Best 4 Lemon Pepper Turkey With Bacon Gravy Recipes

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# Introducing Lemon Pepper Turkey with Bacon Gravy: A Culinary Delight

Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with the exquisite Lemon Pepper Turkey with Bacon Gravy, a dish that harmonizes zesty citrus, aromatic herbs, crispy bacon, and succulent turkey, creating a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more. This comprehensive guide presents not only the star recipe but also an array of delectable accompaniments, transforming your meal into a culinary masterpiece. Embark on a culinary journey as we unveil the secrets behind this exceptional dish, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience.

## Featured Recipes:

**1. Lemon Pepper Turkey**: Discover the art of roasting a perfectly tender and flavorful turkey, infused with the vibrant zest of lemon, the warmth of pepper, and a medley of aromatic herbs. This recipe guides you through every step, from preparing the brine to achieving a golden-brown, crispy skin.

**2. Bacon Gravy**: Elevate your turkey to new heights with this rich and savory bacon gravy. Rendered bacon fat, aromatic vegetables, and a touch of herbs blend together to create a luscious sauce that complements the turkey perfectly.

**3. Garlic Mashed Potatoes**: Experience the ultimate comfort food with these creamy and fluffy mashed potatoes, infused with roasted garlic for an extra layer of flavor. Learn how to achieve the perfect texture and taste that will delight your palate.

**4. Cranberry Sauce**: Prepare a tangy and sweet cranberry sauce that bursts with flavor. This classic accompaniment adds a pop of color and a burst of tartness to balance the richness of the turkey and gravy.

**5. Roasted Green Beans**: Complete your meal with roasted green beans, tossed with olive oil, garlic, and a hint of lemon zest. This simple yet flavorful side dish adds a touch of freshness and crunch to your plate.

**6. Pumpkin Pie**: Indulge in the ultimate fall dessert with this classic pumpkin pie. A creamy and spiced pumpkin filling nestled in a flaky, golden crust creates a perfect ending to your culinary journey.

Get ready to impress your family and friends with this exceptional Lemon Pepper Turkey with Bacon Gravy and its accompanying recipes. Each dish is carefully crafted to complement the other, creating a harmonious and satisfying meal that will leave a lasting impression.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

LEMON-HERB TURKEY WITH BAY BUTTER AND GRAVY



Lemon-Herb Turkey with Bay Butter and Gravy image

Bay leaves, rosemary, and lemon zest are tucked under the skin of this turkey and gently perfume the meat with a fragrant, floral flavor. Then the roast turkey is set on fresh bay branches for a dramatic presentation.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Turkey Recipes

Time 3h45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
Flaky sea salt, such as Jacobsen
6 fresh bay leaves
1 bunch fresh rosemary, woody stems removed
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds), preferably heritage, neck and giblets reserved for stock, patted dry
Peeled zest of 2 lemons, plus 3 whole lemons
1 bunch fresh thyme
2 heads garlic, halved crosswise
3 cups turkey stock or low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
Freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine butter and 3 tablespoons salt. Lightly pound bay leaves and two-thirds of rosemary in a mortar-and-pestle (or roll over a few times in a sealed plastic bag with a rolling pin), keeping leaves intact.
  • Using your fingers, separate turkey skin from breasts and legs. Rub half of butter mixture under skin. Tuck bay-rosemary mixture and lemon zest evenly under skin. Season both cavities with salt; stuff with all but 3 sprigs thyme and all but 3 sprigs remaining rosemary. Rub outside of turkey all over with remaining butter mixture. Transfer turkey to a roasting pan lined with a rack and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 24 hours and up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature 1 to 2 hours before roasting.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack in lower third. Prick whole lemons all over with the tines of a fork. Stuff 2 lemons into larger cavity, along with 1 head garlic; tie legs with kitchen twine. Stuff remaining lemon into neck cavity. Pour 1 cup stock into pan. Add remaining 1 head garlic.
  • Roast turkey 1 hour. Continue roasting, basting every 20 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh (near but not touching bone) registers 165°, 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours, 30 minutes more, depending on size. If pan becomes dry during roasting, add more stock, 1/2 cup at a time. Transfer turkey to a carving board or platter; let stand at least 20 minutes before carving.
  • Meanwhile, remove rack from pan. Tilt pan and skim excess fat from drippings (or use a fat separator). Place pan across 2 burners. Carefully remove lemon from neck cavity and squeeze 1 to 2 tablespoons juice into drippings; squeeze cloves of roasted garlic from pan into drippings. Add remaining rosemary and thyme sprigs. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add 2 cups stock; boil until reduced by half and thickened slightly, 6 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and more squeezes of lemon juice to taste. Strain gravy through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Carve turkey and serve with gravy.

