25 Best Christmas Turkey Recipes to Serve for Dinner

These easy Christmas turkey recipes are guaranteed to make your holiday dinner a feast to remember!

This list is jam-packed full of unforgettably festive turkey recipes you have to try this Christmas.

I’m talking buttery roasted turkey, sweet glazed turkey, and simple creative recipes!

Your next Christmas dinner will be unforgettable with a roulade or a Wellington.

There’s something on this list for every holiday dinner table.

With 25 delicious ways to serve a Christmas turkey dinner, there’s something for everyone.

So grab your favorite oversized poultry, and let’s dig in! 

1. Garlic Herb Butter Roast Turkey

A classic roasted turkey definitely deserves a place on the Christmas table.

After your turkey has come to room temperature, dry the skin and season it.

There’s plenty of garlic, lemon, and herbs to flavor this gorgeous turkey.

Melt the savory herb butter and pour over the turkey before roasting the breast side down.

After flipping the turkey, baste it and resume cooking it until heated through.

2. Mom’s Roasted Turkey

Hopefully, your childhood holidays are full of fabulous memories of mom’s turkey.

If not, it’s time to take on your own turkey challenge.

By cooking this turkey recipe breast down, the white meat will be juicier than ever.

This way, you can skip the brine, and go straight to roasting!

In this recipe, you’ll find classic poultry flavors like lemon, herbs, and roasting veggies.

Feel free to play with the seasonings as desired.

3. Roast Turkey With Smoked Paprika

I love any recipe that has smoked paprika involved. 

This sweet and smoky turkey is beyond any traditional Christmas turkey you’ll find.

You use several seasonings to achieve a blackening effect in this recipe. 

Stuff the cavity with celery, onion, orange, and bay leaves to infuse the meat with flavor.

Then, brush the turkey with oil and sprinkle on the seasoning.

4. Roast Turkey With Sage Garlic Butter

If you prefer to brine your turkey, this is the recipe for you.

Not only is it made juicy from the brine, but from the butter infusion, too!

Before you cook the turkey, add sage garlic butter under the skin. This will help to crisp up the skin as it is cooking.

Be sure to baste the turkey every 30-45 minutes with the butter drippings for optimal flavor. 

5. Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Breast

No need to make the cranberry sauce this Christmas, this recipe has it all! 

My favorite part of this recipe is the simplicity of cooking just the turkey breast.

This makes the cooking time so much faster, and no there’s no uneven cooking!

The turkey breast is roasted with a delicious, homemade rosemary and cranberry sauce.

This infuses the meat with that tangy herb flavor you crave at the holiday table. 

6. Herb-Roasted Turkey

In all my years of cooking, I’ve found that sometimes the simplest recipes come out best.

Serve up this herb-roasted turkey this Christmas and relish in the simplicity!

Combine herbs, garlic, salt, and butter in a food processor.

Then, slather that butter on the turkey.

It will look like a lot of butter, but it will drip off as the turkey cooks.

This gives you ample juices to baste the turkey as it roasts.

7. Herb Butter Maple Roast Turkey

I’ve found that one of the key ingredients to crushing Christmas dinner is confidence.

And I’m confident that you’ll love this turkey recipe!

It has all the common poultry herbs you would expect in a turkey dinner.

But it goes a step further with the addition of maple syrup in the butter.

Gorgeous, simple, and delicious. What more can you ask for at Christmas dinner?

8. Apple Cider Brined Turkey With Savory Herb Gravy

This delicious recipe is going to make your next Christmas dinner unforgettable.

It’s tender, juicy, and flavorful beyond all belief!

The apple cider brine adds a delicious sweetness to the juices in the turkey meat.

Top that with the savory gravy full of fresh herbs? Perfection!

Roast it until the skin is golden brown, and enjoy it with those you love the most. 

9. Turkey with Molasses Glaze

Molasses cookies may just be my favorite holiday treat.

Now, take that rich flavor and combine it with a perfectly cooked turkey!

There’s a splash of soy sauce for a savory addition to the sweet molasses.

Brush this dark glaze onto the turkey before covering it loosely with foil.

For the best turkey, use a meat thermometer until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees. 

10. Smoked Turkey Breast With Honey Glaze

‘Tis the season to give your oven a break and smoke your next turkey!

As long as you have a smoker and a bit of bourbon, you have this recipe down.

Trust me when I say this is no traditional turkey.

It has a rich and smoky flavor, and a sweet brown sugar and bourbon glaze. 

You won’t miss the gravy when you carve up this turkey.

It’s so moist and scrumptious, there’s no need to add anything more!

11. Air Fryer Turkey

Okay, if you happen to have a large air fryer, you have to try this recipe!

As long as you have the space, you can easily cook your Christmas turkey with ease.

Prepare the turkey with herb butter both under and on top of the skin.

This will make it crispy on both sides when it’s all done!

To air fry your turkey, you want to cook it for 8-10 minutes per pound.

Or, check that the internal temperature is 165 degrees before removing it. 

12. Instant Pot Turkey

We have made so many other delicious dinners in the Instant Pot. So, why not cook a delicious turkey in there?

As long as your turkey will fit in the Instant Pot on a trivet, you’re good to go for this recipe.

Then, add your veggies and aromatics to the bottom of the pot with water. 

This recipe is great for those who don’t enjoy the skin, as it should be removed after cooking.

But the turkey meat will be so well-cooked, it will fall off the bone!

