Best Our Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes For Your Fall Feast Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (2024)

There is more than one way to cook a turkey this holiday season, whether you prefer a classic preparation or a variation on the traditional bird. From roasted to smoked and barbecued to deep fried, these terrific turkey recipes will ensure your Thanksgiving table will never look (or taste!) better.

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1/38

Turkey with Stuffing

Tasty and traditional, Alton Brown’s recipe for turkey and stuffing hits all the right holiday high notes.

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2/38

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

Don’t feel like cooking a whole bird? A turkey breast is a great option if you’re looking for a less complicated preparation

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3/38

Perfect Roast Turkey

Stuffing the turkey with a heap of fresh thyme, a halved lemon, Spanish onion and garlic infuses this roast turkey recipe with a jolt of freshness. To finish it off, brush the outside of the turkey with an herb and garlic mixture, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

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4/38

Turkey Roulade

If you’re hosting a smaller group for the holidays, a turkey roulade is a great alternative to a whole roasted bird. Turkey breast is stuffed with a mixture of pork sausage, herbs and vegetables before roasting, and served sliced with homemade gravy.

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5/38

Herb Roasted Turkey

A succulent, juicy turkey served with homemade roasted onion turkey gravy that’s sure to make jaws drop and stomachs rumble at your festive feast.

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6/38

Lemon-Sage Butter Roasted Turkey

Tucking the lemon and sage butter under the skin infuses the bird with a boost of herb flavour, while helping to keep it moist and juicy in this recipe from Barry C. Parsons of The Rock Recipes.

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7/38

Roasted Turkey with Turkey Meatballs

This year, try skipping bread-based dressing for these turkey meatballs that are cooked stuffing-style inside of the roasting bird.

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8/38

Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Turkey

Spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your loved ones with this turkey hack from Ree Drummond. Have your butcher cut the turkey into six large sections, which speeds up the roasting time. Prepare it the day before your Thanksgiving dinner or any social gathering, and roast for an additional hour before serving.

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9/38

Pioneer-Style Herb Roasted Turkey

Whiz a pad of butter with fresh sage, rosemary, thyme and parsley in the food processor, and then rub it all over the bird for a mouth-watering step that will take your turkey to the next level.

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10/38

Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey

This gorgeously-golden bird stays moist with a pre-roast citrus brine and a serious rub-down of rosemary-citrus butter.

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11/38

Honey Brined Smoked Turkey

Sure, there’s some serious prep time involved, but you won’t believe the mouth-watering results from soaking a turkey in honey-tinged brine for 12 hours before barbecuing the bird with Alton Brown’s hickory “smoke bomb.”

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12/38

Smoked Whole Turkey

Prepping the right wood chips (such as hickory, apple or pecan wood) as a base for slow smoking a turkey is key in this recipe, and you’ll definitely taste the difference.

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13/38

Prosciutto-Wrapped Turkey

Crispy skin is the best, but Giada takes it one step further by covering her bird with a thin layer of salty cured prosciutto. But there’s more delicious flavour once you cut inside. Giada dry-brines her bird with salt, thyme, pepper flakes and lemon zest. The result is mouthwatering bird that has absorbed all that fresh flavour.

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14/38

Giada's Stuffed Turkey Breast

This juicy turkey breast is stuffed with a mixture of sweet sausage, prosciutto, chestnuts, olives and sage for a truly Italian spin on a special-occasion classic.

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15/38

Deep-Fried Turkey

Deep-fried turkey has long been a holiday staple with our neighbours to the south, and Alton Brown walks us through the process step by step with the goal of placing a crispy-skinned, juicy turkey on the table for your holiday feast.

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16/38

Maple-Whiskey Turkey

Make your holiday main anything but ordinary with this maple and whiskey glazed turkey recipe.

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17/38

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast with Pan Gravy

This Rachael Ray recipe gets a burst of earthy flavour by first basting it with bay-infused butter and then again by roasting it on a bed of more bay leaves.

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18/38

Brined Rosemary Crusted Turkey with Pan Gravy

They key to a good brine is the perfect proportions of sugar and salt. Too little and it won’t tenderize your meat. Too much and your meat will be too salty. Thank goodness for this beautiful rosemary brine recipe, which will help you create a perfectly moist and seasoned bird.

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19/38

Brined Herb-Crusted Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy

The secret to this turkey is a 48-hour herb and vegetable brine before going in for a perfectly-timed crispy-skinned roast. Serve with a uniquely flavoured apple cider gravy.

