Turkey and Stuffing in One Pan? Yes. Yes! YES! | Cook's Country (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to cook a stuffed turkey at 325 or 350? ›

For the best results, our Test Kitchen recommends cooking a stuffed turkey at 325°F.

You can cook the bird and the bread in the same pan with delicious results.

Preheat oven to 325° F. Remove whole breast from bag. Drain juices and pat dry with clean paper towels. Place breast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in a 2-inch deep roasting pan.

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

Roasting the bird slowly, at a lower temperature is the best way to achieve tender meat. You should still prep the bird with butter, salt, and pepper, as described above (or dry-brine it). To cook, set your oven to 325°F and roast for 3½ to 4 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird.

It is not safe to cook any meat or poultry in an oven set lower than 325 °F. At lower temperatures, meat stays in the Danger Zone (between 40 °F and 140°F for too long.

Your turkey will cook more evenly and faster if you start it out at room temperature so remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. If you plan to stuff your turkey, wait until you're ready to put it in the oven before putting the stuffing in the turkey.

A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey. Roast a stuffed turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). It is important to check the temperature of the stuffing; it should be 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) when you insert the thermometer into the center of the stuffing.

Can I cook stuffing at 325 instead of 350? ›

The stuffed meat, poultry, or stuffing in a casserole should be placed immediately after preparation in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the stuffing reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

Should I stuff my turkey? Stuffing cooked inside the turkey cavities is delicious, but it does slow down the cooking time and could be a potential health hazard if done incorrectly. For perfect no-worry results, opt for "dressing" instead – stuffing cooked alongside the bird instead of inside.

Stuffing Safety

Despite the benefits of stuffing a turkey, it's not a safe practice, says Baker. That's because the turkey and stuffing might cook at different rates, often leaving the stuffing uncooked and unsafe to eat by the time the turkey is ready.

For a smoked turkey, you want to aim a bit lower than 425 degrees. Instead, set your smoker to 325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Within this temperature range, a spatchco*cked turkey will take 10 to 12 minutes a pound to smoke.

Yes, and it's delicious! But how you cook turkey stuffing is important. Use only cooked ingredients in turkey stuffing to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. Stuff the neck and cavity of a thawed turkey right before roasting and cook until the stuffing reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.

A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey. Roast a stuffed turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). It is important to check the temperature of the stuffing; it should be 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) when you insert the thermometer into the center of the stuffing.

One advantage of not stuffing the turkey and baking the stuffing separately is the turkey will take less time to get fully cooked. A 12 to 14 pound stuffed turkey will take 3.5 to 4 hours to bake while an unstuffed bird will take 3 to 3.75 hours at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add 30 minutes to the times if you are stuffing the turkey. A whole turkey is safely cooked when it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

Place your Butterball turkey on the middle rack of your preheated oven (325°F/160°C). About half an hour before you expect the turkey to be cooked you should check temperatures. The turkey is done when the thigh temperature reaches a minimum 180°F (82°C) and the center of the stuffing reaches a minimum 165°F (74°C).