Over the years, the team at ATBBQ has cooked hundreds of turkeys. We’ve cooked whole turkeys, we’ve cooked turkeys that have been trimmed into quarters, and we've cooked spatchcocked turkeys. Every method has its place, but we have to admit: we prefer a spatchcock turkey.
Yes, “spatchcock” is a funny and mysterious-sounding word. But don’t let that intimidate you. It’s an easy process that has multiple benefits, including more even cooking, reduced cooking time, crispier skin, and a layout that makes the turkey easier to carve.
Below is a comprehensive step-by-step guide for spatchcocking turkey, including how to season, cook, and serve the bird.
What is Spatchcocking?
Preparing a spatchcock turkey simply means removing the backbone and pressing the turkey down flat. This allows you to spread the turkey out so that the breasts, thighs, and legs all cook at an even rate by maximizing the surface area exposed to the warm air produced by an oven or smoker, which is something you won’t get when cooking a whole turkey prepared the old-fashioned way.
Spatchcocking also exposes all of the skin at once, resulting in more crispy skin. And the fat will render much better from the opened-up bird, allowing the fat to more effectively baste the meat during the cooking process.
Recommended Tools for Spatchcocking a Turkey
- ATBBQ Poultry Shears - These shears have a sharp 4” stainless steel blade and slip-resistant handle, making breaking down turkey practically effortless. The handle is also removable for easy cleaning.
- Victorinox 6" Semi-Stiff Curved Boning Knife - The curved blade on this knife provides an optimal working angle, enhancing both maneuverability and accuracy. And the semi-stiff build strikes the perfect balance between flexibility and stability which makes it great for cutting around and through the many bones and joints in turkey.
- Boos Block Maple Cutting Board - This fully reversible cutting board has plenty of space to hold a full turkey, measuring 24" x 18" x 1.5". And according to researchers at the University of Illinois, when used with the Boos Block Mystery Oil and Board Cream, this cutting board not only reduces bacterial adhesion but also absorbs any remaining fluid into the wood fibers, where the naturally occurring enzymes in the Northern Hard Rock Maple kill any remaining bacteria.
- ATBBQ Nitrile Gloves - ATBBQ Nitrile gloves help prevent cross-contamination while protecting guests who may have latex allergies.
Preparing to Spatchcock a Turkey
- Unwrap the turkey, remove the giblets and neck, and set them aside.
- Place your turkey breast side down on a cutting board large enough to accommodate the turkey.
- A raw turkey can be slippery, so we recommend patting it dry with paper towels and then setting a damp kitchen towel under your cutting board to keep it from sliding around.
How to Spatchcock a Turkey
- Using your poultry shears, cut right along one side of the backbone, then turn the turkey around and repeat on the other side to remove it.
- Using your poultry shears or boning knife, you can now remove the ribs, wishbone, and any other loose bones along the spine. If you’re interested in making rich and delicious turkey stock, set the backbone aside for later.
- Once the backbone, ribs, and wishbone have been removed, you need to focus on the breast bone. Using your poultry shears, make a cut about an inch in at the top of the bone. This will reduce the force needed when pressing down on the breast to lay the bird flat.
- With the breastbone cut, place the palms of both hands on either side and press down until you hear and feel the breastbone crack.
How to Season a Spatchcocked Turkey
One of the easiest and most effective ways to season a spatchcocked turkey is with an ATBBQ turkey kit. Each kit includes a brining solution and a seasoning rub specially curated to combine your favorite holiday flavors. For example, the ATBBQ Traditional Spatchcock Thanksgiving Turkey Kit features the Sweetwater Spice Classic Holiday Turkey Bath and Cattleman’s Grill Ranchero seasoning rub. It blends holiday staples like apple, brown sugar, sage, rosemary, and orange peel together for a truly classic flavor profile.
In addition to acting as a key seasoning enhancer, brining also adds moisture to your turkey to keep it from drying out during the cooking process. And some people also choose to inject their turkey with butter or a flavorful marinade to achieve even deeper flavor penetration.
Fortunately, spatchcocking a turkey makes it easier to apply a seasoning rub by reducing the number of times you have to turn or flip the turkey. The biggest key is to season under the skin so that the rub comes in direct contact with the meat and is also on top of the skin. For more a more detailed breakdown, visit our guide on How to Season a Turkey Before Cooking for Maximum Flavor.
How to Cook a Spatchcocked Turkey
- Preheat your Yoder Smokers YS640 or oven to 325ºF.
- Lay the bird flat on a foil-lined sheet pan and place the pan in the cooker.
- Cook the turkey until all the meat has reached an internal temperature of 160ºF. At 325ºF, a 12-pound turkey will take about 2 hours to cook.
- Allow the turkey to rest for 20-30 minutes before carving.
For more detailed versions of some of our favorite spatchcock recipe ideas from ATBBQ Staff Chef Tom Jackson, check out:
How to Carve and Serve a Spatchcocked Turkey
The work you put into spatchcocking the turkey will come in clutch once again, by making the carving process much easier. The turkey should rest nicely on a cutting board without sliding or rolling around.
The easiest way to carve a spatchcocked turkey is to start by removing the breast bone and then slicing the breast meat. From there, you’ll remove the legs and thighs before moving onto the wings and then finally removing any remaining chunks of meat.
On our How to Carve a Turkey page, Chef Tom provides a full video breakdown and recommendations for equipment to use when carving a turkey.
More Turkey Tips from ATBBQ
Want more tips on how to perfectly prepare a delicious spatchcocked turkey? ATBBQ has plenty of insights and pointers that we’ve learned over the years and continue to use when preparing holiday meals for our families. Subscribe to our email newsletter, where we share every new recipe video, check out some of our all-time favorite turkey recipes, and take a look at our turkey kits and accessories.
