Thanksgiving turkey is a centerpiece of the holiday feast in many households, symbolizing gratitude and family unity. The succulent meat, crispy skin, and aromatic stuffing make it a delightful dish to relish with loved ones. This comprehensive guide offers various mouthwatering turkey recipes, catering to different preferences and levels of cooking expertise. Discover the classic roasted turkey recipe that delivers a golden-brown bird with juicy meat, perfect for traditionalists seeking a timeless Thanksgiving experience. For a unique twist, try the maple-bourbon glazed turkey that imparts a sweet and savory flavor, sure to impress your dinner guests. Health-conscious individuals will appreciate the roasted turkey breast recipe, which provides a leaner option while retaining the delectable taste of turkey. If you're short on time, the turkey breast in an Instant Pot offers a quick and convenient method to cook a succulent and flavorful turkey. Whichever recipe you choose, prepare to indulge in a flavorful and memorable Thanksgiving feast that will leave your family and friends wanting more.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
JUICY ROAST TURKEY
I can't wait to serve this juicy turkey at Thanksgiving-so I make it several times throughout the year. The aroma that wafts through the house as it bakes is almost as mouthwatering as the bird itself. -Terrie Herman, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 3h50m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients. Brush over turkey. Place turkey on a platter. Cover and refrigerate for 1-24 hours. , Preheat oven to 325°. Place turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. Add the onion, celery and parsley to turkey cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Arrange bacon over top of turkey breast. Spread butter over turkey. Pour broth and water into pan., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, 3-1/2 to 4 hours, basting occasionally. Remove turkey from oven. If desired, remove and discard bacon. Tent with foil; let stand 20 minutes before carving. If desired, skim fat and thicken pan drippings for gravy. Serve with turkey.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 535 calories, Fat 29g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 219mg cholesterol, Sodium 594mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 62g protein.
THE ULTIMATE THANKSGIVING TURKEY HACK RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: turkey, kosher salt, dark brown sugar, freshly ground black pepper, granulated garlic, cooking oil, turkey carcas, medium yellow onion, carrots, celery, kosher salt, cooking oil, cold water, bay leaves, rendered turkey fat, all-purpose flour, turkey stock, fresh sage, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper
Provided by Pierce Abernathy
Categories Dinner
Yield 15 servings
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- The day before serving, prepare the turkey for brining. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Set the neck aside for the stock. Cut off the wing tips and set aside with the neck.
- Butcher the turkey into 8 pieces: 2 breasts, 2 legs, 2 thighs, and 2 wings. Set aside the carcass for the stock.
- Combine the salt, brown sugar, pepper, and granulated garlic in a small bowl.
- Set a wire rack inside a baking sheet. Place the turkey parts skin-side up on the rack and generously sprinkle with the seasoning blend. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Make the stock: Preheat the oven to 450˚F (230˚C).
- Place the turkey carcass, wing tips, and neck on a baking sheet with the onion, carrots, and celery. Season lightly with salt and drizzle with oil.
- Roast for 30-45 minutes, or until the carcass and vegetables are deep brown.
- Transfer the roasted vegetables, turkey carcass, and other parts to a large stock pot.
- From the still-warm baking sheet from roasting the carcass, pour any rendered fat into a small bowl. Add about 1 cup (240 ml) of water to the pan and scrape off any browned bits from roasting process, then pour into a separate bowl. Reserve for the gravy.
- Strain the stock, discarding the solids. The stock will keep for 5 days in the refrigerator or for 3 months in the freezer.
- Cover the carcass with cold water. Add the bay leaves and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Continue to simmer (don't boil!) for 3 hours.
- Make the gravy: Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the turkey fat and flour, stirring to combine. Cook the fat and flour together, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes. This is a roux--you are cooking out the raw flour taste and deepening the flavor.
- Gradually add the stock to the roux, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a boil, continuing to stir until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Store in the refrigerator until ready to warm for serving with the turkey. The gravy will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- 2 hours before you are ready to serve the turkey, preheat the oven to 425°F (220˚C).
- Remove the turkey parts from the fridge and drizzle with oil before placing in the hot oven.
- Roast for 30 minutes, then rotate the baking sheet to ensure even browning. Reduce the oven temperature to 400˚F (200˚C).
- Continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast registers 160°F (70˚C).
- Or when the thigh registers 170˚F (77˚C). Start checking after about 20 minutes, removing any parts from the oven as they reach proper temperature so that they don't overcook.
- Once all parts are done, loosely cover with foil and let rest for 5-10 minutes while you warm the gravy.
- Add the gravy and sage, if using, to a medium saucepan over low heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve the turkey with the gravy and your favorite Thanksgiving dishes.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 745 calories, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 39 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 85 grams, Sugar 2 grams
JUICY THANKSGIVING TURKEY
My grandmother and mother passed this recipe on to me. It changes just a little every year, because we've never written it down before. But it is always incredibly juicy and succulent!
Provided by Kirsten
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Turkey Whole Turkey Recipes
Time 3h20m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a turkey roaster with long sheets of aluminum foil that will be long enough to wrap over the turkey.
- Stir together the parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Rub the herb mixture into the cavity of the turkey, then stuff with the celery, orange, onion, and carrot. Truss if desired, and place the turkey into the roasting pan. Pour the chicken broth and champagne over the turkey, making sure to get some champagne in the cavity. Bring the aluminum foil over the top of the turkey, and seal. Try to keep the foil from touching the skin of the turkey breast or legs.
- Bake the turkey in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. Uncover the turkey, and continue baking until the skin turns golden brown, 30 minutes to 1 hour longer. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 555.6 calories, Carbohydrate 4.3 g, Cholesterol 201.2 mg, Fat 24 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 69.3 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Sodium 680.2 mg, Sugar 1.9 g
HOW TO ROAST A THANKSGIVING TURKEY RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: turkey, kosher salt, unsalted butter, fresh sage leaf, garlic, dried thyme, dried rosemary, lemon, medium white onion, large carrot, celery, low-sodium chicken broth, all-purpose flour
Provided by Jody Duits
Categories Dinner
Yield 7 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Defrost the turkey. Place the wrapped turkey on a baking sheet and set on the bottom shelf of the fridge. Defrost for 1 day if fresh, or 4-5 days, if frozen. For a quicker defrost, submerge the turkey in a large sink or cooler filled with cold water and defrost for 30 minutes per pound of turkey.
- 1 day before cooking, brine the turkey. Measure the salt into a small bowl. Set up your work station with kitchen shears, a plastic bag, a fresh baking sheet with a wire rack set over it, and a garbage can nearby.
- Cut the packaging off the defrosted turkey, being careful not to cut the skin or flesh, and remove from the bag. Set the turkey on the baking sheet with the wire rack. Cut off any excess skin around the neck and release the plastic holder securing the legs. Remove any innards and giblets from the cavity and discard. Thoroughly pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
- Sprinkle the salt all over the turkey, making sure to get in the cavity, under the skin, and between any crevices.
- Refrigerate the turkey, uncovered, for 1 day. If brining for more than 1 day, cover the turkey with plastic wrap, then remove for the last day to let the skin dry out before roasting.
- A few hours before serving, prepare the turkey for roasting. Set an oven rack at the lowest height and the other in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325˚F (160˚C).
- Add the butter to a medium bowl. Chop the sage leaves and add to the bowl, along with the garlic, thyme, and rosemary. Mash the herbs into the butter. Set aside.
- Set a roasting pan or single-use aluminum pan over a baking sheet near your work station.
- Trim off the wing tips of the turkey and add to the roasting pan. Cut off any excess skin to expose the wishbone, then use a paring knife to cut out the bone. Use your hands or kitchen shears if the bone is hard to remove. Add to the roasting pan.
- Turn the bird so the legs are facing you. Tug out the plastic holder. Loosen the skin around the breasts, using your fingers to create a pocket. Be careful not to tear the skin. Rub the herb butter under the skin, then all over the rest of the turkey. Make sure to get in any crevices and the cavity.
- Stuff the lemon wedges and ¼ of the onion inside the turkey cavity. Add the rest of the onion wedges to the roasting pan, along with the carrot and celery. Pour the chicken broth into the pan.
- Use the wire rack to rest the turkey over the roasting pan, then pour any accumulated juices from the baking sheet into the pan.
- Set the roasting pan on the lowest oven rack. Place the turkey on the wire rack on the middle oven rack, directly over the roasting pan to catch any juices.
