Best 5 Cider Brined Turkey Breast Recipes

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Elevate your Thanksgiving feast with our cider-brined turkey breast, a succulent and flavorful centerpiece that will impress your guests. This brining technique, using apple cider, imparts a delicate sweetness and moistness to the turkey, while the blend of herbs and spices creates a savory and aromatic crust. Our detailed recipe provides step-by-step instructions for brining, roasting, and basting the turkey breast, ensuring a perfectly cooked and juicy result.

In addition to the cider-brined turkey breast, our article features a collection of delectable side dishes and accompaniments to complement your Thanksgiving meal. From classic favorites like mashed potatoes and stuffing to creative dishes like roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and apples, our recipes offer a variety of flavors and textures to satisfy every palate.

Indulge in the creamy richness of our make-ahead mashed potatoes, prepared with butter, milk, and a hint of garlic. Experience the savory goodness of our classic stuffing, made with a blend of bread cubes, celery, onions, and herbs. For a delightful twist, try our roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and apples, where the sweetness of the apples balances the slight bitterness of the Brussels sprouts.

Complete your Thanksgiving feast with our selection of pies and desserts. Choose from our classic apple pie, featuring a flaky crust and tender apples, or our decadent pumpkin pie, filled with a creamy pumpkin custard. If you prefer a lighter option, our cranberry orange tart offers a refreshing and tangy finish to your meal.

With our cider-brined turkey breast as the centerpiece and our carefully curated side dishes and desserts, your Thanksgiving celebration will be a memorable and delicious occasion.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CIDER-BRINED TURKEY



Cider-Brined Turkey image

My family had been going through some rough times, and when we were finally able to get together for Thanksgiving one year, I made this turkey. It brings back such good memories of joyful family gatherings. -Nicole Keller, Waterford, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 4h20m

Yield 18 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 gallon apple cider or juice
1-3/4 cups kosher salt
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon whole peppercorns
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon crushed juniper berries
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3 bottles (12 ounces each) dark beer, chilled
6 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) chicken broth, chilled
2 turkey-size oven roasting bags
1 turkey (18 to 20 pounds)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a stockpot, combine the first 10 ingredients. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add cold beer and broth to cool the brine to room temperature., Place one turkey-size oven roasting bag inside the other. Place turkey inside both bags; pour in cooled brine. Seal bags, pressing out as much air as possible; turn to coat turkey. Place in a shallow roasting pan. Refrigerate for 18-24 hours, turning occasionally. , Remove turkey from brine; rinse and pat dry. Discard brine. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. Brush with melted butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper., Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 3-1/2 to 4 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts :

APPLE CIDER TURKEY BRINE



Apple Cider Turkey Brine image

Delicious apple cider brining liquid for turkey. Brined turkeys tend to shorten your roasting time by about half an hour. But be sure your bird cooks to an internal temperature of 180 degrees when tested through the thigh. Season and roast according to any of your favorite recipes.

Provided by AngelinaLaRue

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 15m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 gallon water, or as needed, divided
2 cups apple cider
1 cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon fresh sage
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
4 cups ice cubes

Steps:

  • Combine 4 cups water, apple cider, kosher salt, sage, rosemary, thyme, and peppercorns together in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil; cook and stir brine until the salt is just dissolved. Remove from heat; add ice cubes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 23.7 calories, Carbohydrate 5.9 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 0.1 g, Sodium 7607.7 mg, Sugar 4.8 g

CIDER-BRINED TURKEY BREAST



Cider-Brined Turkey Breast image

Apple cider brine makes turkey breast succulent and flavorful. This roast recipe is perfect for a Christmas dinner.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 14h35m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/2 gallon apple cider (64 oz)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup kosher (coarse) salt
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon whole allspice
2 dried bay leaves
1 bone-in whole turkey breast (5 to 6 lb), thawed if frozen
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/4 cup butter or margarine

Steps:

  • Reserve 1 cup of the apple cider; cover and refrigerate. In 6-quart container or stockpot, mix remaining cider, the brown sugar, salt, 3 thyme sprigs, the sage, peppercorns, allspice and bay leaves; stir until salt is dissolved. Add turkey breast. Cover; refrigerate at least 12 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
  • Heat oven to 325°F. Remove turkey from brine; discard brine. Rinse turkey thoroughly under cool running water and pat dry.
  • Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in large shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of breast and does not touch bone. Roast uncovered 1 hour.
  • In 1-quart saucepan, heat reserved 1 cup apple cider to boiling; cook 10 minutes or until reduced by half. Reduce heat to medium. Add syrup and butter; cook until butter is melted and mixture is hot.
  • Brush turkey with about 1/3 cup of the cider mixture. Roast uncovered about 1 hour longer or until thermometer reads 165°F, brushing generously with pan juices and remaining cider mixture every 15 minutes. Cover turkey loosely with foil to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Place turkey on warm platter; cover with foil. Let stand 15 minutes for easier carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 340, Carbohydrate 9 g, Fat 2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 49 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 760 mg

