By Julie Kotzbach · Published: · Last Updated: This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Make your holiday dinner extra special with 25 of the Best Holiday Turkey Recipes! These birds are loaded with flavor & sure to be the star of your meal!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Ican’t wait for our holiday meal and all the deliciousleftover turkey recipes to come afterward! At our table, the turkey is definitely the star of the show even with all those yummy Thanksgiving side dishes gracing the table.
Some years I get tired of making the same turkey recipe and want to change things up a little. That’s why I’ve rounded up 25 of the Best Holiday Turkey Recipes. These are some of thebest turkey recipes around, and they’re notjust for Thanksgiving.
Whether you like a traditional roast turkey recipes or super easy crockpot turkey recipes, there’s a bird for you!
25 OF THE BEST HOLIDAY TURKEY RECIPES Like these recipes? Pin them to your THANKSGIVING pinboard! FollowReal Housemomson Pinterest
Whether this is your first year hosting a holiday meal or you’re an old pro, these basic turkey recipes will make sure your birdcomes out perfect the first time!
How to Cook Thanksgiving Turkey– This classic dry rubbed turkey recipe is completely fool-proof, and you can see how to butcher your bird too!
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.
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.
Brining a turkey is totally optional. If you're short on time or just want the most straight-forward method to roast a turkey, skip the brining step and just use the Simple Roasted Turkey method. Some people swear that brining yields the most tender, juicy meat, but it takes planning ahead.
While 1 pound per person could feel like too little, and 1 1/2 pounds for each guest might be over-doing it, 1 1/4 pounds of turkey per mouth is the perfect balance. At that rate, feeding a large party of 15 or more people requires 20+ pounds of turkey.
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.
Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the bird between the breast and part of the thigh (being sure not to hit bone). It's done when the thermometer just reaches 165ºF. 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.
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.
Though not exclusive to the Butterball brand, the birds the company sells are pre-brined. That means they have already been injected with a solution of water, salt, and other flavorings that render the meat juicy and seasoned throughout.
If your brine recipe calls for heating the mixture, be sure to cool it to room temperature before using it. Then place the turkey in the brine and place in the refrigerator. Don't leave the turkey sitting out at room temperature while brining.
This dilutes the salt solution to the best ratio for brining and also helps further cool the solution. Make sure the turkey is completely submerged. If needed, prepare more brine solution at a ratio of 1/4 cup salt per quart of water to completely submerge the turkey. Cover and refrigerate.
Be sure that the brine is cold before adding the thawed turkey. Place the turkey and brine in a brining bag or non-corrosive food-safe container, making sure the turkey is fully submerged in the liquid.
How to Defrost a Turkey In the Refrigerator. To defrost a turkey in the refrigerator, plan on 24 hours of fridge time for every 5 pounds of turkey. For instance, if you have a 20-pound turkey, make sure you have enough time for 4 full days of thawing in the fridge.
REST: Once you're sure the turkey is fully cooked (check by piercing the thickest part of the leg with a skewer to see if the juices run clear), leave it to rest in a warm place for at least 45 minutes or up to a few hours. This lets the meat relax and allows all the juices to be reabsorbed.
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.
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.
Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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