Turkey Injected With Ranch Dressing Recipes

RANCH TURKEY

Steps:

• Allow the turkey to come to room temperature for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Remove 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning from 1 packet and reserve. In a small bowl, mix together 1 stick (8 tablespoons) of butter with the remaining ranch seasoning from both packets until well incorporated.
• Arrange the carrots, celery and onions in the bottom of a roasting pan, then put a roasting rack over them. Put the turkey on the rack and spread the ranch butter all over and underneath the skin. Season generously with salt and pepper. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and put the turkey inside to roast.
• In the meantime, add the maple syrup and 2 cups of chicken stock to a saucepan, then stir in the 2 tablespoons reserved ranch seasoning. Bring to a simmer just to warm through and incorporate the seasoning. Roast the turkey, basting with this liquid every 20 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 160 degrees F (allow about 1 hour of cooking time for every 3 pounds of turkey). Tent with a piece of aluminum foil and let rest at least 30 minutes. (There will be carryover cooking and the temperature will rise to 165 degrees F while resting.)
• For the gravy, strain the juices left in the bottom of the roasting pan into a fat separator and pour the fat off the top. Put the roasting pan on a burner on top of the stove over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and whisk in the flour, cooking for a minute. Slowly whisk in the remaining 2 cups chicken stock along with any remaining braising liquid and the juices from the roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper and serve alongside the turkey.

TURKEY INJECTED WITH RANCH DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine the mayonnaise, milk, parsley, dill, vinegar, salt, garlic powder, garlic salt and pepper in a blender and process until smooth, about 2 minutes. Measure out 3/4 cup of the ranch dressing and set the remainder aside for serving at the table.
• Fill a turkey injector with the 3/4 cup ranch dressing and inject 2 tablespoons of the dressing into each thigh of the turkey, 1 tablespoon into each drumstick and 3 tablespoons into each breast. Let the turkey stand at room temperature for 30 minute to let the dressing soak into the meat. Discard any of the unused ranch dressing in the injector (it has been in contact with the raw turkey).
• Mix together the olive oil and melted butter in a small bowl. Brush the turkey with the oil mixture and then sprinkle with salt.
• Preheat an oil-less fryer for cooking (alternatively, follow oven-roasting directions below). Place the turkey breast-side up in the fryer with the legs in the deepest part. Cook the turkey until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reaches 160 degrees F, about 2 hours. (The breast cooks slower than the legs in the oil-less fryer; carryover cooking will cook it the rest of the way through.) Remove the basket insert with the turkey and let the bird rest at least 30 minutes over a roasting pan. Remove the turkey from the basket, carefully dislodging any parts of the turkey that are touching the basket so the skin does not tear. Carve the turkey and serve with the reserved ranch dressing or gravy.
• Alternatively, roast the turkey in the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Inject the turkey with the dressing as directed above and set it in a roasting pan. Roast, basting every 30 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted in the thigh reaches 160 degrees F, about 3 hours (the carryover cooking will cook it the rest of the way through). Transfer to a carving board and let rest 30 minutes before carving.