ROAST HERITAGE TURKEY WITH BACON-HERB AND CIDER GRAVY



Roast Heritage Turkey with Bacon-Herb and Cider Gravy image

Provided by Nancy Oakes

Categories     Herb     Mustard     Poultry     turkey     Marinate     Roast     Christmas     Thanksgiving     High Fiber     Dinner     Vinegar     Apple     Bacon     Fennel     Fall     Family Reunion     Christmas Eve     Bon Appétit     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 35

Bacon, dijon, and herb butter:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces applewood-smoked bacon slices, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon coarse sea salt or coarse
kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
Cider gravy base:
Neck reserved from 18- to 19-pound heritage turkey
1/4 cup fat reserved from turkey cavities
1 whole turkey leg (thigh and drumstick)
2 1/2 cups coarsely chopped celery
2 cups coarsely chopped onions
6 large fresh thyme sprigs
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
8 cups chicken stock or low-salt chicken broth
4 whole sage leaves
Turkey:
1 18- to 19-pound heritage turkey, neck and 1/4 cup fat from cavities reserved for cider gravy base
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or coarse kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 cups coarsely chopped onions
2 cups coarsely chopped celery
2 cups coarsely chopped fresh fennel bulbs
2 cups coarsely chopped peeled carrots
2 cups coarsely chopped unpeeled apples
1/2 cup olive oil
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup all purpose flour

Steps:

  • For bacon, dijon, and herb butter:
  • Blend all ingredients in processor until bacon is finely chopped. Transfer to sheet of plastic wrap. Using plastic wrap as aid, roll butter mixture into 2-inch-diameter log; chill until firm. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.
  • For cider gravy base:
  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine turkey neck, 1/4 cup turkey fat, and turkey leg in heavy large ovenproof pot. Place in oven; roast uncovered until turkey parts are deep, dark brown, turning once, about 1 1/2 hours. Drain, reserving fat from pot. Reserve 1/4 cup fat for gravy; return 1 tablespoon fat to pot. Return turkey parts to pot; stir in celery, onions, thyme sprigs, and peppercorns. Return pot to oven; roast uncovered 10 minutes. Add apple cider and vinegar; roast 10 minutes longer. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Add 8 cups stock and sage to pot; cook in oven uncovered 1 1/2 hours. Strain gravy base through fine strainer; discard solids in strainer (there will be about 5 cups gravy base). DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
  • For turkey:
  • Cut bacon butter into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and let stand at room temperature 20 minutes. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. Starting at neck end, carefully slide hand between skin and breast meat, then slide hand between skin and thigh meat. Carefully slide butter slices between skin and leg, thigh, and breast meat to cover (there will be a generous amount of butter mixture). Sprinkle 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon pepper over turkey, and 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in main cavity of turkey. Place turkey on rimmed baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap or foil; chill at least 1 day. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
  • Set rack at lowest position in oven; preheat to 350°F. Mix onions, celery, fennel, carrots, apples, oil, and bay leaves in large roasting pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Place turkey atop vegetable mixture. Tuck wings under; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Place turkey in oven; roast until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 170°F, basting with pan drippings every 30 minutes and tenting loosely with foil if browning too quickly, about 4 hours total. Transfer turkey to platter (internal temperature of turkey will increase 5 to 10 degrees).
  • Pour vegetable mixture and pan drippings into large strainer set over large bowl; press on solids to extract liquid. Discard solids in strainer. Spoon off fat from pan drippings; discard (there will be a large amount of fat in pan drippings). Reserve degreased pan drippings for gravy (about 1 cup). Remove fat from surface of gravy base; reserve 1/4 cup fat. Rewarm cider gravy base.
  • Melt reserved 1/4 cup fat in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; stir 3 minutes. Gradually add warm cider gravy base and degreased pan drippings. Simmer until smooth, thickened, and reduced to 51/2 cups, whisking frequently, about 5 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper.
  • Serve turkey with gravy.

