Turkey is delicious and always welcome in this house. Luckily, this time of year is the best time to stock up to fill your freezer inexpensively. Whether you’re in charge of preparing Thanksgiving dinner this year or simply want to save money on your grocery budget this fall, this is the easiest way to cook a whole turkey in the oven for every occasion.

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[bctt tweet=”With this recipe for the easiest way to cook a whole turkey you’re free to concentrate on your friends and family over great food and better conversation.” username=”diyadulation”]

The first year I cooked a whole turkey, it wasn’t actually for Thanksgiving dinner. It was because they were on sale and a great way to save money on our grocery budget.

The great thing about it was that there wasn’t any pressure. I was out $10 if it didn’t turn out and we might have to re-heat some leftovers. That made the entire event laid back and easy. Even better, the turkey turned out great.

I’ve been using this recipe ever since, including when we did host Thanksgiving dinner. You’ll have a delicious, crowd-pleasing bird with a quarter of the effort when you serve this amazing turkey recipe.

Ingredients

Whole Turkey (Defrosted)
1 Stick of Butter
2 Tablespoons Dried Rosemary
Dash of Salt and Pepper
Stuffing

Note: You will also need a turkey sized oven bag.

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350º Fahrenheit.

Step 2

First, remove your turkey from the packaging and then remove the organs pouch and neck from inside of the turkey.

Note:

I don’t eat the gizzards so I toss them. If you want to prepare them, here is a recipe for you to try.

Step 3

Next, carefully free the legs of your turkey and slide your hand between the meat and the skin to separate it.

Step 4

Once your skin is separated, cut your stick of butter into slices and slide them between the skin and the meat of your turkey.

Step 5

Then, re-truss the legs of your turkey as they were before.

Step 6

Next, stuff your turkey with this super easy stuffing recipe. Don’t worry if it all doesn’t fit inside of the turkey cavity. The trussed legs form a ‘bowl’ to hold the excess.

Step 7

Lastly, cover the outside of your turkey with dried rosemary and top with a dash of salt and pepper.

Step 8

Prepare your oven bag by shaking flour inside of it (it doesn’t take much). Be sure to dump out the excess.

Step 9

Carefully, place your stuffed and seasoned turkey inside the oven bag and place in a roasting pan.

Step 10

After your turkey is in the pan, close your bag and cut a few slits in the top of the bag.

Step 11

Bake your turkey according to the weight. (You can find this on the instructions in the box of oven bags.)

Tip:

Most turkeys will take a minimum of 3 hours to cook so plan your schedule accordingly.

Step 12

Once your turkey is baked, scoop out the stuffing into a serving bowl before carving.

Step 13

All that’s left is to carve your turkey and serve!

With this recipe for the easiest way to cook a whole turkey in the oven there’s no need to worry about the big meal. It leaves you free to concentrate on your friends and family over great food and even better conversation. Don’t forget to check out my crazy easy stuffing recipe and come back later this week to find out how to make your own turkey gravy out of the pan drippings. (No need to worry, it’s another super simple recipe.)

Easiest Way to Cook a Whole Turkey in the Oven

Name: Easiest Way to Cook a Whole Turkey in the Oven
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Ingredients: Whole Turkey (Defrosted); 1 Stick of Butter; 2 Tablespoons Dried Rosemary; Dash of Salt and Pepper; Stuffing

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours

Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Whole Turkey (Defrosted)
1 Stick of Butter
2 Tablespoons Dried Rosemary
Dash of Salt and Pepper
Stuffing

