If you’re new to cooking turkeys but want the juiciest, most tender, and soft turkey you’ve ever had, then this Turkey in a Bag Recipe is absolutely perfect for you! This is, by far, the easiest way to cook a Thanksgiving turkey while making sure it turns out juicy and tender every single time!
This is a Lemon Pepper variation of the delicious Turkey in a Bag recipe, giving you the best-tasting turkey you’ve ever had!
The oven bag takes out all the extra hard work you have to put in to try and get a juicy turkey, so you won’t have to brine or baste your turkey at all!
No matter how much butter, oil, and spices you use, if it isn't cooked in the oven bag it still turns out dry. You will agree with me after trying this recipe. Let me know what you think.
Seriously, once you try this recipe, I’m sure you’re going to absolutely fall in love with it!
Want to learn how to make this Turkey in a Bag recipe? Then keep on reading!
Table of Contents
What is a Turkey in a Bag Recipe?
Turkey in a Bag is simply the most delicious turkey you’ll ever have that’s cooked in an oven inside a turkey size oven bag!
The oven bag locks in all the flavor, and the steam it generates cooks and bastes the turkey beautifully to give you an incredibly juicy turkey.
I know how intimidating it can be to cook a turkey, but this is the perfect recipe to try even if this is the first time you’re roasting a turkey in the oven for Thanksgiving! It’s a straightforward method that’s seriously foolproof to give you incredible results every single time!
What Makes This Turkey In a Bag Recipe Special?
This delicious recipe is absolutely perfect and special for so many reasons! But here are my top five reasons why you need to try this recipe:
- Super tender and moist: By following my instructions and recipe, you’ll end up with the most moist and tender turkey you’ve ever had!
- Perfectly golden brown: The best part about a perfectly cooked turkey is the beautiful golden brown color on top! And this recipe gives you that while making sure it’s not dry on the inside.
- More flavorful: By adding all the ingredients in the bag along with the turkey, it locks in all the flavor to give you not only a tender turkey but also the most flavorful one ever!
- Easy cleanup: If you’re making this for Thanksgiving, this is probably not the only thing you’re cooking. This means you probably have a ton to clean up already, so this recipe is perfect because it minimizes cleanup!
- Perfect gravy base: You can use all the juices and liquids you’ll get from the bag to make the most delicious gravy ever!
What You Need to Make Turkey in a Bag at Home
This Lemon Pepper Thanksgiving Turkey in a Bag is the easiest recipe you can make that only requires pantry staple ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need to make it at home:
- Turkey: First of all we’ll need a turkey, of course! I’ve used a 20 lbs turkey for this recipe.
- Oven bag: You’ll also need a turkey-size oven bag for this recipe. These can easily be found near the plastic wrap and aluminum foil section in most grocery stores!
- Carrots: Next, to add flavor to the turkey while it cooks, we’ll also be adding some baby carrots into our turkey bag.
- Mushrooms: We’ll also be adding some mushrooms into the bag that’ll cook alongside the turkey and then you can serve it with it too!
- Onion: Apart from the carrots and mushrooms, we’ll also be using a yellow onion to add flavor and aroma to our delicious turkey dish.
- Lemon: You’ll also need a lemon to give you that perfect lemon flavor that goes perfectly with all the rest of the ingredients and the turkey itself.
- Garlic: Garlic really elevates the flavor of the dish and is the perfect ingredient to balance everything out.
- Olive oil: You’ll also need some olive oil to mix all the ingredients and rub on top of your turkey so that it helps lock in the flavors even more while giving it that perfect golden brown color
- Seasonings: We’ll also be using some sea salt and black pepper for that delicious lemon pepper taste that’s not only classic but a family favorite too!
- Lemon pepper seasoning: Apart from all the lemon and black pepper we’re using separately, we’ll also be adding some lemon pepper seasoning which will be the perfect way to take everything to the next level.
- Mrs. Dash seasoning: This is an incredibly delicious seasoning mix that combines onion powder, celery seed, thyme, basil, rosemary, oregano, orange peel, and other delicious spices and aromatics to bring out all the rest of the flavors.
