has not reached 165°F after stand time, return the turkey to the oven and continue cooking.
- Allow turkey to set 20 minutes before removing stuffing and carving to allow juices to saturate the meat evenly.
How to Make Easy Beginner’s Turkey with Stuffing | Thanksgiving Recipes | Allrecipes.com
FAQ
Do you cook a stuffed turkey at 325 or 350?
A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey. Roast a stuffed turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Nov 6, 2024
Should you cover a stuffed turkey in the oven?
We’ve found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out …Nov 13, 2024
Does stuffing a turkey change the cooking time?
A 12 to 14 pound stuffed turkey will take 3.5 to 4 hours to bake while an unstuffed bird will take 3 to 3.75 hours at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.Oct 28, 2016
How long to cook a stuffed turkey per pound calculator?
| Stuffed | Unstuffed | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 8 pounds (breast) | 2½ to 3½ hours | 1½ to 3¼ hours |
| 8 to 12 pounds | 3 to 3½ hours | 2¾ to 3 hours |
| 12 to 14 pounds | 3½ to 4 hours | 3 to 3¾ hours |
| 14 to 18 pounds | 4 to 4¼ hours | 3¾ to 4¼ hours |
How do you cook a stuffed turkey?
Cook thoroughly. A meat thermometer inserted in the inner thigh should read 180ºF (82ºC) for a stuffed turkey or 170ºF (77ºC) for an unstuffed turkey. The legs should move easily when twisted and the juices run clear. When the turkey is done, remove from oven, cover with foil and let stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carving.
Can you add meat to turkey stuffing?
Just make sure to cook any meat before adding it to the stuffing. Change the turkey stuffing: Use another stuffing recipe or an alternate way to stuff a turkey, like adding aromatics to the cavity. Chopped onions, carrots, celery and herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage are all delicious choices.
What is turkey stuffing?
To sum it up, Merriam-Webster’s defines stuffing as “a seasoned mixture (as of breadcrumbs, vegetables, and butter) that is typically placed inside the cavity of a turkey.” Dressing, however, is cooked in a dish separate from the turkey and is served as a side to the turkey.