How to Cook Turkey Crown

Cooking a turkey crown is a great option if you want turkey for Christmas dinner, Sunday lunch or a family roast, but do not need a full bird.

A turkey crown is easier to handle, quicker to cook and simpler to carve than a whole turkey. It is ideal for smaller families, smaller ovens, or anyone who wants plenty of white breast meat without dealing with the legs and wings.

Before we get into how to cook turkey crown, it is worth clearing up exactly what a turkey crown is, because this is where a lot of the confusion starts.

What Is a Turkey Crown?

A turkey crown is an on-the-bone turkey breast joint.

To put it simply, it is a whole turkey with the legs and wings removed, leaving the breast meat still attached to the bone.

If you have a turkey breast joint that has been deboned, with no bones at all, what you actually have is a turkey butterfly. Some people call this a boneless turkey crown, but from a butchery point of view, it is really a turkey butterfly.

If you have a boneless turkey joint, read our how to cook turkey butterfly guide instead.

If you have a full bird with legs and wings, read our how to cook a turkey guide.

How to Cook Turkey Crown

A turkey crown is best oven roasted until the breast meat is cooked through, the skin is golden, and the thickest part reaches a safe temperature.

Because the legs and wings have been removed, a turkey crown usually cooks faster than a whole turkey. It is also easier to fit in the oven and easier to carve at the table.

The basic method is simple: season the crown, protect the breast if needed, roast using the weight-based cooking time, check it is fully cooked, then rest before carving.

Turkey Crown Cooking Times

As a general guide, cook turkey crown at Gas Mark 5, 190°C, 170°C fan, or 375°F.

These timings are a guide only. Always check the turkey crown is fully cooked before serving.

How to Cook Turkey Crown Step by Step

1. Remove the turkey crown from the fridge before cooking so it is not fridge-cold when it goes into the oven.
2. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5, 190°C, or 170°C fan.
3. Remove all packaging.
4. Place the turkey crown in a roasting tray.
5. Season the turkey crown with salt, pepper and any herbs or butter you want to use.
6. If using butter, push it gently under the skin or rub it over the breast.
7. If using streaky bacon, lay it over the breast before roasting.
8. Cover loosely with foil if you want to stop the breast browning too quickly.
9. Roast using the cooking time guide above.
10. Remove the foil near the end of cooking so the skin can brown.
11. Check the thickest part of the meat is fully cooked.
12. Rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.

How Do You Know When Turkey Crown Is Cooked?

The safest way to check a turkey crown is cooked is to use a meat thermometer.

The thickest part of the turkey crown should reach at least 75°C. Make sure the probe is in the meat and not touching bone.

If you do not have a thermometer, push a skewer into the thickest part of the meat. The juices should run clear, there should be no pink meat, and the turkey should be steaming hot all the way through.

If the juices are still pink, return the turkey crown to the oven for another 15 minutes, then check again.

Should You Cover a Turkey Crown with Foil?

You can cover a turkey crown loosely with foil for the first part of cooking.

This helps stop the breast from browning too quickly while the meat cooks through.

Remove the foil towards the end of cooking so the skin can brown properly.

Should You Put Butter Under the Skin?

Yes, you can put butter under the skin of a turkey crown if you want extra richness and moisture.

You can use plain butter, or mix it with herbs, garlic, lemon zest, black pepper or a little salt.

Gently loosen the skin over the breast, push the butter underneath, then smooth it out before roasting.

Should You Cover Turkey Crown with Bacon?

Yes, covering a turkey crown with streaky bacon is a great way to add flavour and help protect the breast meat.

We usually make a lattice of dry cured streaky bacon and place it over the top of the turkey crown.

The bacon helps keep the breast covered while it cooks, adds extra flavour, and gives you crispy bacon as a bonus. No complaints there.

Can You Cook Turkey Crown on Stuffing?

Yes, you can sit a turkey crown on a bed of stuffing while it roasts.

This can add flavour and help make the meal feel more complete.

Just make sure everything is cooked through properly before serving. If you are unsure, cook stuffing separately so it is easier to manage and check.

Do You Need to Wash Turkey Crown Before Cooking?

No, you should not wash raw turkey crown before cooking.

Washing raw poultry can splash bacteria around your sink, worktops and kitchen. Proper cooking is what makes turkey safe to eat.

How Long Should Turkey Crown Rest?

Rest turkey crown for at least 15 minutes before carving.

For a larger crown, you can rest it a little longer, loosely covered with foil.

Resting makes the turkey easier to carve and helps the juices settle back through the meat.

How to Carve Turkey Crown

Turkey crown is easier to carve than a whole turkey because you are mainly dealing with breast meat.

Once rested, use a sharp carving knife and slice down along the breast, working with the shape of the bone.

You can either carve slices directly from the crown, or remove each breast from the bone first and then slice across the meat.

What to Serve with Turkey Crown

Turkey crown works with all the classic roast dinner and Christmas sides.

Serve it with roast potatoes, stuffing, pigs in blankets, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, cabbage, peas, cranberry sauce, bread sauce and plenty of gravy.

Leftovers are brilliant in sandwiches, curries, pies, salads, toasties and cold turkey and chips.

Browse our turkey range, pigs in blankets, or Christmas meat range for more ideas.

Turkey Crown Cooking Tips

• Make sure you have a turkey crown, not a boneless turkey butterfly.
• Do not wash raw turkey before cooking.
• Use the weight of the crown to work out the cooking time.
• Cover loosely with foil if it is browning too quickly.
• Add butter under the skin if you want extra richness.
• Use streaky bacon on top for flavour and moisture.
• Check the thickest part reaches at least 75°C.
• Rest before carving.

Final Thoughts

Cooking a turkey crown is simpler than cooking a whole turkey.

It cooks more quickly, fits more easily in the oven, and is easier to carve. That makes it a great choice for Christmas dinner, smaller families, smaller ovens and anyone who mainly wants the white breast meat.

Use the cooking time guide, check the thickest part properly, and rest before carving.

Happy roasting.

FAQs

How do you cook turkey crown?

Roast turkey crown at Gas Mark 5, 190°C, or 170°C fan, using the weight-based cooking time as a guide. Check the thickest part reaches at least 75°C before serving.

How long does turkey crown take to cook?

As a guide, cook turkey crown under 4kg for 20 minutes per kg plus 70 minutes. For 4kg and over, cook for 20 minutes per kg plus 90 minutes.

What temperature should turkey crown be cooked to?

Turkey crown should reach at least 75°C in the thickest part before serving.

What is a turkey crown?

A turkey crown is an on-the-bone turkey breast joint. It is basically a whole turkey with the legs and wings removed.

Is a boneless turkey crown the same as a turkey butterfly?

From a butchery point of view, a boneless turkey crown is usually better described as a turkey butterfly. A true turkey crown is breast meat left on the bone.

Should you cover turkey crown with foil?

You can cover turkey crown loosely with foil for the first part of cooking, then remove the foil near the end so the skin can brown.

Can you put bacon on turkey crown?

Yes, streaky bacon works well on turkey crown. It adds flavour and helps protect the breast meat while cooking.

How long should turkey crown rest?

Rest turkey crown for at least 15 minutes before carving.