How to Make Turkey in a Bag (Step-by-Step)
This recipe is the perfect two-day process to minimize the workload on Thanksgiving while also allowing for enough time to perfectly marinate your turkey. Here’s what you need to do step by step to make it:
Day 1: What to Do a Day Before Thanksgiving (Wednesday)
Let’s start by doing all the prep work! Measure out all the spices and combine them all together using a spoon or a hand whisk.
Remove the neck and giblets from the inside of the turkey. You can do whatever you want with these parts. Then thoroughly rinse the turkey. Next, cut off all the excess fat.
Now rub the entire turkey (inside and out) with olive oil. Sprinkle the mixed poultry seasoning and spices we mixed earlier onto the entire turkey, both inside and out.
Place the turkey into an oven bag, and then transfer it onto a roasting pan or a turkey pan. Place the turkey in a fridge for at least 12 hours for the turkey to soak all the spices in.
Day 2: What to Do On Thanksgiving Day (Thursday)
Time to get everything going! To start, preheat the oven to 350 F.
Next, cut the mushrooms into half or quarters, and then cut the lemon and onion into wedges.
Then sprinkle 1 tbsp. of all-purpose flour into an oven bag as instructed on the package. This should prevent the bag from bursting, although the bag did burst once for me. This is uncommon if you follow all my instructions.
Remove the turkey from the fridge 30 min before cooking. Pack 3 garlic cloves, chopped vegetables, and carrots on the inside of the turkey. Place the remaining vegetables on the outside of the turkey. Tie the bag with a nylon tie provided.
Then cut one-inch slits on top of the bag using scissors or a knife to allow steam to escape.
How to Roast Turkey in a Bag
Now place the turkey on the lowest rack in the oven. Roast the turkey in the oven for 4 hours or until the temperature probe or instant meat thermometer registers 165 F. Remove from the oven and let the turkey cool for about 30 minutes.
Carefully cut the oven bag open and transfer the turkey onto a serving platter. Place all the cooked vegetables that were on the outside of the turkey onto a platter next to the turkey.
Your delicious Turkey in a Bag is ready to be served!
Tips to Make the Best Turkey in a Bag Ever
- The best way to make an easy, delicious Thanksgiving turkey that everyone will love is by choosing the right bird. I usually get a range-free homegrown turkey for the best flavor.
- After rubbing the turkey using all the seasonings and herbs I let it soak in all the flavors by keeping the turkey in the oven bag refrigerated for about 12 hours before baking.
- Next, I prefer cooking turkey in the oven bag where all the aroma and moisture are kept inside the bag during the cooking process.
- Also, I prefer cooking the turkey at a lower temperature for a longer time period.
I hope these tips will help you gain the best results.
How to Store Turkey in a Bag
You can easily store any leftovers you may have in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days! There are a ton of things you can do with the leftovers, including making a delicious turkey sandwich or using it for a leftover turkey soup!
Plus, you can also freeze this turkey for up to 3 months in the freezer! Let it thaw in the fridge overnight and then warm it up in the oven or microwave before serving.
Have leftover turkey meat? Try this delicious Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Rice Soup recipe with Homemade French Bread. Yum!
Recipe Card
Easy and Juicy Turkey in a Bag Recipe (Lemon Pepper Turkey)
Ingredients
- 20 lbs. – Turkey
- 1 – oven bag with plastic tie
- 1 lb. – baby carrots (or whole carrots sliced)
- 2 lbs. – mushrooms
- 1 large - lemon
- 1 large – onion
- 3 large – garlic cloves
- ¼ cup – olive oil
- 1 tbsp. – salt
- 1 tsp. – black ground pepper
- 1 tbsp. – Lemon Pepper
- 1 tbsp. – Vegeta
- 1 tbsp. - Mrs. Dash spice
Instructions
How to Make Turkey in a Bag (Step-by-Step)
Day 1: What to Do a Day Before Thanksgiving (Wednesday)
- Let’s start by doing all the prep work! Measure out all the spices and combine them all together using a spoon or a hand whisk.
