Bacon-Wrapped Turkey

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If you’re looking for a showstopping Thanksgiving turkey, this Bacon-Wrapped Turkey is it! A whole turkey is covered with a beautiful woven bacon blanket, seasoned with garlic herb butter, and roasted until tender and juicy. The bacon adds smoky, savory flavor while helping baste the turkey as it cooks.

And don’t throw away those pan drippings! They make the most delicious homemade bacon gravy to serve alongside your turkey.

This recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday dinner when you want something a little extra special. It’s easier to make than it looks, and the bacon-covered turkey makes a beautiful centerpiece for your holiday table!

Best part? No basting or babysitting the turkey! Juicy turkey with minimal work is my kind of turkey!

New to cooking a turkey? Try my Foolproof Whole Turkey recipe. You can’t mess it up!

Having a smaller Thanksgiving gathering? Try Turkey Breast in the crock pot, Slow Cooker Herbed Turkey , Mississippi Turkey (yes! just like the pot roast) or my super popular Cranberry Orange Turkey Breast made in the crock pot.

Why You’ll Love This Bacon-Wrapped Turkey

• A beautiful presentation: The woven bacon blanket makes this turkey look impressive without complicated preparation.
• Juicy, flavorful turkey: Herb butter underneath the skin adds flavor and richness to the breast meat. Plus no basting!
• Smoky bacon flavor: Bacon adds a delicious savory flavor throughout the turkey.
• Homemade gravy: The bacon and turkey drippings make an especially flavorful gravy.
• Perfect for the holidays: This is a fun twist on traditional Thanksgiving turkey!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Equipment

• Roasting Pan with rack
• Parchment Paper
• Pastry Brush to brush the glaze on
• Fat separator measuring cup for the gravy (so helpful!)
• Meat thermometer– a must in my opinion!

For the Turkey

• Whole turkey: You’ll need a 10–12 pound whole turkey, completely thawed. Remove the neck and giblets before preparing.
• Unsalted butter: Softened butter goes underneath the turkey skin to add flavor and moisture to the breast meat.
• Black pepper: Adds a little seasoning. I skip extra salt because the bacon adds plenty.
• Onion: A quartered onion goes inside the turkey cavity for flavor.
• Garlic: Adds a wonderful savory flavor.
• Fresh herbs: Rosemary, thyme and sage adds classic holiday flavor.
• Chicken broth or water: Added to the bottom of the roasting pan to help prevent the drippings from burning.

For the Bacon Blanket

• Regular-cut bacon: You’ll need approximately 1½–2 pounds of bacon, depending on the size of your turkey and how much you want to cover. Do not use center-cut (it tends to be smaller) or thick-cut (it won’t crisp up).

Optional Maple Glaze

• Maple syrup: Adds a touch of sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the salty bacon.
• Butter: Melted butter helps the glaze coat the bacon.

How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Turkey

1. Prepare the Turkey

Remove the turkey from the refrigerator about 30–45 minutes before cooking. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity. Pat the turkey completely dry with paper towels.

Carefully loosen the skin over the turkey breast using your fingers.

2. Add the Herb Butter

In a small bowl, combine the softened butter and black pepper.

Spread the butter underneath the turkey skin, covering as much of the breast meat as possible. Rub any remaining butter over the outside of the turkey.

Place the quartered onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage inside the turkey cavity.

Tuck the wings underneath the turkey and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.

3. Make the Bacon Blanket

Lay a large piece of parchment paper on your countertop.

Arrange 10–12 slices of bacon side by side, slightly overlapping. Weave additional bacon slices horizontally through the first layer to create a lattice pattern.

Continue weaving until you have a large rectangle big enough to cover the turkey breast.

4. Cover the Turkey with Bacon

Carefully transfer the bacon lattice onto the turkey breast using the parchment paper to help.

Gently remove the parchment and tuck the edges of the bacon around the sides of the turkey.

Wrap the remaining bacon slices around the legs and wings, covering as much of the turkey as possible.

5. Roast the Turkey

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack inside a large roasting pan. Pour 1½ cups of water or chicken broth into the bottom of the roasting pan.

Roast uncovered for approximately 2½–3½ hours, depending on the size of your turkey. If the bacon begins browning too quickly, loosely tent the turkey with aluminum foil.

6. Add the Maple Glaze

If using the optional glaze, combine the maple syrup and melted butter in a small bowl.

During the last 20–30 minutes of cooking, brush the bacon with the maple glaze for a beautiful glossy finish.

Watch carefully so the bacon and glaze don’t burn.