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20/38

Turkey Roulade with Cranberry-Citrus Stuffing and Cream Gravy

If you’d rather spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your loved ones over the holidays, try Valerie’s roulade. Butterflied turkey breasts are wrapped around a sweet and savoury stuffing filled with cranberry, citrus and herbs.

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21/38

Turkey with Herbes de Provence and Citrus

Orange, lemon and Herbes de Provence (a classic French spice blend of savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and oregano) transform an ordinary roast turkey into an elegant centrepiece.

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22/38

Foolproof Turkey Breast

There’s no need to be intimidated by cooking a whole turkey for your holiday feast; Guy keeps things simple with this flavour-packed turkey breast recipe.

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23/38

Roast Turkey with Truffle Butter

Fresh thyme and white truffle butter artfully placed beneath the skin of the bird is the secret to Ina Garten’s elegant roast turkey.

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24/38

Cider Brined Turkey with Maple Cider Glaze

The key to a tender, moist and flavourful bird is making time for brining. The night before your feast, make this sweet and salty mixture of apple cider, brown sugar, salt, peppercorns, garlic, bay leaves, oranges, shallots, parsley, sage and thyme. Let your bird bathe in this concoction overnight for maximum flavour infusion. Then roast as normal and get ready for compliments!

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25/38

Roasted Turkey with Spiced Butter

Dry mustard, cinnamon, nutmeg and coriander lend this holiday turkey recipe an unexpected punch.

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26/38

Roast Turkey

Brining and roasting a turkey is much simpler than you may think, and it makes for a tasty and juicy bird.

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27/38

Tuscan Turkey Roulade

Forgo the whole bird this year and opt for a rolled turkey breast you can slice and serve without worrying about bones. This delectable dish is stuffed with fennel, juniper berries and rosemary, reminiscent of porchetta, another classic Italian roast.

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28/38

Valerie's Deep-Fried Turkey

You’ll need a countertop indoor turkey fryer for this recipe (a simply skillet won’t do), but trust us: this mouthwateringly juicy turkey is worth the extra effort.

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29/38

Crispy Truffled Turkey

Amped up with the addition of truffle salt and black truffle butter, this crispy-on-the-outside turkey main will standout from the rest and makes an eye-catching centrepiece.

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30/38

Cajun Brined Turkey Two Ways

This Southern-style turkey is simply unforgettable. The process starts two days ahead of time with a salty, spiced brine guaranteed to give you a tender, flavourful bird. Break out the barbecue and give your bird even more depth by smoking it on a charcoal grill. Applewood or hickory chips are ideal.

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31/38

Spicy Turkey Breast

The weather outside is chilly, so bring some heat to your holiday table with a spicy Italian turkey. Each turkey breast is filled with spicy cornbread and sausage stuffing that gets a hint of heat from Calabrian chili paste. Tie it all together with butcher’s twine before roasting. Slice into rounds for a beautiful presentation that delivers a little stuffing and turkey with each serving.

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32/38

Apricot Rosemary-Stuffed Turkey Breast

This stuffing combines chopped apricots, rosemary, chopped vegetables and courtons and roasted to perfection.

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33/38

Roast Turkey with Wine Gravy

Any liquid will work in this gravy. Try white wine, grape juice, apple juice, orange juice or chicken stock – they’re all fair game! For even more oomph, spoon in cranberry jelly, mustard, salsa, horseradish or your favourite herb.

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34/38

Mesquite Smoked Turkey with a Peach Glaze

Get out of your roasted turkey rut and try this Southwestern smoked turkey recipe for Thanksgiving this year. Serve it with a sweet and spicy peach glaze instead of gravy, and an assortment of sides.

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35/38

Accidental Make-Ahead Turkey

Get a head start on your Thanksgiving meal prep with this simple turkey recipe from Ina Garten. You won’t have to make extra trips to the supermarket since you’ll find most of the ingredients in your pantry, and there will be plenty of leftovers for sandwiches, soups and more.

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36/38

Make-Ahead Roasted Turkey Breast

Expecting a smaller crowd for Thanksgiving this year? Instead of making an entire bird and spending hours in the kitchen, try this make-ahead turkey breast recipe so you can enjoy more time with your loved ones. Brining makes it extra juicy and flavourful, and it goes from oven to table in under an hour.

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37/38

Turkey and Stuffing

This traditional turkey recipe is enough to feed a crowd and still have leftovers for another day. It’s stuffed with pork sausage and sourdough bread, and served with a simple homemade gravy.