- Remove the neck and giblets from the inside of the turkey. You can do whatever you want with these parts. Then thoroughly rinse the turkey. Next, cut off all the excess fat.
- Now rub the entire turkey (inside and out) with olive oil. Sprinkle the mixed poultry seasoning and spices we mixed earlier onto the entire turkey, both inside and out.
- Place the turkey into an oven bag, and then transfer it onto a roasting pan or a turkey pan. Place the turkey in a fridge for at least 12 hours for the turkey to soak all the spices in.
Day 2: What to Do On Thanksgiving Day (Thursday)
- Time to get everything going! To start, preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Next, cut the mushrooms into half or quarters, and then cut the lemon and onion into wedges.
- Then sprinkle 1 tbsp. of all-purpose flour into an oven bag as instructed on the package. This should prevent the bag from bursting, although the bag did burst once for me. This is uncommon if you follow all my instructions.
- Remove the turkey from the fridge 30 min before cooking. Pack 3 garlic cloves, chopped vegetables, and carrots on the inside of the turkey. Place the remaining vegetables on the outside of the turkey. Tie the bag with a nylon tie provided.
- Then cut one-inch slits on top of the bag using scissors or a knife to allow steam to escape.
How to Roast Turkey in a Bag
- Now place the turkey on the lowest rack in the oven. Roast the turkey in the oven for 4 hours or until the temperature probe or instant meat thermometer registers 165 F. Remove from the oven and let the turkey cool for about 30 minutes.
- Carefully cut the oven bag open and transfer the turkey onto a serving platter. Place all the cooked vegetables that were on the outside of the turkey onto a platter next to the turkey.
- Your delicious Turkey in a Bag is ready to be served!
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gisela says
can you use baking powder to make skin crispy?
Valya's Taste of Home says
I've never tried it that way. If you do let me know how it goes. Thank you for asking!
Helena says
What could you use to substitute the ingredient vegeta?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Vegetal can be substituted with Mrs. Dash seasoning.
Jo says
The pic of your ingredients shows a lemon, but is not in your “list” of ingredients.
Do you put the lemon inside the cavity?
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Yes, (cut the lemon into 8 wedges) put some lemon wedges inside the cavity and few pieces on each the side on the outside of the cavity. I hope this helps. Happy Thanksgiving!
Joan Bartley says
I want to try this recipe for thanksgiving but have a 7 pound turkey breast. Do you think it would work?
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Yes, it will. Just split the seasoning and vegetables in half. Enjoy! 🙂
Corin Greer says
Making this tomorrow for Friendsgiving! Following your recipe exactly except for the mushrooms, a lot of people don't like mushrooms I suppose! I'll let you know how it comes out.
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Friendsgiving sounds great! Thank you for trying out my recipe, can't wait to hear back from you on how it turned out.
Ashley says
Do I cook it at the same temperature and same amount of time if I use a turkey roaster? My oven is not large enough to cook the turkey so I a having to use the turkey roaster.
valya'stasteofhome.com says
I've never cooked it in the turkey roaster. You might have to stand by it to check how fast the turkey is cooking.
Laura Alegria says
I want to make this turkey, let me just say it'll be my first time cooking for my family, I wanted to know if I have a frozen 22lb turkey, when do I take it out of the freezer for it to start thawing and prepping it to cook!??
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Hi Laura! That's exciting! You will do just fine with my step-by-step instructions. Take the turkey out of the freezer on Monday morning and let it thaw in the fridge until Wednesday. Place something like cloth under the frozen turkey for water absorption. Wash and prepare the turkey on Wednesday and let the spices absorb until it's ready to go into the oven on Thursday morning. Don't hesitate to ask more question, and I will appreciate if you can come back and leave feedback about your cooking experience. Thank you very much for stopping by and commenting. Have a very happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Cheesesteak says
Laura, the turkey bag is KEY...you'll never cook it another way...it'll be terrific. Happy Thanksgiving