This recipe for Maple Bacon Roasted Turkey is so easy to make, you’ll spend less time in the kitchen this Thanksgiving and more time with your guests.
I’m all about easy; especially when it comes to cooking meals for the holidays. I like to prepare most menu items before my guests arrive so that I have plenty of time to spend with them instead of being tied to the kitchen all day.
This recipe for Maple Bacon Roasted Turkey is the perfect example of one of those recipes that take minutes to prepare; then let the oven do the rest of the work.
If this is your first time making Thanksgiving dinner and you’re not sure what size turkey to buy, how to thaw (if frozen), how long to cook, or how to carve; then check out my post from last year on How to Roast a Thanksgiving Turkey. It’s a definite must read!
It’s laid out in easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and basically foolproof (or so I hope!). For this recipe, we’re only going to need a few ingredients: turkey, maple syrup, fresh sage, bacon and chicken stock.
As some of you may or may not know, I developed a sensitivity to bacon years ago and am now allergic to nitrates and get horrible migraines. However, I’ve recently tried the uncured bacon and lower sodium varieties and they seem to be ok as long as I only eat one or two pieces.
I was trying to come up with a new Thanksgiving turkey recipe and remembered that my aunt always used to wrap her turkey with bacon before putting it into the oven.
It was always so good and the fat from the bacon seeped into the bird and kept it super moist. Of course, as kids, my cousins and I would sneak into the kitchen while it was cooling and pick off all of the bacon before my uncle had a chance to carve the bird.
We’d get yelled at every year; then the adults would wind up coming in and picking too. See, even they knew a good thing when they tasted it.
How do you prepare Maple Bacon Roasted Turkey?
Fast forward 30 years and I decided to make this years turkey recipe with bacon but also wanted it to have a maple flavor. I purchased a 9lb. frozen turkey defrosted it for a few days.
Then when I was ready to make it, I poured maple syrup over the top, seasoned with fresh chopped sage, salt, and pepper; then wrapped the turkey in bacon.
Next, I placed the turkey in a large roasting pan and added some chicken broth and maple syrup to the bottom (to use to baste the turkey during cooking). Prepare to cook your turkey approximately 20 minutes per pound; basting your turkey periodically throughout cooking time.
How can you tell when your turkey is done?
Your turkey is done when the internal temperature is 180° F in the thigh and 165° F in breast or stuffing (using a meat thermometer). Allow to rest for 15 minutes after removing your turkey from the oven to allow for the juices to settle before carving; then make a gravy using the drippings.
This Maple Bacon Roasted Turkey was incredibly moist and delicious. And just like when I was a kid, my husband and daughter came over to start to pick the bacon off before I got to carve it.
That is until I had to yell at them to stop so that I could take a picture of it; then I let them at it. The 9lb. turkey was too big for just the three of us so I made some Turkey Orzo Soup, Turkey Stroganoff Casserole and Cranberry Pecan Turkey Salad with the leftovers. ~Enjoy!
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Maple Bacon Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey
Ingredients
- 9 pound whole turkey
- 1 cup maple syrup , divided
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
- 1 pound sliced bacon
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- kitchen string
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Place your turkey on the rack of a roasting pan breast side up. If not already done, tie the legs together with kitchen string. If you don't have a rack, lay some vegetables like carrots or celery underneath the turkey so that the turkey is elevated.
- Combine 1/2 cup of the maple syrup and the sage, brush it all over the turkey; then season with salt and pepper.
- Cover the turkey with the strips of bacon until all of the skin is covered.
- Pour the chicken stock and the remaining 1/2 cup of maple syrup into the bottom of your roasting pan and place in the oven.
- Allow your turkey to cook for approximately 20 minutes per pound; basting periodically throughout. Your turkey is done when the internal temperature is 180° F in thigh and 165° F in breast or stuffing.
- Remove turkey from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before carving.
Notes
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- Roasted Turkey Breast Roulade (The Cozy Apron)
- Rotisserie Style Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast (Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen)
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this looks heavenly! i want some!
Thank you Alicia!
What an awesome take on the thanksgiving turkey.
Thank you Sara!
This sounds really good, but I would swap thyme for the sage, as my husband thinks sage tastes like moth balls. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
People either love it or hate it Patti! 🙂 Rosemary would be good too. Enjoy!
i did this once with a chicken. doing it with a turkey sounds great
Thanks Molli
This recipe makes me wish we celebrated Thanksgiving.
I am always looking for a classic roasted turkey recipe and this looks great. I think I am going to have to add this to my thanksgiving day menu. Who can say no to bacon and maple, right?
Absolutely Ashley! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well!
Pinned, this looks very good!
Thank you Cheryl!
This looks and sounds amazing! I bet it really tuns out moist, which is my problem achieving.
It really was very moist Kim, Enjoy!
I usually brine and roast my turkey,but I would like to try this
as it looks good.
I brined my turkey about 2 years ago and it was really moist, I may do that again this year. 🙂
this sounds so amazing and worth me giving a try Im not a huge fan of turkey cos the ones I have tried were so dry thanks for the tips
This one came out very moist, I hope you enjoy Debbie!
This sounds like an amazing turkey dish.
Ooooh! That looks to good… of course anything with bacon!!! I like how moist and juicy it looks. Every year we try a little something different with the ol bird. If there’s bacon involved my Husband is on board, lol. I printed this recipe. Thank you for sharing. I like spending time with my guests too 😉
Thank you Lisa and it did come out very moist. I hope you enjoy it and have a Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Can this be made in an electric roaster?
Hi Donelle, I’ve never cooked with an electric roaster so I can’t say for certain. I’d be a bit concerned that the bacon wouldn’t crisp up because everything I’ve read says that for that “brown crust” on the turkey, you have to put it in a conventional oven.