Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (2024)

Bird is the word.

By Camille Lowder
Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (1)

Gobble gobble, it's Turkey Day! Thanksgiving is ALL about the turkey, so this year, make sure yours is the best it can be. No more worrying about how much turkey to make, when to thaw it, or what the deal is with brining or rubbing… we’ve got you. Whether you’re cooking a whole turkey or are looking for alternatives to the full bird, we’ve got everything you’ll need to get it just right. Check out our best 30 turkey recipes for ideas—try them and you might just start a new Thanksgiving tradition.

The way we see it, there are a couple solid routes to the perfect roast turkey. If you’ve got extra time (24 to 72 hours), we recommend dry or wet brining your turkey. If you choose to go the wet brine route, feel free to get creative with your liquids, like we did in our apple cider-brined turkey or our pickle-brined turkey (trust us 😉).

If you’re shorter on time, you can always try a last-minute rub to add flavor to your bird, like our Italian, lemon-herb, or ranch rubs. They’re pretty much foolproof, even for turkey novices.

Looking for something a little less intense this year than a whole turkey? Try making a turkey breast instead of the whole bird. If you go smaller, the benefit is having a lot more flavor leeway, like in our rosemary, sage, and pecan-crusted turkey breast, our harissa-spiced turkey breast, or our cranberry-glazed BBQ turkey breast. These are perfect for smaller celebrations where you don’t feel the need to adhere too strongly to tradition.

Not a fan of the whole bird but still want to keep with the Thanksgiving spirit? It’s YOUR meal, so make whatever you want. We’ve included some turkey-full alternatives here, like our turkey pot pie, our turkey burgers, or our turkey meatloaf, but we give you permission to sub in turkey into any of your family faves. These recipes are perfect for potlucks and Friendsgivings where the more options, the merrier.

Want more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our best Thanksgiving appetizers, side dishes, and desserts too.

1

Dry Brine Turkey

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (3)

A Thanksgiving meal is not complete until the turkey is on the table. Turkeys are large, so we get it, but they don't have to be intimidating. The one thing you can do to ensure a bird that stays juicy and doesn't dry out in the oven: Brine it!

Get the Dry Brine Turkey recipe.

2

Stuffed Turkey Breast

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A savory mushroom and bacon filling keeps this roasted turkey breast juicy while making it fancy and hearty enough to take the place of a whole bird on the holiday table. If you end up with leftover filling, you can even use it as a pre-dinner snack!

Get the Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe.

3

Turkey Roulade

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Sometimes, roasting a whole turkey is just too much of an undertaking. A roulade, though? It's surprisingly easy (we swear!), super-flavorful, and much easier to carve. Perfect served with a side of mashed potatoes and some tart cranberry sauce.

Get the Turkey Roulade recipe.

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4

Roasted Turkey Leg

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Slow-cooked turkey legs are this year’s ultimate Thanksgiving hack. No basting, no inevitable dry meat—no fuss at all. All you have to do is make an easy festive herb butter, wrap everything in foil, and let them roast unsupervised.

Get the Roasted Turkey Leg recipe.

5

Turkey Meatloaf

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (7)

Meatloaf is a classic alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving, so why not keep with the theme and make yours with turkey. This one is LOADED with flavor. How? Worcestershire garlic, rosemary, and thyme. (The herbs are our favorite part, so don't skip 'em!)

Get the Turkey Meatloaf recipe.

6

Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (8)

With a sweet and tangy glaze made with cranberry sauce and thyme- and sage-speckled turkey meatballs, these are great for serving with toothpicks as an app or over fluffy mashed potatoes for a low-key dinner.

Get the Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs recipe.

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7

Turkey Brine

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (9)

If you've never brined your Thanksgiving turkey, this is your year. Our version is filled with the best fall herbs for that cozy, holiday feel, plus two types of citrus for brightness.

Get the Turkey Brine recipe.

8

Turkey Pot Pie

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (10)

This turkey pot pie is the perfect twist on the chicken classic! Also, though homemade pie crust is a dream, we also love to use frozen store-bought in a cinch. Just make sure to get the type you can thaw and roll out so you can have a top and bottom crust.

Get the Turkey Pot Pie recipe.

