How to Cook a Perfectly Juicy Turkey Without an Oven

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According to a recent Butterball-commissioned survey, 85 percent of U. S. adults who are planning on celebrating Thanksgiving with a meal are planning on serving turkey. But just because our menus will look the same doesnt mean our turkeys will look the same. More than 40% of people surveyed by Whole Foods in 2019 said they were not going to roast their turkey the traditional way. Maybe we dont want to crank up our gas or electric ovens for hours on end. Maybe we dont have ovens. Or maybe we just want something different.

If you’re in any of those groups, here are some other appliances you can use to cook your turkey for Thanksgiving, along with links to where you can buy them. Were talking recommendations on smokers, deep fryers, air fryers, Instant Pots and slow cookers.

Also, if you want to avoid supply chain problems or long lines at the store, make sure to read our online turkey buying guide before Thanksgiving.

In the Whole Foods survey, smoked turkey was the most popular alternative to a traditional oven roast. The Intermountain Farmers Association calls a smoked turkey “likely to be the best-tasting, easiest-to-cook turkey youve ever eaten. Here are some tips from the IFA on how to smoke a turkey, and here is a Martha Stewart recipe. See our notes on equipment below.

Cooking a turkey is often seen as the centerpiece of big holiday meals like Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner However, not everyone has access to a full-sized oven big enough to roast an entire bird Luckily, with some creativity, you can still enjoy a delicious home-cooked turkey even without an oven!

Here are some tips and techniques for cooking a moist, flavorful turkey using alternative methods:

Cook on the Stovetop

One of the easiest ways to cook a turkey without an oven is right on your stovetop. This takes a bit longer than roasting, but produces very tender and juicy meat.

Choose a turkey breast rather than a whole turkey as it will fit better in a large pot or dutch oven. A bone-in skin-on breast works best.
Season the turkey well with salt, pepper, herbs, and spices. Rub it directly into the skin and meat.
Heat 1-2 inches of liquid like chicken or turkey broth in a heavy pot or dutch oven. Bring to a simmer.
Carefully place the seasoned turkey breast into the pot, adding more liquid if needed to mostly submerge it.
Cover and gently simmer for about 1 hour per pound, turning the turkey every 30 minutes. Keep an eye on the liquid level and add more as needed.
Once fully cooked, the turkey should register 165°F at the thickest part. Let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.

Grill It

For those with access to a grill, this is a great way to add delicious smoky flavor to turkey. The key is indirect heat and frequent basting.

Prep the grill for indirect cooking by heating one side to medium-high heat and leaving the other side with no coals.
Season the turkey all over with spices, herbs, salt, and pepper. Rub it directly into the skin.
Place the turkey over the unlit side, breast side up. Close the grill lid.
Baste the turkey frequently as it cooks with melted butter, broth, or other flavorful liquid. This helps keep the turkey moist.
Cook approximately 15-18 minutes per pound, until the thickest part of the breast reaches 165°F.
Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes before slicing to allow juices to re-distribute.

Slow Cook It

A slow cooker makes turkey cooking easy! The moist environment and low gentle heat result in incredibly tender meat.

Choose a boneless, skinless turkey breast and rub it all over with herbs and seasonings.
Place the seasoned breast into a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add 1 cup of chicken or turkey broth.
Cook on low heat for about 4-5 hours, until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
When done, remove turkey from the slow cooker, tent with foil, and let rest 15 minutes before slicing.
For extra flavor, try adding aromatics like onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and woody herbs to the slow cooker.

Use an Air Fryer

Air fryers use super hot, circulating air to crisp up foods like turkey skin while cooking the meat.

Choose boneless, skin-on turkey breast and rub it with oil and seasonings.
Set the air fryer to 380°F. Cook turkey for about 8-10 minutes per pound.
Flip the turkey halfway through cooking. Insert a meat thermometer to check doneness; turkey is done at 165°F.
Let the cooked turkey rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing into juicy cutlets.

Cook in an Instant Pot

The popularity of Instant Pots proves they can handle even large cuts of meat like turkey with ease.

Season a boneless, skinless turkey breast with salt, pepper and spices.
Add 1 cup broth to the Instant Pot and place a trivet or steamer basket in the bottom. Place turkey on top.
Lock the lid and set to high pressure for 25-35 minutes per pound, until turkey reaches 165°F internally.
Use natural pressure release. Once finished, carefully remove turkey from pot and let rest before slicing.

Finish on the Grill

For the best of both worlds, par-cook the turkey on the stovetop or in the oven, then finish it on the grill for amazing flavor.

Cook turkey in broth in a covered pot or dutch oven until almost done, about 1 hour 15 min per lb.
Transfer turkey to a very hot grill and cook until nicely browned and charred on the outside. Baste with melted butter or olive oil for extra crispy skin.
Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness; turkey should reach 165°F.
Let rest at least 15 minutes before slicing for perfectly juicy meat.

Safely Thaw and Handle Turkey

When cooking turkey without an oven, proper handling is especially important. Follow these tips:

Always thaw turkey in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours per 4-5 lbs.
Keep raw turkey chilled at 40°F or below and cook thoroughly to 165°F.
Avoid cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards, utensils, platters for raw turkey. Wash all surfaces with hot soapy water.
Cook stuffing in oven during last 1 hour turkey cooks or cook separately. Do not stuff raw turkey.
Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours and reheat thoroughly to 165°F before serving.

With the right techniques, you can enjoy moist, delicious home-cooked turkey on any special occasion – no oven required! Utilizing methods like braising on the stovetop, cooking low and slow in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, or finishing over a hot grill or in an air fryer will result in tender, juicy turkey the whole family will love.

how to cook a turkey without an oven

Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 (8-quart)

As an “Amazons Choice” item, the Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 can be set to air fry, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and air broil. There are two baskets on each side, so you can split the 8-quart capacity into 4 quarts of one thing and 4 quarts of something else.

Slow cookers, as their name suggests, take their time. Over the course of hours, the long-popular countertop appliances use steady low temperatures to extract flavor and juicy goodness from your meat or food of choice. According to the National Turkey Federation, theyre a good fit for a number of different turkey cuts, including bone-in and boneless breasts and thighs, legs, cutlets and wings.

Here are two of the best slow cookers on Amazon that might make your Thanksgiving dinner worth the wait.

Masterbuilt MB20012420 electric fryer (10-liter)

If you don’t have a place outside to work or just would rather be inside, this could be a good choice for you and your bird. Selected as the best indoor turkey fryer by Good Housekeeping, the Masterbuilt MB20012420 runs on electricity, not propane. It also works as a steamer and boiler. Masterbuilt says the extra-large, 10-liter model can fry a turkey up to 20 pounds. (10 liters is the equivalent of 10. 5 quarts. ) At last look, an 8-liter model was also available from Amazon for $90.

Instant Pot is the brand name of a popular line of multi-use pressure cookers. We talked about how the Instant Pot can be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, air fryer, and even a yogurt maker in our CBS Essentials guide to the cooker.

If turkey breast is on your Thanksgiving menu, you should be able to use it for your holiday meal too.

How do I cook a turkey without an oven?

FAQ

How can you cook a turkey if you don’t have an oven?

Slow Cooker Cook the turkey on low for six to eight hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165℉. If your slow cooker isn’t big enough, you can also chop it into smaller portions to fit into the slow cooker.

Can I cook my turkey in an air fryer?

Air Fryer Turkey Breast comes out so moist and juicy and perfectly cooked with a beautiful deep golden brown skin. And bonus, it cooks in a fraction of the time it would in the oven!