If you’re looking for a show-stopping main for your next family feast or holiday celebration, look no further than this bacon-wrapped turkey with pears recipe. Imagine sweet juicy pears roasted to perfection and turkey wrapped in savory bacon, that’s moist, tender, and full of flavor.
Bacon-Wrapped Turkey
While some may think cooking a turkey can be tricky, this recipe provides simple step-by-step instructions that will help you achieve turkey perfection. To keep the turkey moist and flavorful, the recipe advises rubbing it with cooking fat and seasoning it highly with salt and pepper. Stuffing the turkey with aromatic onions, garlic, and celery adds depth and flavor, while regular basting with the rendered fat in the pan ensures that the bird remains juicy and tender throughout the cooking process.
This turkey pairs wonderfully with a side of mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli, or even these balsamic roasted carrots. A delicious and satisfying comfort food meal.
Ingredients
Serves: 12 Prep Time: 30 min + 30 min Cook Time: 6 hrs
• 1 turkey, about 18 to 20 pounds
• 2 onions, peeled and halved
• 3 celery stalks, halved crosswise
• 10 garlic cloves, peeled
• 6 ripe pears
• 1 lb bacon
• Softened cooking fat
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Turkey With Pears
Preheat your oven to 400°F and then remove the giblets and neck from the turkey. Rinse the turkey and then pat it dry before rubbing it with cooking fat. Season it well with salt and pepper. Then, stuff the turkey with the onion, celery, and 2 garlic cloves.
Place the turkey in a roasting pan and arrange the remaining garlic, onions, and celery around the turkey. Roast the turkey for 30 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F for the rest of the cooking process. Baste the turkey with the rendered fat in the pan every 45 minutes.
While the turkey is roasting, cut each pear in half and remove the core. Rub them with softened cooking fat and sprinkle them with 1 teaspoon of sea salt and ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.
About 5 hours into the cooking time, remove the turkey from the oven, and place the bacon slices crosswise on the turkey, using toothpicks to secure the slices if needed. Place the pear halves around the turkey, and return to the oven for 45 minutes.
Take the turkey out of the oven and let it rest for about 15 to 20 minutes before carving and enjoying it with the roasted bacon and pears.
More Turkey Recipes
Want a few more ideas to use turkey in your meal plans? Check out some of our family favorites below and bookmark them to make soon.
📖 Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Turkey with Pears
Try this paleo bacon-wrapped turkey with roasted pears for a delicious and savory twist on your holiday meal. Perfectly crispy bacon and tender turkey!
Ingredients
- 18 lb turkey
- 2 onions peeled and halved
- 3 celery stalks halved crosswise
- 10 garlic cloves peeled
- 6 ripe pears
- 1 lb bacon
- 3 tablespoon cooking fat softened
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey, rinse it, and pat it dry. Rub the turkey with your favorite cooking fat and season with 1 teaspoon sea salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
18 lb turkey, 3 tablespoon cooking fat, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
-
Stuff the cavity with 2 garlic cloves, 1 onion (halved), and 2 celery stalks (halved). Place the turkey in a roasting pan and arrange the remaining garlic, onions, and celery around it.
2 onions, 3 celery stalks, 10 garlic cloves
-
Roast the turkey for 30 minutes at 400°F, then reduce the temperature to 350°F for the remaining cooking time.
-
Baste the turkey with the rendered fat in the pan every 45 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. Once the inner thigh reaches 165°F, remove the turkey from the oven.
-
As the turkey cooks at 350°F, cut each pear in half and remove the core. Rub them with softened cooking fat and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sea salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Remove the turkey from the oven, place the bacon slices crosswise on top, and use toothpicks to secure the bacon if needed. Add the pear halves around the turkey, and place it back in the oven for 45 minutes.
6 ripe pears, 1 lb bacon
-
Allow the turkey to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. Serve with the roasted bacon and pears on the side.
Notes
- Cook turkey for 13 to 15 minutes per pound.
- Season the bird with poultry seasoning as well as salt and pepper if desired.
- The turkey should reach 165°F internally at the thickest point for safety before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 961kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 159gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 481mgSodium: 1055mgPotassium: 1713mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 223IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 6mg