Oven Bag Turkey

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/13/23
Tested by Joan Velush
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 1 Turkey

If you're a novice cook or want to try a new method to cook an entire turkey, our oven bag recipe is the easiest around. It will yield juicy and tender meat and will avoid entirely the brining or basting steps that most turkey recipes require. By trapping the moisture and heat, oven bags cook the bird faster and make it a breeze to collect all the juices to start making the gravy while the turkey rests. A seasoned butter is placed under the skin to provide extra moisture during cooking, and those buttery drippings make a great gravy base.

Oven bags have been around for many decades, and if you ask, probably whoever was in charge of the cooking during your childhood holidays might have used an oven bag. The classic bag technique is an easy way to cook turkeys and chicken, but it's also a great tool for cooking lamb shanks and pork or beef roasts. Make sure you buy one of the nylon or polyester FDA-approved bags—that is also BPA free—before you start cooking, but most importantly, check that the bag you're using is a proper oven bag, not a brining bag or plastic bag.

Our method is very forgiving, and if by any chance, you overcook the bird, the moisture in the bag will still help you have juicy meat. Once you learn how to cook a turkey in a bag, you will never go back to another method again.

Roasted turkey with apple slices in the cavity in a roasting pan

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

“This method eliminates the need for basting since all the juices and seasonings are sealed in the bag with the turkey keeping everything moist. Just be sure to cut some venting slits in the top of the bag and add some flour to the bag before adding your bird to facilitate browning.” —Joan Velush

Oven Bag Turkey Recipe/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • 2 stalks celery, cut into 2-inch pieces

  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced

  • 1 (12- to 18-pound) turkey, thawed

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, more to taste

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 medium apple, sliced

  • 1/2 cup apple cider

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for oven bag turkey recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 F. Place an oven bag in a 2-inch deep roasting pan. Spray the inside of the bag with cooking spray to prevent sticking, and add flour to the bag. Shake to coat.

    Oven bag placed in a large roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Arrange the celery and onion in the bag.

    Celery and onion placed in the oven bag

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. Carefully pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Set the turkey on a clean surface, such as a cutting board. Discard the organs unless you're using them to make giblet gravy.

    Turkey on a wooden cutting board, neck placed to the side

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. In a small bowl, combine the poultry seasoning with half the butter.

    Butter and poultry seasoning combined in a small bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  6. Using your hands, gently lift the skin of the turkey breast away from the meat and rub the butter-poultry seasoning mixture on the breast between the turkey and skin. Rub the remaining butter on top of the turkey breasts. Season the outside of the turkey with salt and pepper to taste.

    Turkey thickly rubbed with seasoned butter

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  7. Place the apple slices inside of the turkey cavity.

    Apple slices placed inside the turkey cavity

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  8. Place the turkey, breast-side up, in the prepared oven bag.

    Butter-rubbed turkey placed breast side up in the oven bag

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  9. Whisk the apple cider and maple syrup together. Pour the mixture over the turkey, letting some spill into the cavity.

    Apple cider mixture being poured over the turkey in the oven bag

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  10. Seal the oven bag with the enclosed nylon ties; alternatively, twist the ends of the bag and tuck it under the bird's legs. Using kitchen scissors or a sharp knife, cut 6 half-inch slits in the top of the turkey bag to act as vents.

    Turkey in a sealed oven bag placed in roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  11. Roast the turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey measures 165 F, 2 to 3 hours or more, depending on the size of the turkey.

    Roasted turkey in the oven bag with a meat thermometer inserted

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  12. Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest 20 minutes before carving. Resting allows the turkey's juices to redistribute, keeping the moisture inside the meat. The juices in the bag can be used as the base for your gravy.

    Roasted turkey in the roasting pan without the bag

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Perfect Turkey Menu

Here are some ideas for the sides that you can serve with your turkey for a satisfying holiday menu:

  • These easy mashed potatoes are a perfect starch to go with the bird, and the recipe offers plenty of variations.
  • This silky simple gravy is ideal for moistening the meat and goes great with potatoes and vegetables.
  • For a sweet touch, our 15-minute cranberry sauce is essential on your plate.
  • A decadent dish of green beans and bacon is a great accompaniment for turkey. Buttery and crunchy, these beans are ready in no time. Our lemon and garlic broccoli recipe is also a great choice of vegetable.
  • Stuffing is always one of the dishes most guests enjoy. This easy stovetop recipe is filled with a beautiful herby flavor.
  • Many pies are in the contention for the perfect holiday dessert: Choose from pecan, pumpkin, bourbon-apple, or a kid's favorite: chocolate.

How Do I Know My Turkey Is Thawed?

Thawing a turkey takes a long time. For example, if by the Sunday before Thanksgiving your turkey is still in the freezer, it's time to take it out and place it in the fridge. Here's why:


  • Every 5 pounds of frozen turkey takes at least 24 hours to thaw. For an 18-pound bird, you need over 72 hours—to be exact, you'll need 86.4 hours, which is 3 1/2 days. That puts you with a thawed turkey by Thanksgiving Thursday at noon—cutting it close.


  • The smaller the bird, the less time it takes, but always do the math when buying the turkey so your cooking time isn't off, or parts of the bird won't be cooked all the way through when it's time to eat.

How Long to Cook a Turkey in an Oven Bag

A 12- to 15-pound turkey will take approximately 2 to 3 hours. A 20- to 24-pound turkey will take about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. The best measure of a well-cooked bird is a thermometer read: 165 F in the thickest part of the breast, away from the bone.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1384 Calories
58g Fat
8g Carbs
195g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 1384
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 58g 74%
Saturated Fat 20g 98%
Cholesterol 762mg 254%
Sodium 795mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 195g
Vitamin C 5mg 27%
Calcium 110mg 8%
Iron 8mg 42%
Potassium 1702mg 36%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)