Simple Spatchcock Turkey

Name: Simple Spatchcock Turkey
Prep time: PT0D0H0M
Cook time: PT0D2H0M
Total time: PT0D2H0M
Yield: serves 6-8
Ingredients: One 8–10-lb. turkey, backbone removed and breastbone cracked to flatten; ¼ cups extra-virgin olive oil; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Our butcher’s secret to a faster, juicier, tastier bird.

Serves
serves 6-8
Cook
2 hours

By Naomi Tomky

Updated on November 5, 2021

Holiday turkeys are notoriously inconsistent, but butcher Jake Dickson of Dickson’s Farmstand Meats has a solution to make sure your bird turns out beautifully every time. Most turkey troubles stem from airflow issues, he explains: Big animals with empty (or stuffed!) cavities cooked in small home ovens can get in the way of an even roast. Flattening the bird allows it to cook more evenly and faster, resulting in a tastier roast. Dickson’s foolproof spatchcock turkey recipe uses a cheap rubber mallet from the hardware store and a cleaver to give you more precision in cutting the bird. Once split, the meat is seasoned simply, then quick-cooked at a single temperature, leaving you more time to get creative with the side dishes.

Featured in: "Get That Bird on the Table Faster (and More Evenly Cooked) With This Time-Saving Technique."

Ingredients

One 8–10-lb. turkey, backbone removed and breastbone cracked to flatten
¼ cups extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven, with one of its racks positioned in the center, to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Step 2

Use paper towels to pat the turkey very dry, then drizzle it all over with the olive oil. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, then place the bird on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 3

Transfer to the oven and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, approximately 12 minutes per pound. (If the skin starts to brown too much before the meat is fully cooked, tent loosely with aluminum foil.