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Here is my fail-safe recipe for a tender and juicy roasted turkey. We're all in need for a stress-free Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. With this easy keto turkey recipe you'll be able to serve up a wonderful meal and enjoy every moment (even the cooking part).
At some point in the year, most of us will put a turkey in the oven. In the US, this will probably happen for Thanksgiving. Here in the UK, it's most definitely Christmas.
What are your immediate feelings when you think of THAT meal? Yum, for sure. But is there also a little bit of stress that rises? Wanting to get it right for everyone? Not serving up a dried-up blackened birdie and get the feared raised eyebrow from Auntie Anneliese?
I get it. Roasting an entire turkey is expensive - a free range bird does not come cheap. Plus, a proper Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey has to be served with all the trimmings. You need to set aside a few hours, roll up your sleeves and embrace the journey.
The good news is, making a keto turkey dinner does not have to be stressful. Because with this recipe you'll serve up the juiciest bird ever! Even better, with my recipe tricks there's no need for brining the turkey.
And I'm not stopping there. On my website, you can also find recipes for the tastiest keto gravy made with the juices from your magnificent bird, a low carb cauliflower and sausage stuffing and the best ever roasted brussels sprouts.
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- FAQ
- Instructions
- Using a trivet
- Gravy
- Serve with
- Storage
- Recipe
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need:
- Turkey. I roasted a 12 pound / 5.6 kilo bird. It yieldsroughly 2kg meat.
- Fresh herbs. I used rosemary, thyme, sage and bay leaves.
- Olive oil.
- Parma ham.
- For the gravy trivet: Onion, carrot, celery, garlic and water.
FAQ
Is turkey good for keto?
Of course! Turkey does not contain any carbs, and it is rich in proteins and nutrients (1). As a rule of thumb, the dark meat is higher in fat and calories, while the breast is higher in protein.
Which turkey should I buy?
Buy the best turkey you can afford. It's the same as with most dishes - a high quality meat will taste better. Interestingly, high welfare, free range turkeys cook faster than standard ones.
How do I thaw a frozen turkey?
It's safest to defrost a turkey in the fridge. This will take around 24 hours for every 1.5-2 kg (or 3–4 pounds). Most frozen turkeys will need at least 2, if not 3 days to completely defrost.
How long does a turkey need to come to room temperature?
A turkey should always come to room temperature before it goes into the oven. This way it can cook more evenly. Take it out of the fridge about 2 hours before roasting.
How long does a turkey need to roast?
Cook a high welfare bird for 25 - 30 mins per kilo and a standard turkey 35 - 40 mins per kilo. Mine was 5.6kg and took about 3hrs 10 mins.
How can I check that a turkey is done?
To check it’s done, pierce into the thick part of the turkey breast or thigh with a knife or skewer. If the juices run clear and not pink, it's done.
Even better, use a meat thermometer. Insert it between the breast and the leg. If the temperature is 75 Celsius (165 F), the turkey is done.
Instructions
Step 1: Stuff the turkey. Add the herbs to the cavity but leave enough space for air to circulate.
You can also add optional halved garlic heads and lemon slices.
The vegetables in the trivet are essential for the gravy.
Step 2: Wrap it up. Cover the turkey in aluminium foil for the first couple of hours in the oven so the bird stays juicy.
Step 3: Roast. Turn the turkey upside down for the first hour in the oven. This allows all the fat to season and tenderise the breast.
Remove the foil for the last hour of cooking and baste it with pan juices for a crispy skin.
Step 3: Let it rest. Resting the turkey is an important step. Don't skip it! It makes the meat more succulent and tender because the juices have time to distribute throughout.
I rested mine for 1 hour and covered it with a tea towel so it stayed warm (you can also use aluminium foil). The absolute minimum resting time is 30 minutes.
Using a trivet
I used a trivet for this keto turkey recipe. However, a roasting rack will leave small indentions in the turkey breast. If you cover these with parma ham like I did this is not an issue.
OPTION!! To avoid the indentation stripes on the breast, don't use the rack or trivet. In this case, build a "rack" with the vegetables and rest the turkey on top. Also, DO NOT add water to the bottom of the pan or the turkey breast skin will loosen and tear. You can add water after cooking to loosen the pan juices for the gravy.
