Best 2 Bacon Wrapped Brown Sugar Bourbon Turkey Recipes

5-ALARM BACON-WRAPPED TURKEY

Steps:

• For the 5-alarm dry brine: Mix together the salt, sugar, pepper, sage, chile powder, fennel seed, garlic powder, onion powder and red pepper flakes. If not using right away, store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
• For the turkey: Measure out 1 tablespoon of the 5-Alarm Dry Brine per 5 pounds of turkey (a 12-pound turkey will take 2 1/2 tablespoons). Rub the measured brine all over the exterior of the turkey. Add an additional tablespoon of the brine to the inside of the bird, rubbing it on the underside of the breast.
• Let the turkey sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place one strip of bacon down the center of the turkey breast, making sure that at least 1 inch of the bacon hangs over the breast on both the neck and cavity side. Continue to layer the bacon vertically along the breast of the turkey with a slight overlap, making sure to maintain the overhang on both ends. The bacon on the far edges of the breast may not reach the end of the cavity, so tuck those pieces in the crease between the thigh and the body.
• Gather all of the bacon ends on the neck side and pierce the ends through with a single sprig of rosemary. Use the same rosemary to pin the bacon to the breast near the wishbone. On the cavity side use 1 onion cut into quarters to secure the bacon against the back side of the breast.
• Arrange the carrots, celery and remaining sprigs rosemary in a roasting pan and rest a rack on top. Carefully transfer the turkey to the rack.
• Roast the turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (avoid touching bone) registers 160 degrees F, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. (Upon resting, the temperature should raise to a minimum of 165 degrees F.) If the turkey is browning too quickly, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and tent the pan with aluminum foil. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.

BOURBON AND BROWN SUGAR GLAZED TURKEY

Steps:

• Dry brine:
• Mix salt, pepper, granulated sugar, and paprika in a small bowl. Arrange turkey on a cutting board breast side up. Remove legs (keeping thigh and drumstick intact) by slicing through the skin that joins breast and leg, then bend leg down to expose joint and cut completely through the joint. Try to leave as much skin on breast as possible. Place legs on a large rimmed baking sheet. Set aside neck and giblets in cavity for making gravy. Arrange turkey on baking sheet with legs and generously sprinkle legs and turkey all over with dry brine, patting to adhere. Chill, uncovered, at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.
• Confit legs:
• Wipe off turkey legs (do not rinse) and place in the smallest heavy pot that will accommodate legs in a single layer (it's okay if they overlap slightly). Add garlic and rosemary. Pour in oil just to barely cover legs. Heat over medium until a few bubbles begin to appear. Cover, reduce heat, and very gently simmer until meat is tender (the meat on the drumstick will have pulled away from the bone), 3-3 1/2 hours. Let turkey thighs cool in oil until just warm, about 2 hours. Chill at least 2 hours but preferably longer. Meat will firm up the colder it gets, making it less likely to fall apart when glazing.
• Breast and assembly:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Place turkey on a wire rack set inside a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, rotating baking sheet once, until golden brown all over, 35-40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring brown sugar, bourbon, soy sauce, butter, and paprika to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced by about half and thick enough to coat a spoon but not syrupy, 6-8 minutes. Reduce heat to very low and keep glaze warm until ready to use.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and roast turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast registers 100°F-110°F. Then roast, basting every 10 minutes or so, making sure to lightly coat the entire breast each time (but save some glaze for the legs) and rotating baking sheet occasionally, until thermometer registers 150°F, 60-75 minutes total after reducing oven temperature to 325°F. Transfer breast to a cutting board and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving.
• Increase oven temperature back to 425°F. Remove turkey legs from oil, wiping off excess, and place on a clean rimmed baking sheet; discard or chill cooking oil (skim off juices and use them in gravy; use oil for cassoulet or another confit).
• Carefully move a rack to upper third of oven and roast legs until skin is golden brown and fat is rendered, 15-20 minutes. Then roast, basting every 3 minutes or so with remaining glaze, until legs are well coated, 10-12 minutes. Arrange on a platter with sliced breast for serving.
• Do Ahead
• Legs can be cooked 1 day ahead. Keep chilled in oil.