Make an electric roaster oven turkey this holiday season to get a tasty turkey without taking up valuable oven space. The turkey cooks on its own, and you can enjoy a juicy, perfect roast turkey with golden brown skin.
It’s hard for home cooks to fit everything in the oven for Thanksgiving. Pies, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, scalloped potatoes, rolls, and other foods are all competing for space.
And a turkey will take up most of the space. Because I’ve never had a house with two ovens, I use an electric roaster oven to cook the turkey. A separate roaster oven cooks the turkey and contains all the juices and mess.
You don’t have to get up at 7 am to start dinner because an electric turkey roaster cooks the bird even faster than a regular oven.
Can you cook a whole turkey in a toaster oven? While it may seem impossible, with some strategic planning, it is possible to cook a miniature turkey dinner in a toaster oven.
A toaster oven has a much smaller capacity than a full-size oven. But with the right turkey breast or other turkey parts, you can pull off a festive toaster oven turkey dinner for Thanksgiving or any occasion.
Choosing the Right Turkey Size
Obviously you cannot fit a full 12-15 lb turkey in a toaster oven. But there are other turkey options:
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Turkey breast – Bone-in turkey breast halves are the most ideal. A 3-4 lb breast will fit nicely
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Turkey tenderloins – These small, lean fillets cook quickly like chicken breasts Get 2-3 per person
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Ground turkey – Make turkey burgers, meatballs or meatloaf for an easy toaster oven meal.
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Turkey parts – Drumsticks, thighs and wings cook up great. Get a few pounds to feed your group.
Aim for about 1/2 pound of turkey meat per person if serving a turkey breast or parts. Go higher if serving smaller tenderloins or ground turkey.
Seasoning and Preparing Turkey for the Toaster Oven
Season and prep your turkey as you normally would:
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Thaw completely if frozen. Smaller breasts may only need a day.
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Rinse turkey parts and pat very dry.
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Rub skin liberally with oil or butter to prevent drying out.
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Season the underside first with salt, pepper and any herbs or spices.
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Carefully loosen skin on breast pieces and rub seasoning directly onto meat if desired.
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Truss bone-in breasts with kitchen string to compact shape. Tuck wings back.
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Arrange on a broiler pan which allows fat to drain away from turkey.
Cooking Times and Temperatures
Toaster ovens heat up and cook much faster than conventional ovens. Keep a close eye on the turkey:
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Cook turkey at 425°F to start for crisping and browning.
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Lower heat to 350°F after about 15 minutes to prevent overcooking.
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Use a meat thermometer to monitor doneness – 165°F for breasts, 175°F for legs and thighs.
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Cook times vary based on size. Count on approximately 15-20 minutes per pound.
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Check often and rotate pan if browning unevenly due to hot spots.
Basting and Finishing the Turkey
Basting is important for preventing turkey from drying out:
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Use pan juices, broth, melted butter or oil to baste turkey every 20 minutes.
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Once cooked, tent loosely with foil and let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
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Add any accumulated juices back to pan for making gravy to serve with turkey.
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Finish with an extra brush of oil, melted butter or glaze to keeps meat moist.
Side Dishes for a Toaster Oven Turkey Dinner
Part of the fun is getting creative with side dishes you can cook alongside the turkey:
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Roast fingerling potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots or other veggies in the toaster oven.
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Cook stuffing in a casserole dish topped with cheese to brown and crisp.
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Bake rolls or biscuits on a sheet pan. Brush with butter before serving.
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Roast winter squash halves like acorn or butternut – scoop out flesh to mash.
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Make ahead dishes like sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, or pumpkin and apple pies.
Tips for Toaster Oven Success
Follow these tips for the very best results when cooking turkey in a toaster oven:
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Use heavy duty aluminum foil to tent turkey and prevent over-browning.
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Be very careful when basting not to touch and burn yourself on the hot heating elements. Use a brush or spoon.
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Start checking doneness early – toaster ovens cook very rapidly.
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Arrange pans and foil to allow for air circulation – this promotes even cooking.
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Let oven fully preheat before adding food – toaster ovens need time to get up to temp.
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Give each side of turkey a turn towards the heating element to prevent lopsided browning.
Benefits of a Toaster Oven Turkey
While it may seem unconventional, cooking turkey in a toaster oven has many advantages:
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Faster cooking time – A turkey breast roasts in under an hour versus 4+ for a full bird.
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More intimate meal – A toaster oven turkey is perfectly sized for a small gathering.
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Lower cost – Buying just a breast or parts costs much less than a full turkey.
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Easier preparation – No massive turkey to prep and wrestle into the oven.
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Minimal leftovers – You won’t have a whole fridge full of picked-over turkey.
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Less mess and cleanup – Toaster oven drippings and spills are minimal.
So don’t rule out celebrating with turkey just because you don’t have a large oven. With the right turkey choices and some adapting, you can enjoy moist, delicious turkey cooked right in your toaster oven!
How to Cook Turkey in an Electric Roaster Oven
- If you want to, you can brine the bird for 12 to 24 hours before roasting it. Get turkey brining instructions here.
- Preheat: Preheat the roaster to 450 degrees F.
- Get the turkey ready to roast: remove it from its packaging and wash it well. Use paper towels to dry it, and then take the neck and giblets out of the body.
- Season: Put the bird on the roaster rack. Melt the butter and brush it over the skin with a pastry brush. Spread the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper out on the outside of the chicken.
- Optional: Add Fruit: Put some orange or apple slices inside the body. I don’t think stuffing should be put in the body cavity, but putting some fruit in there can make it taste better.
- Cook: Roast it at 450 degrees F for 30 minutes.
- Lower the Heat: Lower the heat to 350 degrees F without lifting the lid. Roast it for the remainder of the cooking time. Allow about 15-20 minutes per pound for cooking time. See the timing section for more information.
- Check the Temperature: To find out how hot the meat is inside, use a meat thermometer. It is safe to serve at 165 degrees F.
- Rest: Lift the turkey out of the roaster. Wrap the bird in foil and let it rest for 20 minutes before cutting it up.
❓How Do I Make my Turkey Golden Brown?
An oven-baked turkey will have a little more brown and crispy skin than a roaster-baked turkey. You have to do a little extra if you want perfectly golden brown turkey in a roaster oven. Here are some options:
- After cooking the turkey, broil it for a few minutes to make the skin nice and brown.
- Brush browning sauce on the bird before roasting. This is used to add color to roasts and gravy. You can buy it online or find it in the gravy section of most grocery stores.
How to Cook a Turkey Half in the Toaster Oven
FAQ
Is there a toaster oven big enough to cook a turkey?
Can I use a toaster oven instead of a regular oven?
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