However, I still recommend to decorate the breasts with parma ham. I prefer it to the classic pancetta or bacon that is often used. The saltiness of the ham tastes great together with the breast meat and just looks pretty.
Gravy
While the turkey is resting, make the gravy. I'm showing you my trick how I make the gravy thick without any flour or unnecessary carbs.
Serve with
Here are some low carb dishes that go well with a turkey:
- Keto Stuffing
- Low Carb Cranberry Sauce
- Creamy Keto Mashed Cauliflower
- Brussels Sprouts
- Keto Mac and Cheese
- German Red Cabbage
- Green beans & broccoli
- Cornbread
- Almond flour biscuits
... and for dessert, make this Low Carb Christmas Pudding or this Sugar free Christmas Cake!
If you're preparing a keto Thanksgiving, whip up a Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie or this Low Carb Pumpkin Cheesecake.
And after dinner - how about a glass ofSugar Free Keto Eggnog?
Storage
Leftover turkey meat stays more tender and juicy on the bone. If you have plenty of leftovers, wrap the turkey carcass in a damp kitchen towel and cling film. Then, store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
The next day, I cooked the carcass to make a bone broth and made a rich and creamy keto turkey soup!
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Keto Turkey Recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas
Katrin Nürnberger
from Sugar Free Londoner
Make this succulent keto turkey recipe the centrepiece for your low carb Christmas or Thanksgiving feast. This post includes detailed steps and all the tips you need to serve a deliciously tasty bird.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Resting time 1 hour hr
Total Time 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine British
Servings 10
Calories 286 kcal
Note: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 1 x 5.6 kg / 12 pounds high welfare turkey roughly 2kg meat
- 1 bunch rosemary 15g
- 1 bunch thyme 15g
- 1 bunch sage 15g
- 5 bay leaves 1g
- 1 - 2 tablespoon olive oil to baste
- 78 g parma ham approx. 6 thin slices
Gravy Trivet
- Optional turkey giblets
- 1 small onion 60g
- 1 carrot peeled and quartered
- 2 sticks celery chopped in half
- 1 bulb garlic halved
- 1 cup / 240 ml water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 180 C / 160 fan / 350 F.
Check the cavity for giblets. If they are there, remove. Option to put in the roasting tray (minus the bag) for tasty gravy.
Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic to your tray plus water.
Add the herbs to the cavity but leave enough space for air to circulate.
Rub olive oil all over the turkey and into the nooks and crannies. Sprinkle the top and bottom with salt and pepper. Place the turkey on top of the trivet (upside down for the juiciest bird) and cover with tin foil.
COOKING TIMES
Cook a high welfare bird for 25 - 30 mins per kilo, standard 35 - 40 mins per kilo. Mine was 5.6kg and took about 3hrs 10 mins.
If cooking upside down, cook for 1 hour and then turn the right way (breast up) and cover with foil again.
About 1 hour before the end of cooking, remove the foil and baste the turkey with the pan juices. 15 - 20 minutes before the end of cooking add the parma ham.
To check it’s done, pierce into the thick part of the turkey breast or thigh with a knife or skewer. If the juices run clear, it's done.
Lift the turkey from the trivet using a big carving fork. Cover the turkey with a clean tea towel or foil and rest for around 1 hr before carving.
Notes
0g net carbs per portion. Makes 10 servings.
Tips:
Allow the turkey to come to room temperature before baking. Take it out of the fridge at least 2 hours before roasting.
Turn the turkey upside down for the first hour in the oven. This allows all the fat from the bottom to season the breast.
Just remember if using a trivet this will leave small indentions in the breasts. If covering with parma ham you won’t notice them (plus it looks pretty & tastes great).
Cover in tin foil for the first couple of hours so the bird stays juicy. For the same reason, allow to rest with a clean tea towel over it for an hour before carving.
Make the gravy using the pan juices and the vegetables while the turkey is resting. Here's the full recipe for keto gravy
Nutrition
Calories: 286kcalProtein: 43.3gFat: 11.3gSaturated Fat: 2.9g
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