Thanks to these 33 Thanksgiving turkey recipes, you’ll never have to suffer through a dry bird again.
Whether you want a whole roasted turkey, a simple crown, or something smaller, I’ve got you covered below.
Thanksgiving is about family and food.
Unfortunately, turkey has a bad reputation for being dry, tough, and bland.
But when you take the time to cook it right, turkey can be juicy and incredibly flavorful.
Ready to learn how to cook the perfect roast turkey? I’ve got just the recipe!
And after that, I’ve got 33 amazing turkey recipes for Thanksgiving so your holiday dinner is the best it can be.
1. Garlic Herb Butter Roast Turkey
If your favorite part of the Thanksgiving turkey is the herb-flavored, crispy skin, then garlic herb butter roast turkey is the dish for you.
With thyme, garlic, rosemary, pepper, and more, this bird’s buttery skin will have everyone fighting over it.
2. Smoked Turkey
It takes some time to make smoked turkey, but there’s nothing quite like its smoky flavor. Just be sure you get the spice rub right, as that’s where your flavor is.
For this one, you’ll use BBQ rub, onions, lemons, chicken broth, and whatever fresh herbs you like best.
3. Mom’s Roasted Turkey
This bird is buttery, succulent, and stuffed with onions, celery, carrots, herbs, and lemon juice.
It’s savory and so filling, and it has a lovely golden-brown skin that looks like something you’d see in a cooking magazine.
This juicy turkey is always welcome on any holiday table!
4. Deep-Fried Turkey
Deep-frying your turkey might not be the healthiest way to cook it, but it certainly makes it tasty. It’s also one of the quickest ways if you’ve waited a bit too late to get started.
This method gives you exceptionally crispy skin but leaves the meat tender and juicy. If your family loves fried chicken, they’ll appreciate this deep-fried dish, as well.
5. Grilled Turkey
Grilled turkey is the happy medium between deep-frying and smoking your Thanksgiving bird. It takes longer than deep-frying at about 3 and a half hours, but that’s nowhere near as long as smoking.
It also gives you that fantastic smoky flavor, while the butter and fresh and dried herbs give it an earthy savoriness that’s hard not to love.
6. Pumpkin Beer Brined Smoked Turkey
This show-stopper turkey will impress everyone at your feast!
The recipe starts by brining turkey in pumpkin beer. After it sits overnight, you rub it with an herb butter before smoking it.
Sure, the process takes a little time. But the succulent and juicy turkey is more than worth it!
7. Roast Turkey With Smoked Paprika
There are quite a few roasted turkey recipes for Thanksgiving on this list, but I promise no two of them are the same.
This one, for example, combines oranges, Italian seasoning, sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic, ground mustard, celery, onions, bay leaves, olive oil, and chicken stock.
I promise you haven’t had anything like it.
8. Apple Cider Brined Turkey With Savory Herb Gravy
This juicy turkey might look just as gorgeous as any other bird on the list. But there’s a phenomenal depth of flavor to it that many of the others can’t match.
Thanks to the wide variety of ingredients – apple cider, ginger, allspice, oranges, cloves, garlic, etc. – it somehow manages to delight all your tastebuds – sweet, spicy, and savory alike.
9. Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Breast
Who needs cranberry sauce on the side when you can have it right on top of your Thanksgiving turkey? With this one, you’ll get that incredible mix of sweetness and savoriness.
*Note: This recipe is for a small turkey breast only. You might have to make some adjustments if you want to do an entire turkey this way.
10. Bacon-Wrapped Turkey
If you’re of the firm opinion that everything tastes better with bacon, the author of this recipe agrees with you.
This leveled-up bird is almost too pretty to eat! With a bacon-wrapped lattice top, it’s a feast for the belly and the eyes.
It’s every bacon lover’s dream Thanksgiving dinner.
11. Sheet Pan Herb Roasted Turkey and Cranberry Pecan Stuffing
It might not be Thanksgiving without turkey, but that doesn’t mean you have to cook a large turkey every year.
This recipe uses a small 2-pound turkey, and it’s so good. It sits on a bed of cornbread stuffing that’s to die for.
It combines all the wonderful flavors of Thanksgiving onto one easy-to-clean sheet pan.
12. Herb-Roasted Turkey
Here’s another excellent recipe for the herb lovers among us. With its crispy, golden-orange skin and herbs and seasonings, this bird smells as good as it tastes.
Combine butter, garlic, sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt, pepper, lemons, onions, whole herb sprigs (for stuffing), and chicken broth.
Top it off with more herbs for garnishes. Use cranberries, seckel pears, or whatever else you like.