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38/38

Roast Turkey with Mozzarella and Pepperoni Stuffing

Give your Thanksgiving meal a hint of Italian flavours with this tantalizing recipe. Butterflied turkey is roasted and served with pepperoni and mozzarella stuffing and a Marsala-spiked gravy.

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Best Our Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes For Your Fall Feast Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

Oven-Roasted Turkey

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

How do you keep a turkey moist? ›

To ensure moist white meat and completely cooked dark meat, Rodgers offered his favorite piece of advice: Cover the breast tightly with foil — don't just tent it — to slow the cooking in that area. “I call it a foil brassiere,” he said. Remove the "brassiere" for the last hour of cooking, to let the skin brown nicely.

Should you bake a turkey covered or uncovered? ›

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

How long does it take to cook a 5 lb turkey at 325? ›

Regular Oven 325°
WeightCook Time (Unstuffed)Cook Time (Stuffed)
3-5½ lbs.1½-2¼ hrs.2-2¾ hrs.
5½-9 lbs.2¼-2¾ hrs.2¾-3¼ hrs.

How long do you cook a 15 pound turkey at 350 degrees? ›

How long to cook a turkey at 350°:
  1. 8–12 lb. turkey: 1¾–3 hours.
  2. 12–14 lb. turkey: 3–3¼ hours.
  3. 15–16 lb. turkey: 3½–3¾ hours.
  4. 18–20 lb. turkey: 4–4¼ hours.
  5. 21–22 lb. turkey: 4½–4¾ hours.
Oct 25, 2023

What to put in turkey to keep from drying out? ›

You can even place aromatics like herbs in the cavity. You might even rub softened butter between the skin and the meat, which works really well to get crisp skin while the fat protects the meat. But, although my favorite method may seem a bit unorthodox, I find that it makes for a very juicy turkey.

How to stop turkey from drying out? ›

Brine your turkey.

A proper brine will set you up for success and a dry brine takes a little bit of thought but not that much extra work and you'll end up with a turkey that's juicy, flavourful, and has extra crispy skin. We like to dry brine our turkey for around 2 days before.

How do you keep the bottom of a turkey from getting soggy? ›

Fair enough—putting the bird on a makeshift rack, or "foil coil" as the experts at Butterball refer to it—gives the juices a chance to drain, so the bottom of the turkey doesn't get soggy. Surround the turkey with quartered vegetables to roast, and some chicken broth, which will keep the bird tender and juicy.

Do I need to wash my turkey? ›

Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it's virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.

Should you put water in a turkey roasting pan? ›

"Often, consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey."

How often should I baste my turkey? ›

How Often to Baste a Turkey. Most recipes will tell you to baste your turkey every thirty minutes. But our rule of thumb is actually every forty minutes, and here's why. You don't want to open the oven too many times, or else the whole bird will take much long to cook, and that's a huge inconvenience.

How does Bobby Flay roast a turkey? ›

Put the turkey on top of the vegetables, put in the oven and roast in the oven for 45 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Reduce the heat to 350 and continue roasting, basting with the warm chicken stock every 15 minutes until basting with some of the chicken stock every 15 minutes, about 2 to 2 ¼ hours longer.

Should I put butter or oil on my turkey? ›

Because turkey breast is especially lean, I like to rub softened fat beneath the skin just before roasting. It melts and gives the meat extra flavor, richness, and moisture. Duck fat is wonderful for this, and it fortifies the poultry flavors, but unsalted butter works well, too.

How do you get turkey skin crispy and brown? ›

A good cheffy move with almost any big skin-on low-and-slow roast is to start it at high heat before dropping its temperature. This creates the contrast between hot and warm you need to get that skin to immediately start browning and crisping. We're talking 425 degrees for 30 minutes before turning it down to 325.

Do you cook a butterball turkey at 325 or 350? ›

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place roasting rack or foil ring on pan, and place turkey on top. In a small bowl, combine butter, garlic, salt, thyme, and parsley.

What is the best temperature to bake a turkey? ›

What Temperature to Cook the Turkey? Cook your turkey at 325 degrees F for most of the cook time; in the final 45 minutes, remove the cover or foil tent from the turkey, increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F and baste the bird with butter.

What is the best setting for cooking a turkey? ›

Begin by roasting your turkey at 425°F for 40 to 45 minutes before lowering the temperature of the oven to 350°F for the rest of the cooking time. Like the other method, it's a good idea to brush the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with butter or olive oil to help the surface brown and keep the meat moist.

How long to cook at 325 vs 350? ›

In general, you may need to increase the baking time by 10-25% to compensate for the lower temperature.

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