7. Check the Temperature and Rest

Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the breast, innermost part of the thigh, and innermost part of the wing. All three areas should reach 165°F.

Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 30–40 minutes before carving.

Homemade Bacon Turkey Gravy

Don’t let those delicious turkey drippings go to waste! This homemade gravy uses the drippings from your bacon-wrapped turkey to make a rich, savory gravy that’s perfect for mashed potatoes, stuffing, and turkey.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup reserved turkey and bacon drippings (fat)
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth or turkey broth
• ½–1 cup strained turkey pan drippings, as needed
• Black pepper, to taste
• Salt, only if needed

Instructions

1. Strain the drippings: After removing the turkey from the roasting pan, carefully pour the pan drippings through a fine-mesh strainer into a measuring cup or bowl. Separate the fat from the liquid using a fat separator or spoon. Reserve ¼ cup of the fat.
2. Make the roux: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the reserved drippings. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth and lightly golden.
3. Add the broth: Slowly pour in the chicken or turkey broth, whisking continuously to prevent lumps.
4. Add the pan drippings: Stir in ½ cup of the strained turkey drippings. Add more as needed for flavor and consistency.
5. Simmer: Bring the gravy to a gentle simmer and cook for 5–8 minutes, whisking occasionally, until thickened.
6. Season and serve: Add black pepper and taste before adding any salt. The bacon drippings can be salty, so you may not need additional salt. If the gravy is too thick, whisk in a little more broth.

Serve warm alongside the bacon-wrapped turkey!

Tips for the Best Bacon-Wrapped Turkey

• Use regular-cut bacon: Regular bacon is easier to weave and generally cooks more evenly than thick-cut bacon.
• Dry the turkey well: Patting the turkey dry helps the bacon adhere and encourages better browning.
• Don’t over-season: Bacon adds plenty of salt, so I recommend using unsalted butter and skipping additional salt.
• Make the bacon lattice ahead: You can weave the bacon blanket ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to assemble the turkey.
• Watch the bacon: If the bacon is getting too dark before the turkey is cooked through, loosely cover the breast with foil.
• Use a meat thermometer: Cooking time is an estimate. Always cook poultry to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size turkey do I need for this recipe?

This recipe is written for a 10–12 pound whole turkey. If you use a larger turkey, you’ll need additional bacon and may need to adjust the cooking time.

How much bacon do I need to cover a turkey?

Plan on approximately 1½–2 pounds of regular-cut bacon for a 10–12 pound turkey. The exact amount depends on how much of the legs and wings you want to cover.

Does wrapping a turkey in bacon keep it moist?

The bacon adds fat and flavor as it cooks, while the herb butter underneath the skin helps keep the breast meat flavorful. Using a meat thermometer and avoiding overcooking are the most important steps for juicy turkey.

Will the bacon get crispy?

The bacon will brown as it roasts, but areas where the bacon overlaps may remain a little softer. If the turkey reaches temperature before the bacon is as crisp as you’d like, you can carefully remove the bacon and place it on a separate baking sheet to finish crisping in the oven while the turkey rests. Keep the turkey covered loosely with foil.

Can I prepare bacon-wrapped turkey ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the turkey with the herb butter and bacon up to one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate at 40°F or below until ready to roast.

Can I use thick-cut bacon?

Regular-cut bacon is my preference because it cooks more evenly and is easier to weave into a lattice. Thick-cut bacon may take longer to brown and crisp.

Can I make gravy without the bacon drippings?

Absolutely! If you don’t have enough drippings, use butter and low-sodium chicken or turkey broth. You can still add a little of the strained pan liquid for extra flavor.

How do I store leftover bacon-wrapped turkey?

Remove the leftover turkey meat from the bones and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Store leftover gravy separately in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days.

Can I freeze leftover turkey?

Yes! Remove the meat from the bones and store it in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months for best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with Bacon-Wrapped Turkey

Make it a complete Thanksgiving dinner with some of these easy holiday sides:

• Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole
• Maple Glazed Carrots
• Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Crock Pot Stuffing
• Creamed Corn
• Parmesan Crusted Brussels Sprouts
• Sausage and Wild Rice Casserole
• Zucchini Squash Casserole
• Bacon Corn Casserole
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Final Thoughts

This bacon-wrapped turkey is such a fun way to change up your traditional holiday turkey! The crispy, smoky bacon, flavorful herb butter, and homemade bacon gravy make this a meal everyone will look forward to. Serve it with your favorite Thanksgiving sides for a holiday dinner worth celebrating!

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