Finding and Cooking the Best Spatchcock Turkeys for Your Holiday Feast

Spatchcocking, also known as butterflying, is a cooking technique that removes the backbone of a whole turkey and flattens it for quick and even cooking. The spatchcock method has become popular for roasting tender, juicy, and flavorful turkeys in much less time. But where can you buy a spatchcock turkey for your next holiday meal? This guide covers sourcing and preparing these easy roasting birds.

What is a Spatchcock Turkey?

A spatchcock turkey is a whole turkey that has been butterflied by removing the backbone and flattening the bird. This allows it to lie flat and cook evenly, reducing overall roasting time.

Benefits of spatchcocking a turkey

• Cooks faster – Ready in about 1-1.5 hours vs 2-3 for a traditional turkey
• Promotes even cooking and crispy skin
• Easy to season and carve
• Fits better in small ovens
• Delicious juiciness throughout

Spatchcocking opens up more possibilities for imparting flavors via dry rubs, herb pastes, and marinades on all sides before roasting. Let’s look at the best places to buy spatchcocked turkeys.

Where to Buy Spatchcock Turkey

Grocery Store Meat Counters

Many grocery store meat departments now offer ready spatchcocked fresh turkeys around the holidays:

• Whole Foods – Natural and organic spatchcock turkeys available for special order.

• Publix – Fresh spatchcocked turkeys can be requested from the butcher counter.

• HEB – Texas chain sells spatchcocked turkeys for the holidays.

• Wegmans – Upscale markets carry fresh spatchcock turkeys seasonally.

• Gelson’s – West coast chain stocks fresh spatchcocked Diestel turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Call ahead to reserve a spatchcock turkey from your local grocery meat department. Availability and sizes may be limited.

Online Mail Order Companies

Several online merchants ship fresh spatchcock turkeys nationwide:

• Harry & David – Mail order gift baskets with honey maple glazed spatchcock turkeys.

• Williams-Sonoma – Ships fresh spatchcocked free-range turkeys overnight.

• Goldbelly – Offers mail order spatchcock turkeys from famous restaurants and smokehouses.

• Crowd Cow – Direct ships fresh spatchcocked pasture raised turkeys.

Although pricy with overnight shipping, these let you order premium spatchcock turkeys to your door from top suppliers.

Direct from Local Farms

Searching for the freshest spatchcock turkey? Check nearby family-run farms and turkey producers to see if they sell them:

• Diestel Turkey Ranch (CA) – Ships fresh spatchcocked organic and heirloom turkeys.

• Mary’s Free-Range Turkeys (CA) – Mail order spatchcocked free range turkeys from Sonoma County.

• Koch’s Turkey Farm (PA) – Offers limited quantities of fresh spatchcock turkeys for pickup.

• Turkey Track Ranch (TX) – Farm sells fresh spatchcocked turkeys by pre-order.

Buying direct supports local farms and allows you to request exactly the size bird you need.

Do It Yourself

If you can’t source a pre-spatchcocked turkey, buy a premium quality whole turkey and spatchcock it yourself:

• Look for free range, organic, heritage breed fresh turkeys at specialty grocers like Whole Foods.

• Use sharp kitchen shears to cut out the backbone. Cut along both sides of the backbone to remove.

• Open the turkey like a book and press down to flatten breast plate.

• Roast on a sheet pan at 400°F about 1 hour 20 mins until 165°F breast temp.

While more work, you’ll get the exact turkey you want. Watch tutorials for step-by-step spatchcocking guidance.

Cooking Your Spatchcock Turkey

Once you have your spatchcock turkey, follow these tips for the perfect roast:

• Thoroughly pat dry and let sit uncovered in the fridge 8-24 hours to fully dry out skin.

• Rub skin generously with olive oil or butter and season all over with salt, pepper, and any other herbs or spices. Get seasoning under the skin too.

• Roast in a 425°F oven for about 1-1.5 hours, checking temp periodically, until 165°F at the breast and 175°F in the thighs.

• Baste occasionally with pan juices to keep moisture and crisp the skin.

• Allow to rest 15-20 minutes before carving to let juices redistribute.

Spatchcocking streamlines roasting while still delivering a spectacular turkey with crackly skin and juicy meat. Serve your masterpiece with all the holiday fixings for a festive feast.

Top Spatchcock Turkey Recipes

These creative recipes add delicious flavors to your spatchcocked bird:

Simple Spatchcock Turkey

• Coat with olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and sage. Roast with lemons in cavity.

Citrus Herb Spatchcock Turkey

• Marinate overnight in orange, lemon, rosemary, and oregano.

Spatchcock Turkey with Gravy

• Dry brine turkey. Roast on bed of vegetables for built-in side. Make gravy from pan drippings.

Spatchcock Turkey Breast

• Substitute a whole bone-in turkey breast. Roast with brown sugar glaze.

Spatchcock Turkey on Grill

• Cook over indirect heat on a charcoal grill with applewood smoke.

Spatchcock Turkey with Sausage Stuffing

• Stuff spatchcock turkey with cornbread, sausage, apples, and sage dressing.