Learn how to make the Viral Pillowcase Turkey recipe, plan to bring this dish filled with your homemade meats and the perfect Gift Ideas for the hunters & non-hunters in your family! Join radio hosts Rebecca Wanner aka ‘BEC’ and Jeff ‘Tigger’ Erhardt (Tigger & BEC) with the latest in Outdoors & Western Lifestyle News!
Season 5, Episode 264 Viral Pillowcase Turkey Recipe: The Trendy Thanksgiving & Christmas Turkey Everyone Is TryingIf turkey is on the menu this Thanksgiving, Christmas, or holiday season, there’s a trending cooking method sweeping the internet—perfect for home cooks. Meet the Viral Pillowcase Turkey Recipe, a unique preparation that delivers an incredibly moist, flavorful holiday bird.
What Is the Pillowcase Turkey Cooking Method?According to recent reports, including features in major outlets, home cooks are going viral for marinating their Thanksgiving turkeys inside clean pillowcases. The trend, started by NBC’s Chef Elizabeth Heiskell, involves:
- Slathering a whole turkey with rich butter
- Wrapping the bird in strips of smoky bacon
- Soaking a clean cotton pillowcase in butter, wine, and chicken broth
- Sealing the turkey inside the saturated pillowcase for roasting
Once cooked low and slow, the turkey emerges tender, juicy, and ready for a final crisp in the oven.
This quirky cooking hack has become a holiday sensation from coast to coast, especially among cooks looking for fool-proof turkey methods:
How to Make the Viral Pillowcase TurkeyInspired by Better Homes & Gardens, here’s a simple overview of how to prepare the trending Pillowcase Turkey:
- Butter the Turkey: Generously coat a whole turkey with softened butter.
- Wrap with Bacon: Layer bacon slices over the entire bird.
- Prepare the Pillowcase: Use a clean, 100% cotton pillowcase or cheesecloth. Soak it in a mixture of melted butter, wine, and chicken broth.
- Wrap & Roast: Place the buttered, bacon-wrapped turkey inside the soaked pillowcase. Roast according to weight, basting periodically.
- Crisp the Skin: Remove the pillowcase near the end of cooking and finish the turkey in a hot oven to crisp the bacon and skin.
This method ensures a perfectly moist and flavorful holiday turkey, ideal for family gatherings.
Homemade Meats for Holiday GatheringsWhether you harvest your own game or simply enjoy homemade meats, serving venison, pork, or beef turned into jerky, sausage, and summer sausage makes an impressive and hearty holiday spread.
Build the Ultimate Charcuterie BoardFor gatherings, create a rustic board using any wooden slab or tray. Include:
- Homemade meats (jerky, smoked sausage, summer sausage)
- Cubed cheeses (cheddar, jalapeño cheese, pepper jack)
- Fresh grapes
- Dried fruits
- Mixed nuts
- Crackers & seasoned pretzels
- Dipping sauces like Mickey’s Mustard
This Charcuterie highlights your harvest in a yummy arrangement!
Perfect Gift Ideas for HuntersLooking for a thoughtful gift for the hunter in your life? A tool that helps process and preserve harvested meat is always appreciated.
Top Pick: Cosori Food DehydratorOne of our favorite tools of the year is the Cosori Food Dehydrator—a reliable machine perfect for making large batches of tender, flavorful jerky. We use the 10-tray model (16.2 sq. ft. of drying space), and it easily handles up to 12 lbs of meat at once.
This dehydrator has been a game-changer for us, Tigger & BEC. We purchased it in March 2024 and have used it every two weeks since. It consistently produces perfect jerky—and it makes an excellent gift for both men and women who enjoy processing their own wild game.
Buy it HERE on Amazon.
Note: This is not a paid or sponsored review. We simply love this machine and recommend it from personal experience.
OUTDOORS FIELD REPORTS & COMMENTSWe want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or stories to share about bighorn sheep, outdoor adventures, or wildlife conservation, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call or text us at 305-900-BEND (305-900-2363), or send an email to BendRadioShow@gmail.com. Stay connected by following us on social
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