How Long To Cook A Turkey Crown Per Lb

Roast Turkey Crown, an excellent recipe for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Juicy, melting in your mouth, and a nice crispy skin, this turkey crown is a great option if you are not cooking for a large number of people, and don't need a whole turkey. Plus, it's so easy to make, and ready in about 2 hours.

A carved roast turkey crown on a white plate

It's that time of the year when we start putting together the best menus for the most awaiting holidays of the year: Thankgiving and Christmas. And roast turkey is the centerpiece on both occasions. If you are hosting a big party, or have a large family, then whole roast turkey is the answer. Otherwise, this crown turkey is the next best thing.

Plus, less leftovers. Not that I mind leftovers, I can think of lots of leftover recipes that are absolutely fabulous, but there is really no point in buying a huge beast for just a few people. Not to mention that the cooking time probably doubles or triples. So, less hassle, and less money spent too. Or, another option, a whole roast chicken, I have some good tips for it too.

And if you want a good turkey crown, then you definitely need a good-quality meat. Your local butcher's is always your best bet, fresh meat that comes from reliable sources, and I can guarantee you, better taste too. And if we are talking about such an important dinner, then good-quality food is a must.

So, how do we cook a turkey crown? Popping it in the oven and hoping for the best won't really work, so I'll tell you a few tricks how to get the best roast every single time.

Collage of 3 photos to show how to make roast turkey crown

HOW TO ROAST A TURKEY CROWN

The first question should probably be what exactly is a turkey crown. Well, it's the turkey breast still attached to the bone with the legs and wings removed. The cooked meat is white and succulent, and so delicious.

COOKING TIME FOR A TURKEY CROWN

Set at a temperature of 190 degrees Celsius (374 Fahrenheit), a turkey crown that has less than 4 kilos (8.8 pounds) is best cooked for 20 minutes per kg plus 70 minutes. If over 4kg, then it's 20 minutes per kg plus 90 minutes. Easy, right?

My turkey crown weighted about 2.2 kg, so I cooked it for about 2 hours (20+20+70+10 more minutes, to be on the safe side). I think it would have been fine cooked only for 1 h 50 minutes, but better safe than sorry, right?

I can't tell you how I dread food poisoning, mainly because I have 2 little girls who have enough energy to wear a whole army out. On my best days I drop nearly dead with exhaustion at night, now imagine being sick and having to run after them. No, thank you! I'd rather cook the meat for a bit longer, and know for sure it's done properly!

Once it's seasoned, cover the turkey breast with kitchen foil and roast it for one hour, then remove the foil, baste it well, and return to the oven for 25 minutes. Baste again, then leave to roast for a further 25 minutes – by now the skin is nice and crispy, and the meat is tender.

A roast turkey crown on a white plate flanked by green veggies

HOW TO SEASON THE TURKEY

Now, I'm not saying we should go for bland food, but less is usually more. A good-quality turkey crown is already flavourful, it just needs some basic seasoning for a bit of a kick. The usual suspects here: salt, pepper, and some brilliantly red sweet paprika. When it roasts, the skin will get a deep brown colour, which is amazing.

Using butter helps keeping the turkey moist, so I definitely recommend it. Place a few cubes of butter under the skin – just loosen it up a bit without removing the skin, then place a few more cubes on top of the crown too. That should be quite enough, especially that the turkey will release its juices too.

LEFTOVER TURKEY RECIPES

Right, so the turkey crown is done, the feast is over, and you are left with some leftovers now. Not to worry, I've got you covered. Check out these fantastic recipes I have for you:

Leftover Turkey Rice Soup

Leftover Turkey Hand Pies with Puff Pastry

Quick Leftover Turkey Curry

Healthy Leftover Turkey Wraps with Cranberry Sauce

I also got quite a few leftover chicken recipes, in which case you can just replace it with leftover turkey, the cooking time won't change at all, and the taste will be pretty similar.

Leftover Chicken, Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna

Leftover Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Indian Leftover Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta

Leftover Roast Chicken and Noodle Soup

2 turkey slices and green on a white plate and gravy being pour over from a gravy bowl

If you've liked my ROAST TURKEY CROWN or any other recipe on the blog then don't forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can alsoFOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I'm getting up to.

A roast turkey crown on a white plate with green veggies on the side

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: International

Keyword: turkey crown recipes

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 192 kcal

1 turkey crown (2.2 kg, 4.85 lbs)
50 g butter (1/4 cup)
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp paprika

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius (374 Fahrenheit).
Cut the butter into cubes, then carefully loosen the skin on the turkey breast without removing it, and push a few cubes of butter inside.
Season the top with salt, pepper and paprika, and add a few more cubes of butter.
Add the turkey to a roasting tray, cover the turkey crown with kitchen foil, and roast in the oven for 60 minutes.
Remove from the oven, baste well, then leave to roast for 25 minutes uncovered.
Baste, and return to the oven for a further 25 to 35 minutes, until the turkey is cooked through, and and the juices run clear.
Leave to rest for 15-20 minutes, then carve.

Check out the post for more tips on how to roast the perfect turkey crown depending on the size of it and oven temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Roast Turkey Crown

Amount Per Serving

Calories 192 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 88mg 29%

Sodium 521mg 22%

Potassium 322mg 9%

Carbohydrates 1g 0%

Fiber 1g 4%

Sugar 1g 1%

Protein 28g 56%

Vitamin A 398IU 8%

Calcium 20mg 2%

Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.