Cook your turkey in a bag for a tender, juicy, and flavorful holiday dinner. This method yields perfect results every time and makes cleanup a breeze.
Why Cook Turkey In a Bag?
Cooking turkey in a bag keeps the bird juicy by trapping in the moisture. It also speeds up the cooking time by trapping in the heat. Plus, you won't have to scrub the roasting pan – when you're done, just throw the bag out.
Turkey In a Bag Ingredients and Tools
Here's what you'll need to make this top-rated turkey in a bag:
· Turkey: This recipe calls for a whole 12-pound turkey. If your bird is larger or smaller, you'll need to adjust your cooking time.
· Seasonings: The turkey is simply seasoned with just salt and pepper, which allows the natural flavors to shine.
· Flour: Two tablespoons of flour keep the bag from bursting and help with browning.
· Vegetables: The turkey is roasted alongside onions and celery. For an extra pop of color, add carrots.
· Turkey Bag: You should be able to find turkey-sized oven bags at your local grocery store, likely in the aluminum foil and plastic wrap aisle.
How to Cook Turkey In a Bag
You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below – but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you roast this turkey in a bag:
1. Prepare the Turkey: Remove and discard the giblets, pat the turkey dry, and season with salt and pepper.
2. Pack the Bag: Sprinkle the bottom of the bag with flour. Place the turkey in the bag along with cut celery and onions. Seal the bag, transfer to a roasting pan, and use a fork to poke several holes in the bag.
3. Roast the Turkey: Bake in a preheated oven until the juices run clear. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh meat should read 180 degrees F.
How Long to Cook Turkey In a Bag
A 12-pound turkey should be fully cooked (using this bag method) after about 3 to 3.5 hours in a 350 degrees F oven.
More Turkey FAQs
Here at Allrecipes, we know a thing or two about cooking the perfect Thanksgiving feast — that's why we've made it our mission to answer your most burning turkey questions. Check out some of our best turkey tips, tricks, and guides from over the years:
· How to Brine a Turkey
· 3 Ways to Safely Thaw a Frozen Turkey
· How Much Turkey Per Person Do You Need?
· How to Truss a Turkey the Easy Way
· How to Smoke a Turkey
· How to Carve a Turkey the Easy Way
Explore our entire collection of Thanksgiving Tips and Tricks.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
"Turkey in a bag, where have you been all my life??" asks chiquitabanana. "Cooked the turkey breast-side-down as a few people recommended. Followed the recipe and it worked like a charm! This is our new holiday standard!"
"I'm a beginner cook and this recipe was so easy for me," says Candice Schmidt. "I cooked this for my family's Christmas get together and it came out perfect. I did add carrots and a couple apples, but other than that I did everything the same and it came out perfect."
"PERFECT," raves BABBYLEE. "Tender, juicy, and easy! I will be making ALL of my future turkeys this way. Planned for the rest of the food to be done sooner, as my turkey was done in less time."
Editorial contributions by Corey Williams
Ingredients
1 (12 pound) whole turkey
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large onions, quartered
1 large turkey bag
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Remove and discard giblets. Rinse turkey and pat dry; season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle the bottom of the turkey bag with flour; place turkey in the bag and add celery and onions. Seal the bag and transfer into a roasting pan; poke several holes in the bag with a fork.
Bake in the preheated oven until turkey is cooked and the juices run clear, about 3 to 3 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh meat should read 180 degrees F (85 degrees C).
Oana Ennis
I Made It Print
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
744Calories37gFat4gCarbs93gProteinShow Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
Nutrition FactsServings Per Recipe 12Calories 744% Daily Value *Total Fat 37g47%Saturated Fat 10g52%Cholesterol 309mg103%Sodium 310mg13%Total Carbohydrate 4g1%Dietary Fiber 1g3%Total Sugars 1gProtein 93gVitamin C 2mg12%Calcium 81mg6%Iron 7mg37%Potassium 1289mg27%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.