This Bacon Herb Paste Stuffed Turkey is a variation on a Food and Wine recipe that I’ve been making for years. Bacon Herb Paste Stuffed Turkey is also one of my most requested recipes and it’s a great solution to send to the many people who complain that they don’t like turkey that much, it’s the weak link of Thanksgiving, or the turkey is always dry. Au contraire, mon frère! I promise that if you make this Bacon Herb Paste Stuffed Turkey there will be so few leftovers that you will go up a size next year so that you will have enough turkey leftover to make my Leftover Thanksgiving Enchiladas or Turkey Gumbo. I also promise that your guests will rave and the gravy will be the best gravy you’ve ever made. Tall promises, I know, but not tall tales. This Bacon Herb Paste Stuffed Turkey will deliver and the best part is, it doesn’t even require you to get up at the crack of dawn to cook it. When you do decide to make my Bacon Herb Paste Stuffed Turkey for Thanksgiving, please make sure to check out the complete Thanksgiving 2009 menu for awesome sides, decorations, and ideas on how to make cooking for Thanksgiving smooth sailing. Happy Turkey Day is on the way with this Bacon Herb Paste Stuffed Turkey.
Bacon Herb Paste Stuffed Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon not too lean, chopped
- 1 large bunch flat-leaf parsley
- 3 tablespoons thyme leaves plus 1 thyme sprig
- bunch sage leaves
- freshly ground pepper optional
- sea salt
- 18-21 pound turkey giblets (liver, gizzard and heart) reserved for the gravy
- 2 large white onions in ⅛s
- 2 large apples in ⅛s
- 2 lemons in ⅛s
- 8 celery stalks; chopped
- 2 large onions; chopped
- 5 carrots; chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- In a food processor, combine the bacon, parsley, thyme leaves, and ½ teaspoon of pepper.
- Process to a paste.
- Using your fingers, gently separate the turkey skin from the breast and legs.
- Season the turkey cavities with salt (and pepper). Stuff with the onion, apple and lemon ⅛s.
- Carefully spread the bacon paste under the loosened skin and press gently on the outside of the skin to evenly distribute.
- Season the outside of the turkey with salt (and pepper) and tie the legs together tightly with kitchen string.*
- Scatter celery, carrots and white onions in a large roasting pan. Set turkey on roasting rack (or set the turkey on top of vegetables). Tightly cover the bird with 2 sheets of oiled foil and roast on the lowest rack of the oven for 2 hours. Remove the foil and continue to roast for 1 hour, or until the turkey is browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the inner thigh registers 170°.
- Transfer the turkey to a carving board, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 30 minutes or for up to 1 hour.
- If the turkey was done before the skin was browned (not that this happened to me) you can use the excuse to bust out your kitchen torch.
Or simply put it under the broiler for a few minutes and then serve with a flourish. 
Notes
This salty pan drippings makes the best gravy. I often add white wine, mushrooms and chicken stock with a little roux but really any recipe for gravy you like will benefit from this most delicious of bases. Adapted from Food and Wine
This turkey looks amazing and perfect for the upcoming holidays! I can’t believe it’s almost that time of year!
Time flies! Order your bird now…
I’ve found the turkey I’m making for Thanksgiving! Holy cow this looks AMAZING!
You’re a smart cookie. It’s truly the best!
My mom is tackling Thanksgiving dinner this year, I think I’ll be forwarding this recipe to her. Looks wonderful!
Even better! Outsource the awesomeness!
Whoa. I think my standard citrus-stuffed turkey recipe just flew away. It was afraid that this recipe would kick its butt. It was right! Seriously–bacon IN the butter and herb mixture? Genius!
Yeah, I bet you won’t go back either. Though I think putting some zest in the paste wouldn’t hurt either.
This sounds like a delicious Thanksgiving turkey recipe! Great photos too!
Soooo good. Thanks, I love when there’s good natural light.
This bacon-hern paste sounds like such a great idea. It sounds so delicious and a great recipe to make the turkey the star of the meal.
Agreed. And it so seldom is.
Oh. MY!!! This looks absolutely incredible! My husband absolutely adores turkey and I just know he’ll love your bacon-y take on it!
It would be hard not to love this turkey.
Oh yum! This sounds so good!
It really is!
This is the BEST idea, I actually just won a year of free bacon (cool right?!) so I must try this for thanksgiving!
Amazing. And weird. How did you do that? That seems like the ultimate blessing and curse.
This recipe will definitely be a top contender for my Thanksgiving plans 😀 Looks delish!
Yeah, it’s hard to decide, but once you make this one, your family will demand it yearly.
Bacon paste is going to stick in my mind for a long time. What a cool and wonderful concept in adding flavor! Your turkey looks fabulous!
Thanks! Yeah, it’s probably what dogs dream about.
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