Yucatan-Style Turkey (Pavo Pibil)

A picture of Yucatan-Style turkey on green leaves and surrounded by orange slices.

5 from 11 votes

Yucatan-Style Turkey (or Pavo Pibil) takes Thanksgiving to a whole new level. Incredibly flavorful and absolutely delicious. It makes the perfect centerpiece for your holiday meal!

Prep Time1 1

Cook Time4

Total Time1 5

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: people

Calories: 460kcal

Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

½ cup orange juice
½ cup lime juice
1 3-ounce achiote paste package
½ teaspoon oregano (ground or whole)
½ teaspoon cumin (ground or whole)
2 cloves whole
½ teaspoon black peppercorn
¼ whole cinnamon stick (piece)
10 garlic cloves
¼ onion (chopped)
2 teaspoon salt

For the Turkey:

½ stick butter
1 orange quartered
4 garlic cloves
½ onion quartered
1 14-lb turkey

Instructions

Add all the marinade ingredients to a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Set aside until ready to use.
Remove the gibblets and package stuffed inside the turkey.
Carefully rinse the turkey.
Pat it dry with the paper towel.
Separate the skin from the breast meat.
Add the tabs of butter all over the breast meat.
Stuff with the orange wedges, onion, and garlic.
Tuck wing tips under breast and tie drumsticks loosely together with a kitchen string.
Brush the pibil sauce all over the turkey.
Cover and marinate 4 hour.
Remove turkey from the fridge 1 hour before placing in the oven.
Place rack to the lowest position in the oven.
Preheat oven to 325F.
Loosely cover turkey with foil paper.
Baste every 45 minutes.
Alternate the basting with pan juices and pibil sauce.
Note: Pan juices might evaporate.
After 3 ¼ hours, remove the foil and baste with the pibil sauce.
Bake until the thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 180 degrees F.
About 4 hours total.
Let the turkey sit for 30 minutes after it comes out of the oven before cutting.
Covering the bird while it sits will soften the crispy skin.

Notes

Please note: Traditionally, the turkey is wrapped and cooked in banana leaves. Since they are hard to find, it's ok to omit. Your bird will still be extremely tasty.

COOKING TIMES FOR STUFFED BIRDS COOKED AT 325 DEGREES F:

8 to 12 pounds: 3 to 3 ½ hours
12 to 14 pounds: 3 ½ to 4 hours
14 to 18 pounds: 4 to 4 ¼ hours
18 to 20 pounds: 4 ¼ to 4 ¾ hours
20 to 24 pounds: 4 ¾ to 5 ¼ hours

WHAT SIZE TURKEY TO BUY?

Estimate 1 ½ lbs person. A 12-lb turkey will feed 8 people.

PRO TIP:

Buy your turkey ahead of time so it thawed and ready. Defrost in the refrigerator in a pan to catch the drippings. Allow 24 hours for each 5 pounds.

Nutrition