- Roast the turkey for about 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 160˚F (71˚C). Start checking the turkey about 90 minutes into roasting to ensure it does not overcook.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and set the wire rack over a baking sheet to catch any juices. Let rest for about 30 minutes while the internal temperature climbs to 165˚F (74˚C).
- Meanwhile, make the gravy: Remove any solids from the roasting pan. Strain the liquid into a large pot and bring to a boil, then let reduce to your desired consistency. The gravy can be served as is or, for a thicker gravy, ladle a few spoonfuls of stock into a small bowl with the flour. Whisk until no lumps remain, then stir a bit of the flour mixture at a time back into the pot. Return to a boil and let cook for 5 minutes, until thickened. Repeat as needed until the gravy has reached your desired consistency. Reduce the heat to low, whisking occasionally, until ready to serve, or remove from the heat and bring back to temperature before serving.
- Carve the turkey: Transfer the turkey to a large cutting board with a lip to catch any juices. First, release the legs to make carving the rest of the bird easier. Using a sharp knife, cut along where the legs meets the breasts, being careful not to cut all the way through. Then, use your hands to pull the legs and thigh away from the carcass and tuck them under the wings to keep them in place.
- Cut straight down along both sides of the breast bone until you can't cut any further, then cut horizontally near the wing to release the breasts from the carcass.
- Cut all the way through the legs to release from the hip joint.
- Find where the shoulder meets the breast, then cut through that joint to remove the wings, using your hands to pull the wing away if the joint is tough to find.
- Set the carcass aside--you can pick off any remaining meat for leftovers, or make stock from the whole carcass.
- Slice the breasts crosswise, against the grain, then transfer to a serving platter. Cut the drumsticks from the thighs through the joint, wiggling the knife to find an easy release or pulling apart with your hands. Add the drumsticks to the platter. Cut the thigh meat away from the bone, then into bite-size pieces, and add to the platter. Release the flats from the wings by cutting through the joint, pulling apart with your hands if necessary, then add to the platter.
- Rearrange the meat on the platter so the larger pieces of meat with crispy, browned skin are on top. Garnish the platter with sage leaves and lemon wedges, if desired.
- Serve with the warm gravy.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1003 calories, Carbohydrate 39 grams, Fat 74 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 41 grams, Sugar 8 grams
WORLD'S SIMPLEST THANKSGIVING TURKEY
The most-important meal of the year deserves a foolproof recipe for the World's Simplest Thanksgiving Turkey from Food Network Magazine.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 3h10m
Yield 1 turkey
Number Of Ingredients 0
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pull the neck and giblets out of the cavity; ditch the liver and save the rest of the giblets for gravy. Dry the turkey with paper towels, then season inside and out with salt and pepper. Fill the turkey with aromatics like chopped onions, carrots, apples and herbs, then place breast-side up in a roasting pan and brush with melted butter. Tent with foil and roast for 2 hours (for a 10- to 12-pound turkey; add an extra 15 minutes per pound for larger birds). Remove the foil, baste with more melted butter and crank the oven to 425 degrees F. Roast for another hour or until the meat at the thigh registers 165 degrees F. Let rest while you make the gravy.
Tips:
- Thaw your turkey properly: Place the frozen turkey in the refrigerator for 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. Alternatively, thaw the turkey in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes, for 30 minutes per pound of turkey.
- Choose the right roasting pan: Use a roasting pan that is large enough to hold the turkey comfortably, with at least 2 inches of space around the bird.
- Prepare your turkey: Remove the giblets from the turkey and rinse the turkey inside and out. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
- Season the turkey: Rub the turkey inside and out with olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add other seasonings, such as herbs, garlic, or lemon zest.
- Roast the turkey: Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Place the turkey breast-side up in the roasting pan. Roast the turkey for 13-15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh.
- Let the turkey rest: Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the turkey, resulting in a more flavorful and moist bird.
Conclusion:
Roasting a Thanksgiving turkey is a classic culinary tradition that can be enjoyed by family and friends alike. By following these tips and tricks, you can ensure that your turkey turns out perfectly cooked, moist, and flavorful. With a little planning and preparation, you can create a delicious and memorable Thanksgiving feast that everyone will love.
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