Name: Brown Bag Herb Roasted Turkey
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 5 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 1 turkey, 10 to 20 lbs, brought to room temperature; Salt and pepper; 1 onion, peeled and cut into large pieces; 1 celery stick, chopped; 1 carrot, chopped; 1 lemon, quartered; 6 tbsp butter, softened; 2 tbsp italian herb blend; 1 cup chicken broth; Large parchment paper bag, or brown paper shopping bag

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This Brown Bag Herb Roasted Turkey is a simple, delicious, and foolproof way to make a never-dry bird- baked right in a brown paper bag!

picture of a roasted turkey in a brown paper bag in a roasting pan

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Paper Bag Roasted Turkey
How to Make Brown Bag Roasted Turkey
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Brown Bag Turkey
What to Serve With Brown Bag Roasted Turkey
Brown Bag Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe

Paper Bag Roasted Turkey

If you’ve ever struggled with making Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey dinner, you know the host of problems that can come along with roasting your bird: slow cooking, uneven temps, dry breast meat, flabby skin; but Thanksgiving turkey doesn’t have to be so difficult.

I recently found the foolproof secret to roasting turkey – and the best way to roast a turkey, ever.

The weird trick?

Roast the turkey…. in a paper bag!

Any old paper bag – even the grocery bag you bring the turkey home from the store in – will work.

By cooking the turkey in the bag, which seals in the steam to help it circulate around the bird and help it cook faster and more evenly, you can get perfect juicy turkey meat every time.

This is an easy, delicious way to cook perfect, tender, juicy turkey every time.

How to Make Brown Bag Roasted Turkey

This Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe doesn’t require a ton of fussy extra equipment, but there are a few standard kitchen tools that will help you get a perfect never-dry roasted turkey every time.

Large brown parchment cooking bags or brown shopping bag
Roasting Pan
Large cooling racks
Meat thermometer
Turkey Brine
Easy Turkey Gravy
Salt
Pepper
Herbs
Turkey

picture of turkey on a tray next to salt, pepper, and herbs

picture of turkey dry brining in plastic wrap on a white tray

picture of brined turkey next to butter, herbs, chopped onion, softened butter on a table

picture of a raw turkey with the cavity stuffed full of herbs and aromatics inside a brown paper bag

picture of a brown paper bag on a roasting pan

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients and equipment, you’ll use the following method:

Brine. Brine turkey with easy turkey brine or dry turkey brine.
Season and butter. After turkey has brined for 1-2 days, season with herbs, salt, and pepper. Rub butter all over turkey, including under skin. Stuff aromatics like celery, onion, garlic, herbs, and sliced citrus into turkey cavity.
Add to bag and roast. Slide turkey into paper bag and roast until turkey has fully cooked. Do not open bag to check as it cooks, this releases steam which helps keep turkey tender, moist, and delicious! Remove from bag and crisp under broiler when turkey is fully cooked, if desired.
Rest. Let turkey rest 20-30 minutes minimum before carving.
Carve. Carve turkey and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Brown Bag Turkey

Why roasting turkey in a paper bag works. Making a delicious, juicy turkey that won’t dry out is crazy-easy in a brown paper bag – thanks to increased heat from steam that circles around it as it cooks.

Brine Turkey before roasting. This easy turkey brine is perfect for an entire turkey – or just a turkey breast – and is easy to whip up. Place brine and turkey in a plastic bag and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Tip: Do not use turkey brine after raw turkey has been in it – always discard excess.

Turkey Brine Ingredients:

1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
2 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons rosemary
2 teaspoons savory
1 gallon ice cubes

How to Make Turkey Brine:

Bring all ingredients, except ice to a boil.
After you reach a rolling boil, turn off heat and let cool.
Combine cooled brine with ice inside a large bag in a beverage cooler, stock pot, or other large container with a tight fitting lid.
Submerge turkey and seal container.
Brine for at least 12 hours and up to 3 days – be sure to keep turkey cold with ice as it brines.

picture of sliced turkey breast covered with herbs on a white plate

Don’t open bag. Opening the bag will let out steam, so you’ll only want to do it towards the end to take your turkey’s temperature. Trust that the bag is basting your turkey for you and locking in all those juices! You could also use a remote meat thermometer so you don’t even have to open the oven!

Crisp under broiler. Crisp under broiler for extra crunch. While the brown bag method will help your turkey skin crisp thanks to your butter rub, you might want a little extra crunch – go ahead and pop your bird under the broiler on high for 5-8 minutes at the end of cooking (watch it very closely to be sure it doesn’t burn) to get a tiny bit extra flavor!

Let turkey rest. Make sure to let your turkey cool for at least 15 minutes before carving to lock in the juices.

How to check turkey’s temperature. Hit the deepest part of the turkey you can WITHOUT touching the bone with a digital thermometer when taking your turkey’s temperature.

Double check for Giblets. Many turkeys have giblets packed in plastic bags or with twine – double check for the giblets to be sure you’re not melting plastic inside your bird! While we want to cook the turkey with the giblets for a delicious gravy, you don’t want to melt plastic. Check for the giblets!

picture of crispy skin roasted turkey with herbs on a white plate

What to Serve With Brown Bag Roasted Turkey

If you love this easy and delicious paper bag roasted turkey, be sure to check out some of my other favorite easy and delicious holiday dishes you will love!

We love to serve this turkey with Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Scallops, The Best Yeast Rolls, Parker House Style Buttery Soft Dinner Rolls, Brown Butter Bacon Baked Brussels Sprouts, Herb Roasted Acorn Squash, Garlic Butter Sausage and Mushroom Stuffing, Garlic Butter Roasted Potatoes, or The Best Easy Whole Roasted Cauliflower!

Find more of our Thanksgiving Recipes here.