How to Cook a Half Turkey Perfectly

Let’s talk turkey! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’re already thinking about what to do for dinner. I know first-hand that roasting an entire turkey can seem intimidating though. What size turkey do you need? Fresh or frozen? If you buy frozen, how much time will it take to thaw? How long do you need to roast it? How do you carve the turkey?

Luckily, Canadian Turkey has all the info you need, helpful resources, and how-to videos gathered in one place with their Whole Bird How-Tos. Easily figure out what size you need, thawing time, and cooking time with the simple to use Whole Bird Turkey Calculator.

Many families do the big traditional get together and roasted turkey dinner with all the fixings, but of course this isn’t always the case. What do you do when you’re celebrating the holiday with just one or two friends or family members? A whole turkey makes sense for a large family dinner, but when you’re planning a smaller celebration, even the biggest turkey fan can have a hard time polishing off an entire bird with leftovers on their own. For smaller families, roasting a half turkey is just as delicious and festive as serving a whole bird.

The simplest way to do this is to buy one whole fresh or frozen turkey and ask the butcher to cut it in half for you. If you buy fresh, freeze the other half for next time, or if it’s already frozen, just defrost the half you need and leave the other half in the freezer for next time.

Cooking a whole turkey can be intimidating. It’s a big bird that requires lots of oven space, not to mention figuring out cook times so it’s perfectly cooked and not dried out. But cooking half a turkey is a great alternative for smaller households. A half turkey provides plenty of meat for 4-6 people without leftovers going to waste.

As someone who loves cooking turkey but doesn’t need a whole bird, I was so excited when I discovered how easy and delicious cooking a half turkey can be! In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about how to cook half a turkey perfectly.

What is a Half Turkey?

A half turkey is literally half of a whole turkey that has been cut in half lengthwise. It includes one breast, one thigh, one drumstick and one wing. Half turkeys are often 5-10 pounds.

The main advantage of cooking a half turkey instead of a whole turkey is it cooks faster. A 10 pound half turkey may cook in just an hour or so, compared to a 20 pound whole turkey taking 3-4 hours

How to Pick the Right Size Half Turkey

When picking a half turkey, allow about 1 pound of turkey per person For 4-6 people, a 5-7 pound half turkey is perfect Going up to 10 pounds will provide ample leftovers.

Make sure to pay attention to whether your half turkey is fresh or frozen when determining cook time. Fresh cooks slightly faster.

Directions for Roasting a Half Turkey

Roasting a half turkey is very similar to roasting a whole bird Here are simple step-by-step directions

Take turkey out of packaging and pat dry with paper towels. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325°F.
In a small bowl, combine olive oil, salt, pepper, sage, thyme and rub all over turkey skin.
Place turkey skin-side up in a roasting pan on top of onions, carrots and fresh herbs.
Roast 10-15 minutes per pound, until 165°F in thickest part of breast.
Let rest 15 minutes before carving.

It’s that easy! The half turkey roasts much faster than a whole turkey. Start checking for doneness after 45 minutes.

Cooking Tips for Perfectly Moist Half Turkey

Follow these tips for a tender, juicy half turkey:

Brine the bird – Soaking in a saltwater brine ensures seasonings penetrate and keeps meat moist.
Use a meat thermometer – Don’t rely on cook times. Cook until thermometer reads 165°F.
Roast breast-side up – This protects the delicate breast meat.
Tent with foil – If browning too quickly, loosely tent foil over turkey.
Let rest before carving – Giving it 15 minutes allows juices to redistribute.

Easy Recipes and Flavor Ideas

Half turkeys take well to all the classic whole turkey flavors. Try one of these yummy recipe ideas:

Herb Roasted Turkey – Simple roast turkey seasoned with sage, thyme, rosemary.
Citrus & Herb Turkey – Orange, lemon and herbs make a bright, fresh flavor.
Cranberry Glazed Turkey – Sweet and tart cranberry glaze is perfect for Thanksgiving.
BBQ Turkey – Slather with your favorite barbecue sauce for easy flavor.
** oven** – Chicken broth instead of water makes super flavorful gravy.

The possibilities are endless for seasoning and flavoring your half turkey! Use your favorite herb blends, spice rubs, chopped fresh herbs, citrus and more.

What to Do with Leftovers

One of the benefits of a half turkey is you get delicious leftovers without as much waste. Here are some tasty ways to use them up:

Turkey sandwiches – Sliced turkey, cheese, lettuce and mayo.
Turkey casserole – Mix turkey with veggies and a creamy sauce.
Turkey tetrazzini – Turkey and noodles in a cheesy sauce.
Turkey soup – Simmer turkey in broth with veggies.
Turkey hash – Dice turkey and mix with potatoes and eggs.

Leftover turkey is amazing for quick lunches, casseroles, pasta dishes and more. Get creative with how you use it!

how do i cook half a turkey

Classic Roasted Half Turkey

½ turkey 3-4kg
2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium onions
6 large carrots
one bunch fresh rosemary
3 large garlic cloves unpeeled
½ cup white wine optional
½ cup chicken broth 1 cup if omitting wine

1 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp pepper
1/2 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp ground sage
1/2 tbsp ground rosemary
1/2 tbsp ground thyme

If your bird is frozen, place it in the refrigerator overnight to defrost.
Pat the bird dry with paper towels.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Rub both sides of the turkey with olive oil.
Combine all spices to make a rub. Sprinkle generously onto both sides of the bird.
Slice your onions roughly into 1-inch rounds. Peel and wash the carrots.
Pour wine and chicken broth into your roasting pan. Line the bottom with onions, whole carrots, unpeeled garlic cloves, and rosemary sprigs. Place the bird on top of all the vegetables, cut side down.
Cook the turkey for 1 ½ – 2 hours until cooked through. Test for doneness with a meat thermometer. Turkey should reach an internal temperature of 170°F (77°C) in the breast and 180°F (82°C) in the thigh.
Remove turkey from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.
Enjoy!

Wondering what to do with leftovers? Canadian Turkey has you covered there too! Check out their Recipe Page for unique turkey recipes and delicious ideas for leftovers.

Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own. Your experience may differ.

How to Spatchcock a Turkey

FAQ

What temperature should a half turkey be cooked at?

Check for Doneness A meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast and thigh will determine doneness. When it reaches a USDA-recommended internal temperature of 165°F, it’s done. You can remove the turkey from the oven at 155°F and let the temperature rise as it rests.

Can you cut a turkey in half and cook it?

After the backbone is removed, it’s relatively easy to cut the turkey in half. Cut through the breastbone from neck to tail and separate the halves. If you’ll be frying your bird or need it separated into pieces for easier cooking, you can also remove the turkey legs and cut away the wings.

How do you cook a half thawed turkey?

The turkey has to be partially thawed before proceeding with a recipe. 3. Cook the turkey at 325°F (163°C) for about 2 to 2-1/2 hours.

Can you cook a turkey half way?

Half turkeys generally weigh between 5 – 10 pounds, and we recommend you allow about 10 minutes/pound at 325°F. You can follow any turkey recipe with a half-turkey, just remember that it will cook more quickly than you expect — possibly even under an hour, so don’t let it go too long without checking.