13. Herb Butter Maple Roast Turkey
This turkey, too, is herb-flavored and earthy, but thanks to the half-cup of maple syrup, there’s also a rich sweetness that’s undeniably good.
Add some diced Granny Smith apples to the stuffing to make it even more sweet and complex.
14. Roast Turkey With Sage Garlic Butter
If you like the bold, earthy flavors of sage and garlic, give this recipe a try. To me, it’s the quintessential Thanksgiving turkey.
My childhood Thanksgiving dinners were filled with the scent and taste of sage, so I can’t make this bird without thinking about my grandparents. Maybe that’s why I love it so much.
15. Dry-Brined Turkey
This dry-brined turkey is coated with a savory blend of delicious herbs and spices, plus a little brown sugar.
It’s rubbed into the skin, and the bird sits in the refrigerator for at least 48 hours. After being roasted to golden perfection, the result is a juicy, flavorful, perfect turkey.
Serve it with all of your favorite sides for a Thanksgiving to remember.
16. Stuffed Turkey Breast Roll
If you care less about the turkey itself and more about what’s inside, you’ll love this recipe! Stuffed with bacon, shallots, mushrooms, and spinach, it’s deliciously decadent.
It’s buttery, herby, and meaty, and it practically melts in your mouth.
Pair it with mashed potatoes and gravy, and you won’t want to stop eating it.
17. Spatchcock Turkey
As long as you remember to put it in the brine a day early, spatchcock turkey takes only 80 minutes to prepare and cook.
It’s perfect for people who want to enjoy their Thanksgiving instead of spending the entire day in the kitchen agonizing over every dish. It tastes great, too.
And it’s more than just quick. It’s also simple to make, requiring only the turkey, brine, butter, salt, pepper, and cooking spray.
18. Smoked BBQ Turkey
Thanksgiving barbecue turkey is for anyone who wonders why every holiday can’t be filled with BBQ and simple sides.
It’s juicy, and has a terrific sweet and smoky flavor. It also takes minimal effort to cook, making it ideal for beginning chefs on their first holiday dinner.
Once you try this method, you might never go back to your old recipe!
19. Cajun Butter Roasted Turkey
This golden-brown bird has a bit of blackened Cajun flair. It the perfect roasted turkey with a Louisiana twist.
When it comes to a flavor-packed main course, it’s hard to beat this one.
Not only will you add herb butter and a Cajun marinade, but you’ll also stuff and rub the bird down with oranges, Cajun seasoning, herbs, and more.
There’s not a single bite on this turkey that doesn’t deliver when it comes to flavor.
20. Thanksgiving Turkey Breast Roulade
Thanksgiving turkey breast roulade is a non-traditional turkey dinner that’ll save you a lot of time in the kitchen.
In less than 2 hours, you can have enough lovely, stuffed golden-brown turkey to feed half a dozen people.
Whether you like the tender meat or the hearty chestnut sausage stuffing best, you’re sure to appreciate this unique, easy-to-make dish.
21. Thanksgiving Turkey Burger
Keep things casual this year and make Thanksgiving turkey burgers! The recipe starts with ground turkey breast.
But it’s the secret ingredient of boxed stuffing that takes it over the top! These burgers have the best flavors of Thanksgiving without any of the fuss.
Top them with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce for the ultimate burger experience.
22. Buffalo Oven-Roasted Turkey
Of course, another unique option is to slather your turkey in tangy buffalo sauce. From the outside, this bird looks like any oven-roasted turkey you’ve ever had.
That buffalo flavor, though, will set it apart from all your previous Thanksgiving main courses. This is the perfect roasted turkey to serve when you want to impress!
23. Smoked Turkey Breast With Honey Glaze
Honey-glazed turkey might not be as traditional as the mom’s roasted turkey recipe above, but it’s definitely near the top of most people’s favorite Thanksgiving turkey lists.
It’s sweet, smoky, savory, and scrumptious. The combination of the sweet and salty brine and the sweet and tangy glaze is fantastic.
Plus, honey-glazed meat is beautiful, making this an excellent centerpiece for your table.
24. Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Believe it or not, you can even air fry your Thanksgiving turkey, assuming you use a breast instead of the whole bird.
All you’ll need to make this tender, moist turkey is the turkey, butter, and seasonings.
It comes out juicy, tender, and irresistible!
25. Air Fryer Turkey Legs
If you want to get off even easier next Thanksgiving, you can do air fryer turkey legs instead of the whole shebang.
These giant, flavorful legs look like something you’d pick up at your local Renaissance Fair, and they taste just as authentic, as well.
These are so easy to prepare and cook that you’ll want to make them all the time, not just for Thanksgiving.
