Dry brining this turkey gives it amazing flavor.

I promise you that this will be one of the most flavorful and juiciest turkeys that you ever make.

I tried this method for the first time a few years ago. It’s now my go-to method for Thanksgiving! Heck, this is my go-to method anytime I am making a whole bird. I use this method with chicken all the time.

 

There are a few benefits to making your turkey this way.

1. Your cooking time is almost cut in half.
2. Handling the spatchcocked turkey is much easier than dealing with a fully intact bird.
3. The dry brine is also much easier than wet brining your turkey. I also think it results in a better texture and flavor.

 

Spatchcocking  – Super fun to say but what the heck does it mean?

Spatchcocking is a two-step process.

1. Remove the backbone of the bird.
2. Smash the bird flat.

This technique can be used for any whole bird. I often use it when grilling a whole chicken. When you use this method you end up with a delicious bird what has a ton of flavor, and is still really juicy. Plus the pan drippings are evenly distributed over anything that you might choose to put on the baking sheet underneath.

I use this method when I make my Jerk Chicken for the Jerk Chicken Beast Bowl. I always make a flavorful bone broth anytime I have leftover poultry. Check out the recipe for perfect bone broth here and my Aunt Jayne’s Dumpling Noodles. These are a family tradition – every single year. I gotta have them.

I first tried this method after reading a recipe from Alton Brown. He is kind of one of my cooking idols. I’ve always had a thing for geeky guys. But a geeky guy that cooks – now that’s impressive! His cooking show, ‘Good Eats’, is one that I used to watch all the time.

Alton roasts his bird right on the oven rack with a pan of root vegetable panzanella right underneath it. The first time I made this recipe, I did this. It was fantastic, but I didn’t appreciate all the clean up afterward. So…the way I set things up now is on a baking rack over a sheet pan. I have actually put root vegetables on the sheet pan. They come out great!

Do you have a favorite Family Turkey Recipe? I totally geek out on family recipes. I would love to feature your recipe and families story right here on Foodology Geek.

If your recipe is featured I will send you a FREE copy of the cookbook.

[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]