Spatchcock Turkey

Butterflying a turkey helps it cook in a fraction of the time!

With this spatchcock turkey recipe, a large turkey is butterflied and cooks quickly with juicy meat and extra crispy skin!

While it’s perfect for Thanksgiving dinner or the holidays, this spatchcocked turkey recipe is easy enough to make any time of year.

a cooked spatchock turkey on a baking sheet with parsley and sage

The Fastest Way to Cook a Big Turkey!

My mom has been making spatchcock turkey for years. I have been making my friend Mary’s roast turkey which uses a similar method of breaking down the turkey.

Spatchcock turkey means that a whole turkey is flattened before cooking.
It cooks so much faster than making a traditional roast turkey.
Since it’s flattened, it cooks evenly for extra tender meat (including the breast meat).
The skin is crisp (no brine required), and there are still lots of drippings for gravy.

What Is Spatchcock?

Spatchcocok is also know as butterflying, it is the process of removing the backbone and flattening it onto a baking tray. It may seem a bit intimidating, but it’s really easy to do, saves a lot of cooking time, and helps everything cook evenly.

With this method, you can cook a 10-12 lb turkey in about 70-90 minutes!

cutting the backbone of a turkey to spatchcock — 1. Cut along the back bone on both sides.

How To Spatchcock A Turkey

When spatchcocking a turkey, use poultry shears or very strong kitchen shears to cut the backbone out. Most regular and kitchen scissors aren’t strong enough, and a knife is dangerous for this job.

If you plan to spatchcock a turkey, invest in poultry shears or ask the butcher or meat department if they’ll cut the backbone out for you, many of them will.

Place a chicken or turkey breast side down on a cutting board. Cut along both sides of the backbone with the poultry shears. Depending on the size of your turkey, it can be very difficult to cut and takes a bit of strength. Be sure to set the backbone aside to make gravy (or freeze it to add to Homemade Chicken Stock).
Run a knife along the breast bone in the center to “score” it. Flip the turkey over (so it is breast side up) and begin to fold it apart.
Press very firmly on the center of the turkey breast with the palms of your hand until you hear it snap and flatten out.
Pull the thighs out to help flatten the bird even more. Once the turkey is flattened, tuck thewing tips under.

This recipe works for spatchcock turkey or spatchcock chicken, the method is the same just the cooking time needs to be adjusted!

an uncooked spatchcock turkey on a baking sheet

Choosing a Turkey for this Recipe

I’ve used a turkey up to 20 lbs but keep in mind, it’s really hard to find a pan that fits a spatchcocked turkey larger than 16 lbs (I had to go to a restaurant store to buy a huge pan for a 20-pounder).

I would suggest a turkey of about 10-14 lbs.

When making spatchcock turkey, you can use a butter-basted turkey (like Butterball) or regular turkey. I lower the temperature a bit if using a butter-basted turkey so the drippings don’t burn.

A Baking Pan for Spatchcock Turkey

Make sure your roasting pan has a fairly deep rim as the turkey will have drippings that you’ll want for gravy!

Seasonings

I like to keep it simple with fresh herbs and a bit of olive oil. You can add garlic powder but fresh garlic will burn at a high temperature.

I generally don’t use a wire rack but sometimes I do put a few onion slices and celery ribs under the turkey for extra flavor.

Season the skin generously with kosher salt and black pepper.

How to Make Spatchcock Turkey

Once the turkey is butterflied (as above), place it on a rimmed baking tray and rest for 30 minutes (or cover with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge overnight). This will allow juices to release and make crisper skin.
Pat the skin dry with a paper towel and brush the skin with olive oil and herbs.
Roast the turkey it until it is tender and the skin is crisp about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Rest 15 minutes before cutting.

Spatchcock turkey can also be cooked in a smoker.

a cooked roast turkey on a platter with oranges, herbs and cranberries

Temperature for Spatchcock Turkey

This cooks nice and evenly since it’s flattened. A high temperature seals in the juices and ensures crispy skin.

Roast at 450°F for a regular turkey
Roast at 425°F for a butter-basted (or Butterball) turkey

The turkey should be baked until a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 165°F. Like all roasted meats, rest the turkey for at least 15 minutes before you carve it. This frees up the oven to get the rest of your sides ready!

When I make a spatchcocked turkey, I often cook Crock Pot Stuffing or make my favorite stuffing recipe!

Serve the spatchcocked turkey alongside all of your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes like dinner rolls, sweet potato casserole and don’t forget the gravy!

More Thanksgiving Recipes You’ll Love

We serve this alongside Mashed Potatoes and our favorite Asparagus or Bacon Wrapped Green Beans.

More Ways to Cook a Turkey

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

a cooked spatchock turkey on a baking sheet with cranberries, parsley and sage

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Spatchcock turkey cooks quickly and evenly resulting in a juicy bird with a deliciously crisp skin!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Resting Time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Remove neck and giblets from the turkey (and reserve for broth or gravy).
Place the turkey on a work surface, breast side down, so the backbone is facing up. Using poultry shears, cut along each side of the backbone to remove the backbone completely (reserve the bone for broth or gravy).
Flip the turkey over, breast side up. Using your palms, press on the turkey to flatten it. You should hear the cartilage in the breastbone crack as it flattens.
Tuck the wing tips under or snip them off and reserve for gravy.
You can cover the turkey with plastic wrap and rest in the fridge for 2 hours or up to overnight. Discard any juices on the baking tray before roasting.*
Preheat oven to 450°F*. Combine olive oil and chopped fresh herbs. Set aside.
Arrange the turkey on a large rimmed baking sheet. Dab the skin dry with paper towels. Brush with the olive oil mixture and season well with salt and pepper.
Roast the turkey for 1 ¼ hrs to 1 ½ hrs or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F.
Remove from the oven and loosely tent with foil. Rest at least 15 minutes before carving.

Turkey

If using a butter-basted turkey, reduce oven temperature to 425°F.
Cutting the turkey and letting it rest allows for some of the juices to drain. This step is optional.
I’ve used a turkey up to 20lbs but it’s really hard to find a pan that fits a spatchcocked turkey larger than 16lbs. I would suggest a turkey about 12 lbs.
Ask the butcher if they’ll cut the backbone out for you, many of them will and it’ll make your job a lot easier.

Roasting Pan

Make sure your roasting pan has a fairly deep rim as the turkey will have drippings that you’ll want for gravy!
I generally don’t use a wire rack but sometimes I do put a few onion slices and celery ribs under the turkey for extra flavor.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Entree, Main Course, Turkey

Cuisine American

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