CIDER BRINED TURKEY



Cider Brined Turkey image

Provided by Sandra Lee

Categories     main-dish

Time 15h40m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

3 tablespoons canola oil
1 head garlic, cut in half
2 medium onions, roughly chopped
1 orange, cut into wedges
1/2 gallon apple cider
1/2 cup kosher salt
8 fresh sage leaves
8 sprigs fresh thyme
6 cups water
6 cups ice
One 12-pound turkey, washed and patted dry
One 15-ounce can chicken broth
Gravy, recipe follows
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Pan drippings from roasted turkey
One 15-ounce can chicken broth
4 sprigs thyme, leaves removed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the oil garlic, onions, and orange and saute for 4 minutes. Add the cider and bring to a simmer. Add the salt and herbs and let simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add the water and the ice. Stir until the brine is cooled to at least room temperature. Add the turkey to the pot. The turkey should be completely submerged in the brine. Cover with a lid and put in the refrigerator. Let the turkey brine for a minimum of 12 hours and no more than 24 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
  • Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Tuck the wings under the back portion of the breast. Tie the legs together with piece of butcher's twine. Put the turkey, breast side up, in a roasting pan fitted with a rack. Add the chicken broth to the roasting pan. Put in the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes per pound, about 3 hours. Make sure to baste the turkey every 20 minutes with the pan drippings. If the turkey begins to brown too quickly tent it loosely with foil. Remove the foil the last 30 minutes of cooking. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board or serving platter and let rest at least 15 minutes before carving.
  • Carve the turkey and serve with the Gravy.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook until the flour turns a light brown color, about 3 to 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in the pan drippings and the chicken broth. Add the thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let the gravy simmer until thick, about 5 minutes.

CIDER-BRINED TURKEY



Cider-Brined Turkey image

This delicious cider-brined turkey recipe from Emeril is sure to be a Thanksgiving hit. Try it with his Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Mustard Greens.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Turkey Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 21

4 cups Wood's Cider Mill Boiled Cider
4 cups hard cider
8 cups fresh apple cider
2 cups coarse salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 cup dark-brown sugar
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon whole allspice
4 cinnamon sticks
4 bay leaves
4 sprigs fresh thyme
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 sprigs fresh oregano
2 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 gallon ice water
1 whole (10-to-12-pound) turkey, fresh or frozen (defrosted)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
Freshly ground pepper
2 apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 rib celery, coarsely chopped
1 sweet onion, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 to 3 cups low-sodium store-bought chicken stock or broth, for basting

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot, combine boiled cider, hard cider, fresh cider, 2 cups salt, sugar, peppercorns, allspice, cinnamon, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar and salt dissolve, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; add thyme, rosemary, oregano, and parsley. Let steep for 5 minutes. Add ice water, stir, and let brine cool to room temperature.
  • Rinse turkey inside and out under cool running water. Remove giblets and neck; set aside for gravy or stuffing, if desired. Place turkey in a pot large enough to hold the turkey and the brine or a large, food-safe plastic bag, set in a pot or roasting pan. Cover turkey with brine, make sure both cavities of turkey are filled. Cover or tightly close bag and refrigerate 10 to 12 hours. If using a bag, rotate turkey occasionally to make sure it is evenly brined.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Remove turkey from brine and rinse well under cold running water; pat dry with paper towels inside and out. Place turkey, breast-side up, in a large, heavy-bottomed roasting pan fitted with a rack. Rub all sides with butter, stuffing some underneath the skin. Season inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff turkey with apples, celery, and onion. Loosely tie drumsticks together with kitchen twine. Transfer to oven and roast until skin is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to 325 degrees. Cover turkey loosely with a double layer of parchment paper-lined aluminum foil. Continue roasting, basting once every half hour with 1/2 to 3/4 cup stock, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the largest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone) registers 161 degrees, about 1 hour more.
  • Remove from oven and transfer turkey to a serving platter. Let turkey stand, tented with foil, about 20 minutes before carving.

Tips:

  • Use a fresh turkey breast: Fresh turkey breast will give you the best flavor and texture. If you're using a frozen turkey breast, be sure to thaw it completely before cooking.
  • Brine the turkey breast overnight: Brining the turkey breast in a mixture of apple cider, water, salt, and sugar will help to keep it moist and flavorful. Be sure to use a large enough container to accommodate the turkey breast and the brine.
  • Cook the turkey breast at a low temperature: Cooking the turkey breast at a low temperature will help to prevent it from drying out. The ideal internal temperature for cooked turkey is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the turkey breast is cooked to the proper temperature: Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast. The turkey breast is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let the turkey breast rest before carving: Let the turkey breast rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the turkey breast, resulting in a more tender and flavorful bird.

Conclusion:

Cider-brined turkey breast is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your cider-brined turkey breast turns out perfectly every time.

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