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350º Fahrenheit.
First, remove your turkey from the packaging and then remove the organs pouch and neck from inside of the turkey.
Next, carefully free the legs of your turkey and slide your hand between the meat and the skin to separate it.
Once your skin is separated, cut your stick of butter into slices and slide them between the skin and the meat of your turkey.
Then, re-truss the legs of your turkey as they were before.
Next, stuff your turkey with this super easy stuffing recipe. Don’t worry if it all doesn’t fit inside of the turkey cavity. The trussed legs form a ‘bowl’ to hold the excess.
Lastly, cover the outside of your turkey with dried rosemary and top with a dash of salt and pepper.
Prepare your oven bag by shaking flour inside of it (it doesn’t take much). Be sure to dump out the excess.
Carefully, place your stuffed and seasoned turkey inside the oven bag and place in a roasting pan.
After your turkey is in the pan, close your bag and cut a few slits in the top of the bag.
Bake your turkey according to the weight. (You can find this on the instructions in the box of oven bags.)
Once your turkey is baked, scoop out the stuffing into a serving bowl before carving.

Notes

Your cook time will vary depending on the size of your turkey.

See where I’m linking up!

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More Ideas You’ll Love:

Raise your hand if fall outs you in serious soup mode. It’s the perfect way to use up leftovers and add some extra veggies to your diet. That’s why this week is the perfect time to share these delectably easy soup recipes for fall.

[bctt tweet=”Warm up with comforting food and save money by eating at home! Add these delectably easy soup recipes for fall to your next meal plan.” username=”diyadulation”]

Cream of Carrot Soup (Simply Stacie)

This creamy soup is loaded with carrot-y goodness and the orange color is perfect for fall.

Creamy Chicken Poblano Soup (Food Fun Family)

So much yes to this delicious soup recipe! I love that is puts the peppers flavor front and center.

Crock Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup (Flour on My Face)

Chicken wild rice soup is already delicious but she made it even better by turning it into a simple crock pot recipe!

Easy Sweet Potato Soup (Organized Island)

Keep it interesting by mixing up flavors. Here is another fun orange soup utilizing a totally different vegetable for your fall meal plan.

Chicken Sausage Kale White Bean Soup (Julie’s Creative Lifestyle)

Delicious and healthy, this soup recipe is perfect to warm up with as the weather turns cool.

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup (The Simple Parent)

Yay for more crock pot recipes! This time it’s the always popular chicken noodle soup. This is a staple in our house with picky little eaters.

Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup (CincyShopper)

Go for a little richer soup with this super easy crock pot recipe. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser for the whole family.

Instant Pot Chicken Florentine Soup Recipe (Must Have Mom)

If you have an instant pot, you have to try this awesome soup recipe. It only tastes like you had to spend hours making it.

Sausage and Lentil Soup (The Dedicated House)

This delicious soup is another great healthier option to add to your next meal plan!

Creamy Pumpkin Soup (Clean and Scentsible)

Of course, no fall meal plan is complete without at least one pumpkin dish. This one is a delightful option for you.

Pumpkin Bisque (Pink Fortitude)

In case the soup above isn’t your thing, give this pumpkin bisque a try! Personally, I love the creaminess of bisques and this one looks yummy!

These delectably easy soup recipes for fall are the perfect recipes to add to your next meal plan. Warm up with comforting soups and save money by eating at home! That is definitely great for your budget and your waistline. Score!

Now let’s get this week’s Merry Monday link party started! Share your awesome new ideas below plus check out even more delicious fall soup recipes!

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Are you looking for an easy way to save on your grocery bill? Buying whole turkeys around the holidays can save you a fortune. Having baked turkey night after night gets old, though. Instead change it up with this delicious and comforting homemade turkey and dumplings.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Collage of photos of Turkey and Dumplings in Bowl with text overlay: Comforting and Homemade Turkey and Dumplings

Turkey is a year-round meal in this house. I stock up when it goes on sale and then store it in the deep freeze until we need it. That’s simply how it goes when you’re feeding a growing family on a tiny budget.

