This Closed Oven Turkey And Gravy recipe is an unbelievably easy and amazingly reliable way to cook your turkey!

It’s Turkey time!!

First and foremost, because I love you, and I don’t want the fire department to show up at your front door, make sure you remember to run your oven’s self-clean cycle several days before you make this recipe!

Because of the cooking method, you are going to want a very clean oven before you tuck in Tom for his long nap! Read on my friend… this will all make sense very soon.

At first, this recipe starts with most of the usual suspects: chopped onion, apple, celery, and some whole fresh herbs. All stuffed in the cavity (and around the sides of the turkey) along with a stick of butter – of course! Then he gets rubbed down with some oil and sprinkled with some salt and pepper.

(Full disclosure here: I also sprinkled the bird with some fresh thyme and finely chopped sage but honestly it’s overrated. Because you cook this bird on such a high temperature the herbs essentially get charred and really don’t add any flavor so it’s really unnecessary.)

Settle and stuff the bird into the roasting pan, just like you’d expect (sorry for the raw bird images, probably my least favorite pictures on the blog but hey, if it will help out the team…What can I say? I’m a team playa’!)

Now here’s when it gets really interesting. Tightly cover and cook Tom for an hour at 500 degrees. Then turn the oven off. Yup!!! Not even kidding. Crazy right!??

But whatever you do – don’t open that oven door!!! Thus the name “Close Oven Turkey.” Let it sit in there for another 5 hours or so. I know what you’re thinking. Yes, really. I was a skeptic too – I have tried to tamper with this recipe and the results were not good.

This is my in-laws’ tried and true recipe. They’ve been roasting their turkey this way for over 30 years. And it’s always super-moist, flavorful and soo yummy!! You don’t mess with that kind of track record. For real people.

Step away from the oven, stay the course…it will all be delicious I promise!

(Maybe I should consider offering a support group number around the holidays for all my Closed Oven Turkey making friends?? The struggle is real – trust me I know.)

If you can persevere and stick with this plan, you will get a golden, juicy bird every time!

Of course, gravy is absolutely essential to finish any classic Turkey dinner. Do me a huge solid? For the love of Christopher Columbus, don’t buy gravy from the store!!

Seriously, think about it…Tom just spent 6 hours in the sauna with all his veggie and herb friends, roasting away to provide you with the foundation for heaven’s elixir (AKA gravy).

WHY WOULD YOU NOT USE IT?? I promise you can do this!

Start with a base of the turkey drippings in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Then add in these secret ingredients: a quick slurry of flour and water (yep I said “slurry,” and sometime in the near future I will also say “roux”), white wine, and salt and pepper if it’s needed. Simmer for a good 15 minutes total and then stand back and behold your masterpiece!

There’s nothing in the world like homemade white wine turkey gravy!! I could literally drink it – and may have on occasion.

This Closed Oven Turkey and Gravy is a foolproof, cure-all, silver bullet of a recipe. Your turkey and gravy game just got elevated big time my friend.

Don’t be surprised if suddenly your friends and family proclaim you as all-time designated Thanksgiving dinner cook! You’re welcome, and I’m sorry!

Happy Turkey Day!!

Oh and if you’re looking for everything else that goes along with the Turkey (plus a smidge of entertainment), check out our Friendsgiving Supper Club post for the entire meal!

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