13. Citrus Butter and Sage Roasted Turkey

Beautiful Christmas dinners don’t have to be a labor of love.

This simple recipe will have you making turkeys for more meals than just the holidays!

Rather than soaking in brine for days, try a dry thyme-salt brine for a couple of days in the refrigerator.

This will infuse the turkey with flavor while keeping the meat juicy and skin crisp.

To have a perfectly cooked turkey, soak a cheesecloth with the citrus wine and butter mixture. 

14. Roast Turkey with Orange Thyme Rub

Some may see “roast turkey” and scroll on. But they would miss out on the divine orange thyme rub this recipe features.

Oranges are a lovely citrus to add to poultry at the Christmas dinner table.

The turkey is actually injected with orange juice for sweet and succulent meat.

Be sure to stuff the turkey with aromatics, onions, and oranges before roasting it.

These flavors will release into the meat as the turkey cooks.

15. Festive Roast Turkey with Lemon, Garlic, and Rosemary Sauce

This beautiful turkey dinner is just what your Christmas table deserves!

The classic poultry flavors and delicious glaze is out of this world.

Rather than relying on butter to keep the turkey moist, the work is all in the glazing.

Brush on the lemon-rosemary oil just before baking the turkey.

Continue to brush on the glaze every 30 minutes as the turkey cooks.

This will keep the meat moist and the skin a beautiful golden brown. 

16. Maple-Glazed Spatchcock Turkey

Maple is a great flavor to add warm sweetness to any protein.

Spatchcock refers to the way the turkey is broken down before baking.

Don’t worry, this step is easy, and it makes the meat cook more evenly.

The turkey is coated in a delicious maple butter before roasting.

Arrange onions and carrots around the turkey before cooking. 

17. Turkey Roulade

A roulade is simply a dish of meat rolled with a filling. This particular recipe is turkey rolled with homemade stuffing. 

Start by preparing the sausage dressing, full of veggies and herbs. Then, roll the pounded turkey breast filled with stuffing. 

Place the meat roll into a baking dish with reserved chicken stock.

Use kitchen twine to tie the roulade together before cooking. 

18. Butter Cheesecloth Turkey

Martha Stewart sure knows her way around the kitchen.

And she definitely knows how to cook a delicious Christmas turkey!

Prepare the turkey stuffed with veggies, herbs, and a simple dry rub.

Then, before baking, drape a cheesecloth over the turkey, soaked in butter and white wine.

This cheesecloth will help hold in moisture and brown the skin while the turkey cooks.

You won’t believe how colorful and succulent it is!

19. Best Grilled Turkey

Most people either roast or deep fry their turkeys. But those people are missing out on some of the best turkey: grilled!

Start by preparing the turkey as you would to roast in the oven. Citrus and herbs, butter, and a touch of salt and pepper are key here.

Then place in a foil roasting pan, and grill for 3 hours. This recipe is written to cook on a propane grill. If using a charcoal grill, add briquettes every 45-60 minutes.

20. BBQ Turkey with Mustard Sauce

Is it just me, or does mustard scream sophistication?

I’m not talking mustard on hot dogs, but rather a creamy homemade mustard sauce on perfectly cooked meat.

Don’t let the title fool you, there is no barbecue sauce in this recipe.

Instead, enjoy a delicious sweet and tangy mustard sauce over grilled turkey cutlets. 

The grilling is done in two parts to ensure the meat is cooked just right.

Start with a sear to hold in the juices, then slow cook it on the grill.

21. Stuffed Turkey Breast

If you like stuffed pork chops, you’ll love this recipe.

It’s time to turn your plain old turkey into something exciting this Christmas!

The turkey is rolled up with a creamy mixture of cheese, spinach, and bacon.

Season the turkey well, and bake it to tender perfection. 

Be sure to wrap the turkey breast in twine before baking it.

It will expand as it bakes, making the stuffing fall out if untied. 

22. Rolled Turkey Breast with Sausage and Herb Stuffing

This recipe is a great alternative if you have a smaller gathering for Christmas.

Rather than a whole turkey, you just need the breasts.

Roll each breast with a delicious sausage and herb stuffing for total holiday flavor.

The hardest part here is pounding the breasts to be thin and flat.

For a little extra flare, I love this recipe over mashed potatoes and collard greens.

It’s such a delicious twist on yuletide dinner!

23. Crispy Skin Slow Cooker Turkey

I know what you’re thinking: since when does the slow cooker crisp anything?

Sure, you can slow cook and get that succulent and juicy meat. But you can have crispy skin, too!

Free up your oven for those long bake times, and reach for the Crockpot instead!

It does require just a pinch of oven broiling to really get that golden crispy skin.

After the seasoned turkey has been slow-cooked, broil it for 15 minutes.

24. Deep-Fried Turkey

If you’ve never fried a turkey, don’t fret! I actually think it’s easier than trying to roast one. 

This recipe walks you through the easiest way to fry your turkey for Christmas.

It all starts with a dry rub and injectable marinade.

This turkey dinner will be so delicious, Thanksgiving will be jealous. It has crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. Yum!

25. Cranberry Hazelnut Turkey Wellington

Most home cooks have heard of a beef Wellington. But have you ever tried a festive turkey Wellington?

Delicious layers of cranberry sauce, herbs, hazelnuts, and turkey are wrapped in a pastry crust.

Not only is this recipe absolutely divine, but it’s also beautiful, too!

Take your next Christmas to the next level with a gorgeous turkey dinner.

With so much flavor in every bite, you might not even need sides!