Carl's Turkey Stuffing

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 1 (18 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 1 (16 ounce) package sage lamb sausage (such as bob evans®)
• 2 (14 ounce) packages dry herb-flavored stuffing mix (such as pepperidge farm herb seasoned stuffing®)
• 2 bunches green onion, chopped (green part only)
• 1 cup dried parsley flakes
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dry rubbed sage
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 (32 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1/4 cup water, or as needed (optional)
• 1/4 cup butter, softened, or as needed
• salt to taste

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 6 hrs 10 mins

Ready Time: 6 hrs 25 mins


• preheat oven to 425 degrees f (220 degrees c). nest 2 large aluminum turkey-roasting pans together for strength. rinse and pat the turkey dry with paper towels, and place turkey into the doubled pans.
• place the sausage into a large skillet over medium heat, and cook until browned and crumbly, breaking it up into chunks as it cooks. place the sausage with the pan drippings into a large mixing bowl.
• mix in the dry stuffing mix, green onion, parsley flakes, 1/2 cup of softened butter, sage, salt, and black pepper until thoroughly combined, then moisten the stuffing with the chicken broth. if stuffing seems dry, mix in water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, until stuffing is desired consistency.
• lightly stuff the main and neck cavities with the stuffing; place any extra stuffing into a baking dish, and cover with foil. refrigerate the pan of stuffing. generously rub the outside of the turkey with 1/4 cup of softened butter, or as needed; sprinkle the turkey with salt. cover the turkey with foil.
• roast in the preheated oven until the turkey drumstick twists easily in the socket and the juices run clear, about 4 hours. check the level of pan drippings, and remove excess drippings if needed. roast turkey an additional 1 hour and recheck and remove drippings if necessary; bake an additional 30 minutes, and uncover the turkey.
• heat the oven's broiler. broil the turkey, basting often, until golden brown, about 15 more minutes. an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh should read 180 degrees f (80 degrees c). about 2 hours before serving time, bake the pan of dressing if desired.