Cola Roast Turkey

7 Reviews

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 4 hr
Ready In: 4 hr 25 min

“Want a delicious, tender, juicy and BEAUTIFUL turkey? Try what my Grandpa taught me when I was just a little girl. I've ALWAYS made my turkey this way and it always turns out great. And besides, you get LOTS of wide eyed looks! The idea behind the cola is that the acid in the soda helps to tenderize the bird, the sugar and caramel gives it just a hint of sweetness, and the coloring helps to give the bird a beautiful roasted color. Enjoy!! ” - by Leslie Eickhoff-Davis

Ingredients

1 (16 pound) whole turkey - thawed, neck and giblets removed
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups cola-flavored carbonated beverage (such as Coke®)
salt and ground black pepper to taste

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Metric US

Original recipe yields 1 whole turkey

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Wash the turkey well, and pat dry with paper towels. Use your hands to slather the whole turkey, front and back, with butter. Make sure to butter the wing tips and leg ends. Place the turkey into a roasting pan, and pour the cola over the turkey. Sprinkle the whole turkey with salt and black pepper.
Roast the turkey for 4 to 5 hours, checking for doneness after 4 hours. Baste the turkey every 30 minutes with the turkey drippings. If the breast skin browns too quickly, cover it with aluminum foil. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition

Amount Per Serving (12 total)

Calories
993 cal
50%

Fat
50.1 g
77%

Carbs
4.6 g
1%

Based on a 2,000 calorie diet

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Reviews (7)

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chezgery

Nov. 24, 2010

"Great recipe. In Louisiana ,down on the Bayou Teche we did this a lot, sometimes with Cola, then with 1/2 Cola and 1/2 Apple cider or even sometimes with Root beer. Try using a reduction to about 1/2..." See more the amount of Cola or other as a baste. Note: never use a DIET Cola or DIET root beer ! Fantastic on ham !"

Wayne

Nov. 23, 2010

"Love it! I tried it out before turkey day just to make sure it was tasty on a smaller bird and it worked out great. Highly recommended!..." See more"

Carolyn

Jan. 11, 2011

"I roasted a turkey using this recipe last night! My family & I were very happy with the results! This was probably one of the most tender & juicy turkeys we've ever had! In addition, the beautiful gol..." See moreden brown color made for a great presentation! I followed the recipe as written & wouldn't change a thing! Thanks for posting this recipe! It will be a "family tradition" from now on!"

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