26. Roast Turkey Breast With Breadcrumb Stuffing
I don’t know what the best part of this turkey breast is: the tender turkey, the fluffy, flavorful stuffing, or the rich and creamy gravy. Let’s just say it’s all fantastic and leave it at that.
If you’re a stuffing person, though, you’ll appreciate this one. It combines porcini mushrooms, bacon, shallots, dried cranberries, breadcrumbs, sage, and parsley.
And yes, it’s every bit as delectable as it sounds.
27. Instant Pot Turkey
I was skeptical of Instant Pot turkey at first. First of all, it seemed too good to be true – too easy to make. But I was also worried about the skin. (I like crispy skin.)
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The skin doesn’t crisp up as nicely as it would if you deep-fried or even air-fried the bird, but it still has a little crunch to it.
It’s also very moist and tender, which makes up for the less-than-super-crispy skin in my book.
28. Crispy Skin Slow Cooker Turkey
This one is pretty similar to the Instant Pot turkey, though the seasonings are slightly different. The skin is a bit crispier on this one, too.
It has plenty of garlic and herb flavor, and the buttery, moist turkey practically melts in your mouth. Plus, you’ll get all the taste without having to brine or marinate the turkey.
29. Baked Turkey Wings
These wings are ideal for a low-key Thanksgiving celebration. They’re so much easier to prep, too!
Rub the wings with salt, herbs, and poultry seasoning. Place them in a baking dish with cut onions and 1/2 cup of water.
Bake them for an hour at 350 degrees, and top them with a creamy gravy for the perfect finishing touch.
30. Chipotle Citrus Thanksgiving Turkey
This wonderful Thanksgiving recipe combines the savory, earthy flavors of herbs, onions, and turkey with the bright zestiness of citrus – lemons, oranges, and limes specifically.
The Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce also add a nice bit of tang to the dish.
31. Orange and Rosemary Roasted Turkey
This stunning turkey is as simple as it is lovely. It has a delicious rub of salt, brown sugar, rosemary, and orange zest.
Cooked over red wine, it’s a true show-stopper of a meal.
It also pairs well with potatoes, beans, salad, carrots, or any other sides you prefer. There’s almost nothing you can’t eat with this tasty bird.
32. Sous Vide Turkey Breast with Crispy Skin
If you haven’t tried the sous vide method of cooking, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start!
Don’t be intimidated by the fancy name! All you have to do is place the turkey in a bag, drop it into your sous vide bath, and wait for it to do its magic.
In 3 hours, you’ll have the juiciest, most flavorful turkey you’ve ever tried.
33. Lemon Pepper Thanksgiving Turkey
If you’ve ever had the lemon pepper rotisserie chicken from the deli, then you’ll already have an idea of how this tastes.
It’s juicy, succulent, and has a light, peppery flavor. The skin is crisp, and the meat is tender. You’ll plate it on a bed of greens with carrots, lemon wedges, and whatever else you like.
The stuffing isn’t bad, either.
33 Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
12-16
servings30
minutes3
hours589
kcalThis easy Thanksgiving turkey recipe is a surefire hit for a memorable holiday feast!
Ingredients
- For the Turkey:
12 -16 pounds turkey
3 onions, divided (2 chopped, 1 cut in half)
1 pound potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1 lemon, cut in half
1 orange, cut in half
1 sprig rosemary
1 sprig thyme
baking twine
- For the Herb Butter:
1 cup salted butter, softened
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 sprig rosemary, minced
1 sprig thyme, minced
Instructions
- Take the turkey out of the fridge an hour before roasting.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add chopped onions, potatoes, carrots, and celery to the bottom of a roasting rack.
- Pour the chicken broth over the vegetables and place the roasting rack on top.
- Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey, then pat it dry with paper towels.
- Fill the cavity with the halved onion, lemon, orange, rosemary, and thyme.
- Make the herbed butter. Beat softened butter with garlic, pepper, rosemary, and thyme until well blended.
- Gently lift the skin free from the meat and rub about 1/4 cup of butter over the breasts. Then, rub the remaining butter all over the skin of the turkey.
- Tie the legs together with baking twine and place the turkey on the rack, tucking the wings underneath.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350°F and roast for 1 hour.
- After 1 hour, baste the turkey with the juices from the pan every 30 minutes.
- Cook until the internal temperature reads 165°F in the breast and 175°F in the thigh joint.
- Let the turkey rest for 15-20 minutes, then remove the stuffing.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Estimate around 15 minutes of cooking per pound of turkey.
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness instead of relying on cooking time.
- The nutrition label is calculated for 12 servings from a 12-pound turkey.
Nutrition
- Calories: 589kcal
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 61g
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Cholesterol: 192mg
- Sodium: 388mg
- Potassium: 954mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
- Calcium: 99mg
- Iron: 4mg