9

Bacon-Wrapped Turkey

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (11)

Turkey is great and all, but we just felt it was missing a little something. Bacon was the obvious answer. Crunchy and not an ounce of dryness, this is the turkey you've been looking for. Serve it along side our cornbread stuffing for the perfect pairing.

Get the Bacon-Wrapped Turkey recipe.

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10

Turkey Tenderloin

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Turkey tenderloin is the same cut you get when you get chicken tenders, just larger due to the size of the bird. Serve it in place of the classic roasted turkey if you're doing Thanksgiving dinner for 4 to 6 people.

Get the Turkey Tenderloin recipe.

11

Grilled Turkey

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It's a little unconventional, but trust us on this one—grilling your turkey frees up oven space and lends itself to some delicious char marks that you just can't get from oven roasting. It's a method that's sure to wow all your guests, so get ready to share the recipe. 😉

Get the Grilled Turkey recipe.

12

Turkey Feta Meatballs

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (14)

Not into traditional Thanksgiving spreads? Make these turkey meatballs instead this year. We like these atop our lemon-yogurt spread, but feel free to get creative—meatball subs, , whatever you like.

Get the Turkey Feta Meatballs recipe.

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13

Turkey Burgers

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It's YOUR Thanksgiving, so if you're craving burgers, go for it! Keep with the holiday theme with these turkey burgers and serve them alongside some sweet potato fries, potato salad, grilled green beans, and s'mores. Ta da, Thanksgiving on the grill.

Get the Turkey Burgers recipe.

14

Roast Turkey

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Whether you're roasting your first bird for Friendsgiving or hosting for the 26th time, use this handy guide to roast the perfect holiday turkey. This foolproof method has been tested (and tested and tested) by the Delish kitchen—trust us, it's the best.

Get the Roast Turkey recipe.

15

Air Fryer Tandoori Turkey Breast

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (17)

Keeping the bone in and skin on the turkey breast and marinating it in yogurt, garlic paprika, turmeric, ginger, and cumin helps to seal in moisture so the outside doesn’t dry out from the air fryer heat. Instead you get crispy skin and a super-moist, tandoori-spiced turkey breast. 😍

Get the Air Fryer Tandoori Turkey Breast recipe.

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16

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

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A traditional shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb or beef, but this turkey version is surprisingly light and SO easy to make. It's the perfect seasonal meal to make when you're not feeling a whole turkey. Bonus: This makes great leftovers.

Get the Turkey Shepherds Pie recipe.

17

Air Fryer Garlic Herb Turkey Breast

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Craving turkey but don't want to go through the hassle of cooking a whole bird? Make turkey breast in the air fryer! It takes way less effort with far better results, and you're guaranteed to get crispy skin and juicy meat.

Get the Air Fryer Garlic Herb Turkey Breast recipe.

18

Apple Cider Brined Turkey

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Brining helps flavor your turkey and keep it nice and juicy, and an apple cider brine is fall perfection. If you're planning on a smaller Thanksgiving this year, this method also works on smaller pieces of meat.

Get the Apple Cider Brined Turkey recipe.

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19

Crockpot Turkey Breast

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Who says you have to turn on your oven to make delicious turkey? All you need to do is mix up a simple brown sugar rub, coat the meat, and let your Crockpot do the rest! That way, your oven can take on more important tasks like pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole. 😏

Get the Crockpot Turkey Breast recipe.

20

Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf

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These little meatloaves are exactly what we want to eat when we’re homesick, even if we never had meatloaf growing up. Maybe it’s the ketchup. Maybe it’s the brown sugar. Maybe it’s the tantalizing scent of a cozy meal made extra easy in our air fryer!

Get the Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf recipe.

Get The Most Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey With These 31 Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I put in the turkey for best flavor? ›

Instead of filling your bird with stuffing, fill it with aromatics. (News flash: Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can be dangerous.) The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges.

How do you get the best tasting turkey? ›

  1. Inject the turkey with a brine. I often use chicken stock.
  2. Season well, but not too heavy-handedly. You can always adjust for inadequate seasoning, but too much is harder to fix.
  3. Pat the skin dry, and rub olive oil or butter on the skin before seasoning. Helps with a crispier skin.
  4. Don't use cooking times for doneness.
Nov 19, 2022

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.

