If you want your holiday meal to taste even better, try this Mexican turkey recipe for Pavo Navideño! Don’t be scared—it’s a lot easier than it sounds!
Pavo Navideño is a Mexican turkey recipe that is full of flavor, juicy and tender, and the skin is a beautiful red or golden color and crispy. It has a hearty, slightly smoky, and mildly spicy taste.
In Mexico, a turkey is called pavo or guajolote. They are native to the country and were introduced to Europe only until the 16th century.
To make Pavo Navideño, you must first make a traditional and tasty adobo sauce. This sauce will be used to cover the turkey and spread it around while it’s roasting. This is one of the most popular and best ways to prepare a Mexican-style turkey.
The chili sauce has just the right amount of Mexican flavors and spices to make the meat taste great. It will be the star of your family’s holiday dinner.
Everyone can make our step-by-step recipe, even if they’ve never cooked before. Enjoy a stress-free family dinner! A roasted Mexican turkey is perfectly juicy, evenly cooked, and super flavorful. Perfect to serve with papas gratinadas.
You can also use chicken or turkey in this recipe; the only thing that changes is the roasting time. For information on how to change the roasting time based on the weight of your bird, read on.
Take the thawed turkey out of the fridge and take out the bag of giblets. You can either save the giblets to make gravy or throw them away. Use paper towels to dry the skin, and then let the turkey rest at room temperature for an hour.
The traditional roasted turkey is a staple of American Thanksgiving feasts. But this year, why not give that bird a delicious Mexican makeover? Blending south-of-the-border spices and flavors into your holiday turkey will give your gathering an exciting new taste.
Two fantastic Mexican-inspired turkey recipes come from celebrity chefs Pati Jinich and Maricruz Avalos. Their recipes infuse juicy turkey with the incredible flavors of Mexican cuisine. The results are so vibrant, aromatic and full of taste. This is definitely not your abuelita’s tired old pavo!
Pati Jinich’s Mexican Thanksgiving Turkey
Cookbook author and TV host Pati Jinich is considered one of the leading authorities on authentic Mexican cooking. Her recipe for Mexican Thanksgiving turkey first marinates the bird in a mixture of smoky chipotle peppers, earthy spices and tangy citrus.
She recommends using a fresh turkey breast or leg quarters so the marinade can really penetrate the meat Chicken thighs or drumsticks also work well. The bright, complex marinade includes
- Chipotle chiles in adobo
- Garlic
- Mexican oregano
- Cumin
- Black pepper
- Orange juice
- Lime juice
- Olive oil
This marinade both tenderizes the meat and infuses it with flavor. Pati recommends marinating the turkey for at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.
To roast, she cleverly protects the breast meat with strips of bacon. This keeps it extra moist and lends a delicious smoky aroma. The turkey roasts in a hot 425°F oven for around 1 hour depending on size.
The result is tender, juicy turkey infused with the incredible flavors of Mexico. It makes for an exciting and memorable Thanksgiving dinner!
Pavo Navideño – Maricruz Avalos’ Mexican-Style Turkey
Food blogger Maricruz Avalos was raised in Mexico City and is an expert on authentic Mexican cooking. Her recipe for Pavo Navideño delivers all the amazing flavor you’d find in Mexico. She even provides tips for deep defrosting a whole turkey.
The star of this recipe is the homemade adobo sauce. Adobo is a traditional Mexican marinade and it serves two purposes here. First it’s rubbed directly onto the turkey to penetrate and flavor the meat. Then it’s used to baste and suffuse the turkey with even more flavor during roasting.
Maricruz’s adobo includes:
- Guajillo and chipotle chiles
- Garlic
- Spices like cumin, oregano, cinnamon
- Achiote paste for color
- Orange and lime juice
The turkey is stuffed with fragrant herbs, oranges, limes, and garlic. It slowly roasts in the oven for 2+ hours until browned and crispy-skinned. All the while, the adobo marinade infuses it with authentic Mexican zing.
This Pavo Navideño is your passport to an authentic Mexican Thanksgiving! It will fill your home with incredible aromas and deliver huge flavors.
Tips for Mexican Thanksgiving Turkey
Here are some helpful tips to make sure your Mexican turkey is flavorful, juicy and perfect:
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Use fresh, not frozen turkey – the marinade penetrates better.
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Marinate for at least 4 hours, or 24-48 hours for maximum flavor.
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Roast at a high temperature (425°F) to crisp the skin.
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Shield the breast with bacon strips or foil to prevent drying out.
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Check temperature with a meat thermometer – aim for 165°F.
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Let turkey rest at least 15-20 minutes before carving.
Delicious Additions for Your Mexican Turkey
Part of the fun of Mexican turkey is pairing it with complementary side dishes. Consider serving:
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Cornbread stuffing with chopped jalapeños and cilantro
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Homemade tortilla chips and pico de gallo
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Charro beans simmered with bacon
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Mexican rice flavored with tomato and cumin
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Elote – grilled corn on the cob with chili powder and lime
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Sweet potatoes mashed with Oaxaca cheese
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Fresh avocado slices with lime juice
With sides like these, your Mexican turkey will feel like a true fiesta! The unique flavors and aromas will make your holiday gatherings more lively and fun.
For Adventurous Holiday Cooks
If you’re looking to take your Thanksgiving dinner in a bold new direction this year, try one of these fantastic Mexican-inspired turkey recipes. The appetizing blend of smoky, spicy, and citrusy flavors is an exciting twist. Just follow the tips above for roasting success.
Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias! Surprise and delight your family and friends with Pavo Navideño or another flavorful Mexican turkey dish this year.
Approximate turkey roasting times (pounds and kilo):
- 6 lb (2.8k): 1 hr 30 min.
- 10 lb (5k): 2 hrs 15-30 min.
- 12 lb (6k): 2 hrs 35-45 min.
- 14 lb (7k): 3 hrs
- 16 lb (8k): 3 hrs 15-20 min.
- 18 lb (9k): 3 hrs 45-55 min.
- 20 lb (10 k): 4 hrs 15-20 min.
- Put your turkey on a deep baking tray while it’s defrosting to keep leaks from going through your fridge shelves.
- Put the turkey in the fridge to thaw. For every 3–4 pounds (1 5-2 kg) to completely defrost.
- Before putting the Mexican turkey in the oven, it needs to be at room temperature so that it roasts evenly.
- For every pound of turkey, it should take about 13 to 15 minutes to cook.
- To make sure you got everything out of the turkey, you should always check both bodies.
- After you roast your pavo navideño, give it 20 minutes to rest. Then carve it and serve it.
- Don’t throw away the juices from the pan; use them to make gravy or soup broth!
In Mexico, Pavo Navideño is usually served with many sides that depend on family preferences. There are lots of tasty foods that go well with this holiday favorite, like salads, pasta, rice, and even tamales.
Is Pavo Navideño spicy?
This Mexican turkey is mildly spicy because of the guajillo chilies used to make the marinade sauce. However, as a reference, guajillo peppers are less spicy than jalapeños.
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