Southern-Style Brown Paper Bag Turkey
Flavors Used:
A very “southern Grandma” way to make your turkey. But somehow, cooking your turkey in a brown paper bag makes it come out perfect and delicious every time! They didn’t have fancy cooking bags back in the day and trust me, it’s not the same. So if you’re wondering how to cook the perfect turkey while doing something different, the brown paper bag turkey is the way to go!
Brown paper bags are still a thing, and you just need to ask for them at the grocery store. You might want to get the biggest one that is available, and test fit your bird to make sure it will fit. And as you might be wondering, the paper bag does not burn! You’ll just need to rub it with oil, and then the steam and juices from the turkey will keep it moist. You can also rub the inside with butter for some extra flavor. Pair this brown bag turkey with a Homemade Green Bean Casserole and some Jalapeño Cornbread for a Dan-O-Myte Thanksgiving dinner!
Prep work makes the Brown Bag Turkey Work
Your time has come, the family has bestowed the honor of making the Thanksgiving Turkey upon you. This prestigious privilege is one of many burdens but fret not, we’re going to walk you through making a Brown Bag turkey the Dan-Way. In terms of preparing a turkey, there’s about 8 steps we need to take to make it perfect.
Defrost the Turkey
Temper the Turkey
Tidy up the Turkey
Season the Turkey
Stuff the Turkey (optional)
Add some fat
Truss the turkey (optional)
Roast the turkey
This may seem like an overwhelming amount of steps but we’re going to make it as simple as possible for you. Let’s begin.
Ingredients
- 19 lb turkey
- 1 stick melted butter
- 2 white onions
- 6 stalks celery
- 6 carrots
- Large brown paper bag
- Dan-O’s Original Seasoning
- Olive Oil
Preparation Instructions
- Several days in advance, begin defrosting your turkey. The general rule of thumb is for every 5 pounds of turkey, you’ll need 24 hours to defrost in the fridge. So for a 19-20 pound bird, you’ll need roughly 4 days to defrost the turkey. Now, if you’re reading this the day of thanksgiving and forgot to thaw your turkey, we’ve got some advice for you too. By submerging your turkey in ice water, then it can be defrosted in 8-12 hours. However, this isn’t a sit it and forget like thawing in the fridge. You’ll have to be diligent about checking the water’s temperature and making sure it’s never hitting 40 degrees. Most people will do this in a sink but you could do it in a large bucket, just make sure whatever you use is sanitized and clean for your bird.
- Temper the Turkey. About one hour before you’re planning to cook, you’ll need to remove the turkey from the fridge, and let it sit on a roasting rack and get to room temperature. Turkeys cook more evenly when not completely chilled. About 15-20 minutes before you’re planning to roast, preheat your oven at 325°F. Your turkey will cook at about 15 to 17 minutes per pound at this temperature.
- Remove the giblets, and neck from the Turkey and set aside.
- In a bowl, melt butter in microwave and add a generous helping of Dan-O’s Original Seasoning. Season the Brown Bag Turkey using your Dan-O’s melted butter mixture, rub it all over the turkey and its cavity. Get it nice and seasoned up!
- Insert carrots, celery, and onions inside the cavity.
- Coat brown paper bag with olive oil and Dan-O’s Original (inside and out).
- Insert the turkey in the brown bag and tuck open end under turkey.
- Place in baking pan and cook at 325°F for 3 hours or until the breast is 170°F internal temperature.
- Let rest for 1 hour and serve.
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Just Slid that buttered up Butterball in that brown bag!!! Now we Pray 🙏
I need to cook an 8 pound turkey. I’ve used the bag method before but for some reason, with my little turkey, I’m nervous. What’s the best amount of time so it cooks and doesn’t dry out? And how to crisp the skin with such a tiny turkey? It’s 7.98 pounds so very mini! Thank you, thank you!!!
Been cooking my turkeys and bone in hams in brown paper bags since my mother in law taught me after got married and that was back in 1975 and still doing it this way to this day. Nothing like it and taste is out of this world. People look at me like I’ve lost my mind when they hear why I want brown grocery bags at the store Lol. Love Dan-O’s and they carry it at our Walmarts in our small farming town,just wish it was the larger size as I go through it like crazy. Keep up the great work and love watching your videos and was so excited to see a video you making your Gram Grams German recipe as I’m a German descendent as my greats that came over to Texas from Germany. My father’s side were full blood Reichle, Grussendorf, Gaeke and Baron. Enjoying the history of my family. Your Gram was a beautiful lady❤️
I found the recipe online. Looked fun! Then—I was roaming Walmart & stumbled on the seasoning. Gonna try this today! My husband is usually the “turkey expert” but I convinced him to give this a try! Wish me luck!!!!
Wow this recipe was wonderful! Thanks Dan-O!
How long would you cook just a Turkey Breast?
It really depends on the weight, and your oven.
Most would take about an hour and 25 minutes. Just throw it in there, and start checking the temperature after an hour.
Oh gosh! If you have an Instapot, it’s around 30 minutes plus a short time of natural release. You can even cook it from frozen. Jennie O has instructions online. Best way to cook those turkey breasts. The Jennie O brand says they are “seasoned” but add your Dan Os and butter. You’ll thank me later!
I have just gotten into using your Dano’s products. They are not available in stores around here, but are on line at Amazon. Used your chicken thighs recipe the other day. Turned out great. Have done brown bag Walleye, with slivered garlic. Will be trying this brown bag turkey. I will only be cooking a boneless breast though. Just my wife and I to cook for. Great spices! Fantastic recipes! THANKS!
Glad you’re enjoying Dan-O’s and having Dan-tastic results using our recipes.
Thanks for being part of the Dan-Fam.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Sam’s Club carries it in my area. You may want to check there.