LEMON-HERB ROASTED TURKEY



Lemon-Herb Roasted Turkey image

Lemon and thyme are the predominant flavors in this golden, tender and moist turkey that has just six ingredients. It's so easy, we guarantee success! -Felicia Smith, Georgetown, Texas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 2h45m

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 medium lemon, halved
1 medium onion, quartered
14 garlic cloves, peeled
24 fresh thyme sprigs
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 turkey-size oven roasting bag

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest and minced thyme. Pat turkey dry. Sprinkle salt and pepper over skin of turkey and inside cavity; brush with butter mixture. Place the lemon, onion, garlic and thyme sprigs inside cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together., Place flour in oven bag and shake to coat. Place bag in a roasting pan; add turkey to bag, breast side up. Cut six 1/2-in. slits in top of bag; close bag with tie provided., Bake at 350° for 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours or until a thermometer reads 180°. Remove turkey to a serving platter and keep warm. Let stand for 15 minutes before carving. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy. Freeze option: Freeze cooled turkey and gravy in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered skillet, gently stirring and adding a little broth or water if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 525 calories, Fat 27g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 230mg cholesterol, Sodium 489mg sodium, Carbohydrate 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 64g protein.

HONEY,LEMON PEPPER GARLIC ROASTED TURKEY WITH GRAVY



Honey,lemon Pepper Garlic Roasted Turkey With Gravy image

Make and share this Honey,lemon Pepper Garlic Roasted Turkey With Gravy recipe from Food.com.

Provided by KseL1694

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 6h

Yield 4 pounds, 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 (4 lb) turkey breast
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
4 garlic cloves, halfed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon pepper
4 sprigs rosemary
1 tablespoon oregano
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon sage
1 tablespoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon tarragon
1 cup honey
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon pan dripping
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cold water
salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon Accent seasoning (optional)
1 teaspoon gravymaster (optional)

Steps:

  • Clean and dry the chicken. Place turkey in large bowl.
  • Starting at neck cavity, carefully start cutting the turkey skin, so that it remains on turkey,but is easy to pull back, using your fingers to pull back skin.Do not pull skin off of turkey,just pull skin back.
  • Pour broth over turkey, under skin.
  • Insert 2 pieces of garlic, and 2 sprigs of rosemary under breast skin,rub garlic under skin of turkey,then leave garlic, and rosemary under skin.Rub garlic under the skin of wing and drumstick sections to,let garlic rest under skin in the center of the breast.
  • Pull back skin from wings and drumsticks. Rub oregano, sage and tarragon, under breast drumstick and wing skin.Pull skin back so that turkey is covered with it's original skin.
  • Season turkey skin with lemon pepper,salt, and poultry seasoning. Place remaining garlic,onion,celery, and bay leaf in the body cavity of turkey. cover turkey and refrigerate for 1- 2 hours.
  • In a separate bowl combine honey and lemon juice. Rub mixture into skin of turkey,making sure to coat breast,wings, and drumsticks.
  • Remove turkey from bowl with broth,and place in slow cooker on low,or preheat oven to 250 degrees and place turkey in a ovensafe pan. Cook turkey for 4- 6 hours or until juices run clear, when turkey is pierced with knife, and turkey is not pinkish in inside.
  • Remove turkey from pan,leaving at least 1 tablespoon of reserved pan drippings.
  • In a small pan or skillet brown 1 tablespoon flour.Remove flour from pan,and mix with water.Mix browned flour water mixture with 1 tablespoon of pan drippings,mix well and heat gravy on low for 5 minutes. Stir in salt pepper, Accent, and GravyMaster. Remove from heat, and pour over sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, and/or rice. serve while hot, enjoy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1015, Fat 32.5, SaturatedFat 8.9, Cholesterol 294.8, Sodium 2224.5, Carbohydrate 78.4, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 71.8, Protein 101.8

Tips:

  • To ensure the turkey is cooked evenly, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  • If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can check if the turkey is done by piercing the thickest part of the thigh with a fork. If the juices run clear, the turkey is done.
  • Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes before carving. This will help the juices redistribute and make the meat more tender.
  • To make the bacon gravy, cook the bacon until it is crispy. Then, remove the bacon from the pan and set it aside. Add the flour to the pan and cook it over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it is golden brown. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk, and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened. Stir in the bacon and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve the turkey with the bacon gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

Conclusion:

This lemon pepper turkey with bacon gravy is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a special occasion. The turkey is moist and flavorful, and the bacon gravy is rich and creamy. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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