What is the best brand of turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Our Favorite. The Grassland Pasture-raised Turkey was one of our favorite turkeys among all the birds we tested. In fact, we found it to be one of the best turkeys we've ever roasted, with ample breast, thigh, and drumstick meat. It is a sure bet for your holiday table that's bound to impress even the pickiest in-laws.

How do you make turkey not taste bland? ›

In addition to sprinkling salt on the surface of the turkey, give your bird a big flavor boost by seasoning under the turkey's skin, too. Stir your favorite spices and herbs into softened butter, then rub it all over the turkey and under the skin.

Should I put butter or oil on my turkey? ›

Don't butter your bird

Placing butter under the skin won't make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before you roast.

How does Gordon Ramsay keep the turkey moist? ›

Ramsay's key for a guaranteed delicious and juicy turkey is a parsley and garlic butter that gets generously slathered both under the skin and on top of the turkey. While the turkey is cooking, you'll want to baste the bird with the melted butter pan juices to ensure a crispy skin while cooking.

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 to cook 15 lb turkey at 325? ›

In general, you should plan to cook a turkey for around 15-20 minutes per pound of turkey at 325ºF to get to that temp.
  1. 10-12 pounds: cook 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
  2. 15-16 pounds: cook 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
  3. 18-20 pounds: cook 4 to 4 1/2 hours.
Oct 15, 2023

How long does a 16 lb turkey take at 325? ›

Unstuffed Turkey: 15 minutes per pound at 325°F, or 13 minutes per pound at 350°F. Stuffed Turkey: 16 to 17 minutes per pound at 325°F, or 14 to 15 minutes per pound at 350°F.

How long does it take to cook a 15 lb turkey at 325? ›

How Long Do You Cook a 15-Pound Turkey at 325 Degrees? An unstuffed bird of 15 pounds will likely finish at around the 4-hour mark (or just before). A stuffed turkey will take at least 4 hours to cook, and typically takes an extra 15 minutes until you've hit that desired internal temperature.

Is a Butterball turkey worth the extra money? ›

Butterball turkeys are of the highest quality product and will be sure to impress your guests. Here's why Butterball is the right choice, especially for the holiday season: Butterball turkeys are always tender and juicy because we take the extra step of individually pre-brining them based on size.

What is the number one turkey brand? ›

1. Butterball. Headquartered in Garner, North Carolina, Butterball is the largest turkey company in the U.S. It slaughtered 1.304 billion pounds in 2019, a year-over-year decrease of 2.03%. The company – owned by Seaboard Corp.

Is Butterball or Jennie O turkey better? ›

Re: Best Turkey - Jennie-O v. Butterball. If a turkey is properly cooked (not overdone) the brand makes very little difference.

What liquid do you add to turkey? ›

Roast: Before cooking, let the turkey come to room temperature for an hour. Pour 4 cups of water into the bottom of a roasting pan, add in the turkey, then bake, uncovered, at 450ºF for 30 minutes. Reduce the heat and bake at 325ºF for another 2.5-3 hours, basting with broth as needed.

How to infuse a turkey with flavor? ›

What to Inject a Turkey With
  1. Basic Brine. Liquid: Chicken stock. ...
  2. Butter & Beer. Liquid: butter + beer. ...
  3. Herby Turkey. Liquid: butter + chicken stock. ...
  4. Italian. Liquid: chicken stock + olive oil + red wine vinegar. ...
  5. Spicy & Smoky. Liquid: butter +white wine + chicken stock + orange juice. ...
  6. Brown Sugar & Mustard.
Nov 1, 2021

What is the most delicious food in turkey? ›

Turkey's most delicious: 15 dishes you must've here
  • Mezze. Of course, this has to top our list as Turkey's most famous food. ...
  • Ekmek kadayifi. A delish dessert made of dehydrated bread, Ekmek kadayifi is usually eaten with rich Turkish cream. ...
  • Doner kebab. ...
  • Kisir. ...
  • Gozleme. ...
  • Hamsili pilav. ...
  • Baklava. ...
  • Lokum.
Jul 4, 2023

How to flavor a cooked turkey? ›

Roast turkey seasoning: We give the turkey a flavor boost with melted butter and savory spices—seasoned salt, garlic powder, paprika, ground ginger, pepper, dried basil and cayenne pepper. Using butter that's already been melted makes it easy to brush the mixture onto the bird and create an even coating.

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