It means coming up with a lot of turkey recipes so that the meals don’t get bland or routine, as well. That is exactly how this comforting homemade turkey and dumplings recipe came to be.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t let your hard earned money go to waste. Find ways to reinvent old meals into something delicious like this comforting homemade turkey and dumplings!” username=”diyadulation”]

My mom’s chicken and dumplings was one of my favorite meals growing up. It wasn’t until high school when I had chicken and dumplings at a friend’s house that I even learned it wasn’t “true” chicken and dumplings.

That doesn’t make it any less delicious and, let’s be fair, serious homage to my southern roots. This is the perfect recipe to use up turkey leftovers and create a delicious comfort food that the whole family will absolutely love!

Ingredients for Turkey Base

8 cups Chicken Broth (more as needed)
6-8 cups Shredded Turkey
1/4 tsp salt
Pinch of Pepper
1 tsp Dried Basil

Ingredients for Dumplings

4 Cups of Flour + 1
1 tsp Salt
4 Eggs
1 cup Water

Step 1

First, add your broth, shredded turkey, and salt to a large pot.

Step 2

Bring the mixture to a boil then turn down the heat to medium.

Step 3

While your turkey base simmers, add 4 cups of flour, your salt, eggs, and water to a large mixing bowl.

Step 4

Mix your ingredients until well combined and they form a sticky dough.

Step 5

Then knead your remaining flour into the dough.

Step 6

Roll out your dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 1/4 of an inch thick.

Tip:

You don’t have to be perfect here. I’m certainly not.

Step 7

After your dough is rolled out, turn the heat on your turkey base up to medium-high.

Cut Strips of Dough

Step 8

Then cut your dough into strips and add them to your turkey base.

Tip:

This is so much easier with a pizza cutter! It is large and the rotary blade is simply awesome for this kind of cutting!

Step 9

Stir your dumplings until they are well mixed into your turkey base.

Turkey and Dumplings in Pot

Step 10

Once your dumplings have expanded, or “fluffed up”, stir in your pepper and basil.

Step 11

Lastly, turn your heat down and simmer for 20 minutes.

Turkey and Dumplings in Bowl

If you’re worried about the freezer space whole turkey take up, I’ve got you covered. Cook the turkeys up and then pull them apart. After it is cool, add the cooked and pulled apart turkey to gallon freezer bags. Label the bags with the date and defrost them as needed for meals. Bam! Easy dinner prep.

Turn those budget-friendly frozen bags of cooked turkey into delicious meals like this comforting homemade turkey and dumplings. It is also the perfect leftovers recipe to use up leftover turkey after the holidays. Don’t let your hard earned money go to waste. Find ways to reinvent old meals into something new and delicious that your family will love!

Homemade Turkey and Dumplings

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Ingredients for Turkey Base
8 cups Chicken Broth (more as needed)
6-8 cups Shredded Turkey
1/4 tsp salt
Pinch of Pepper
1 tsp Dried Basil
Ingredients for Dumplings
4 Cups of Flour + 1
1 tsp Salt
4 Eggs
1 cup Water

Instructions

First, add your broth, shredded turkey, and salt to a large pot.
Bring the mixture to a boil then turn down the heat to medium.
While your turkey base simmers, add 4 cups of flour, your salt, eggs, and water to a large mixing bowl.
Mix your ingredients until well combined and they form a sticky dough.
Then knead your remaining flour into the dough.
Roll out your dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 1/4 of an inch thick.
After your dough is rolled out, turn the heat on your turkey base up to medium-high.
Then cut your dough into strips and add them to your turkey base.
Stir your dumplings until they are well mixed into your turkey base.
Once your dumplings have expanded, or "fluffed up", stir in your pepper and basil.
Lastly, turn your heat down and simmer for 20 minutes.

See where I’m linking up!

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Collage of photos of Turkey and Dumplings in Bowl with text overlay: Comforting and Homemade Turkey and Dumplings

More Ideas You’ll Love:

Easy and Hearty Zucchini Turkey Pasta
Thick and Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup
Freezer-Friendly Easy Jambalaya
Chicken Pot Pie – An Easy Comfort Food – My Pinterventures