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According to a recent Butterball-commissioned survey, 85 percent of U. S. adults who are planning on celebrating Thanksgiving with a meal are planning on serving turkey. But just because our menus will look the same doesnt mean our turkeys will look the same. More than 40% of people surveyed by Whole Foods in 2019 said they were not going to roast their turkey the traditional way. Maybe we dont want to crank up our gas or electric ovens for hours on end. Maybe we dont have ovens. Or maybe we just want something different.
If you’re in any of those groups, here are some other appliances you can use to cook your turkey for Thanksgiving, along with links to where you can buy them. Were talking recommendations on smokers, deep fryers, air fryers, Instant Pots and slow cookers.
Also, if you want to avoid supply chain problems or long lines at the store, make sure to read our online turkey buying guide before Thanksgiving.
In the Whole Foods survey, smoked turkey was the most popular alternative to a traditional oven roast. The Intermountain Farmers Association calls a smoked turkey “likely to be the best-tasting, easiest-to-cook turkey youve ever eaten. Here are some tips from the IFA on how to smoke a turkey, and here is a Martha Stewart recipe. See our notes on equipment below.
Cooking a juicy, flavorful turkey is synonymous with Thanksgiving and other holiday celebrations But what if you don’t have an oven? Don’t worry – you can still enjoy delicious turkey even without the traditional oven Here are 5 simple methods to cook turkey without an oven
Cook the Turkey on the Stovetop
One of the easiest ways to cook turkey without an oven is to use your stovetop Here’s a simple step-by-step guide
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Choose a smaller turkey (10-12 lbs). A whole large turkey won’t fit in a skillet or Dutch oven.
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Pat the turkey dry and season all over with salt, pepper, and any other spices you want. Stuff the cavity if desired.
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Heat 2 tbsp oil in a heavy bottom Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the turkey breast-side down until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip and sear the back, about 3 minutes more.
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Add 1 cup chicken broth, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes per pound, flipping halfway through. Keep adding broth as needed to maintain moisture.
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When the turkey is fully cooked (165°F internal temperature), transfer to a platter to rest before carving.
Stovetop turkey stays nice and juicy, with crispy seared skin. The broth steams and braises it gently, infusing tons of flavor.
Grill It
If you have a charcoal or gas grill, use the indirect heat method to slowly roast the turkey outside.
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Set up a two-zone fire, with high heat on one side and no heat on the other.
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Season the turkey and place it breast-side up on the cool side of the grill, with a drip pan underneath.
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Cover and grill over indirect low heat for about 15 minutes per pound, until it reaches 165°F, replenishing the charcoal as needed.
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For crispy skin, move it directly over the fire for a few minutes at the end.
Grilling gives great smoky flavor. The indirect heat mimics oven roasting. Just keep an eye on the temperature and charcoal supply.
Slow Cook It
For super moist and tender turkey, slow cooking in a crockpot or Instant Pot is hard to beat.
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Choose a small boneless turkey breast or other parts like drumsticks.
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Add 1 cup broth and seasonings, and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours.
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Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F internally.
The extended cooking time at low heat keeps the meat incredibly tender. The broth provides moisture so it doesn’t dry out.
Roast in a Turbo Oven
A small countertop convection oven or turbo oven works great for roasting turkey.
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Season the turkey and place it breast-side up on the roasting rack.
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Cook at 400°F for approximately 15 minutes per pound until it reaches 165°F.
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Baste occasionally with juices for extra moisture and flavor.
The circulating hot air cooks and crisps the turkey evenly. It’s the closest thing to a regular oven.
Use a Smoker
For ultimate turkey with deep, rich flavor, smoke it in an electric, charcoal or pellet smoker.
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Brine the turkey for added moisture. Rub with herbs, oil and spices.
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Smoke at 225-250°F for about 15 minutes per pound until it’s fully cooked.
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Use wood chips like hickory, apple, cherry or pecan for flavor.
Smoking turkey gives it an incredible smoky taste. The low, slow cooking keeps it unbelievably juicy.
Helpful Tips
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Always let the turkey rest for 15-30 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
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Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness – breast and thighs should reach 165°F.
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Basting with broth or oil helps keep the turkey moist.
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Carve the turkey and make gravy from the delicious pan drippings.
With these simple oven-free cooking methods, you can enjoy delectable Thanksgiving turkey or holiday bird year-round. Don’t be limited by lack of an oven – with a little creativity, you can roast tender, juicy turkey on the stovetop, grill, smoker or other appliances for an amazing centerpiece.
Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 (8-quart)
As an “Amazons Choice” item, the Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 can be set to air fry, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and air broil. There are two baskets on each side, so you can split the 8-quart capacity into 4 quarts of one thing and 4 quarts of something else.
Slow cookers, as their name suggests, take their time. Over the course of hours, the long-popular countertop appliances use steady low temperatures to extract flavor and juicy goodness from your meat or food of choice. According to the National Turkey Federation, theyre a good fit for a number of different turkey cuts, including bone-in and boneless breasts and thighs, legs, cutlets and wings.
Here are two of the best slow cookers on Amazon that might make your Thanksgiving dinner worth the wait.
Masterbuilt MB20012420 electric fryer (10-liter)
If you don’t have a place outside to work or just would rather be inside, this could be a good choice for you and your bird. Selected as the best indoor turkey fryer by Good Housekeeping, the Masterbuilt MB20012420 runs on electricity, not propane. It also works as a steamer and boiler. Masterbuilt says the extra-large, 10-liter model can fry a turkey up to 20 pounds. (10 liters is the equivalent of 10. 5 quarts. ) At last look, an 8-liter model was also available from Amazon for $90.
Instant Pot is the brand name of a popular line of multi-use pressure cookers. We talked about how the Instant Pot can be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, air fryer, and even a yogurt maker in our CBS Essentials guide to the cooker.
If turkey breast is on your Thanksgiving menu, you should be able to use it for your holiday meal too.
How do I cook a turkey without an oven?
FAQ
How can you cook a turkey if you don’t have an oven?
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