Are you ready to make the BEST Thanksgiving turkey recipe? Trust me, it’s easier than you think!
You don’t need to brine and you don’t need to baste. With just a few easy steps, you can make a roasted turkey recipe that is golden, juicy, and unbelievably flavorful. It will wow your family and guests.
There’s something about cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving that intimidates a lot of people. I totally get it. I remember being intimidated the first time I cooked a turkey. It’s because you don’t want to mess up a big holiday meal for your family and friends, right?
But here’s the funny thing: it’s really easy to cook a turkey! Just picture cooking a big chicken. It might take longer to cook, but other than that, the process is pretty darn similar.
Some people like to get fancy with fancy smokers, flavors, and tools, but you don’t need any of that to make a classic, juicy, and very flavorful turkey. Just follow my Thanksgiving game plan so you know what to buy and cook when. Then follow the recipe and tips below. Easy!.
Besides the turkey, you just need herbs, aromatics, and a little seasoning. Simple really is best!
I also put vegetables under my turkey (like celery, carrots, and onion) while it’s roasting. This isn’t required, but I do recommend it. It will not only make your turkey taste better, but it will also make your turkey gravy taste even better!
Cooking up a tasty turkey is one of the keys to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. While seasoning the outside of the turkey helps getting flavor inside the bird takes your holiday centerpiece to the next level. Read on for 15 clever ways to pump up the flavor inside your turkey.
Fill the Cavity with Aromatics
With the turkey cavity now vacant since you shouldn’t stuff it with dressing, you can add aromatics like a quartered onion, a few smashed cloves of garlic, orange, apple, or lemon wedges, and a couple of hearty herbs. Do this before tying the legs together, and remember to remove it before carving. The onion, garlic, citrus, and herbs impart incredible flavor into the turkey as it roasts.
Make a Flavored Butter
Compound butters are easy to whip up and add incredible flavor when slipped under the turkey skin. Options like herb butter, garlic Parmesan butter, or even brown sugar bourbon butter melt down over the turkey breast and thighs, basting it from the inside out.
Use Fresh Herbs
Sprinkle chopped fresh herbs like rosemary thyme, and sage inside the cavity and under the skin of the turkey. Their woodsy aromas permeate the meat in the most delicious way. The classic Thanksgiving herbs pair perfectly with turkey.
Stuff with Lemons
Wedges of fresh lemon not only add bright flavor to mild turkey meat, but they also help to steam and moisten the breast. Try adding a couple lemon halves to the main cavity and neck cavity of your turkey.
Season Under the Skin
Get your seasonings up close and personal to the turkey meat by rubbing them directly onto the flesh under the skin This puts the spices and herbs in direct contact with the meat rather than just on the surface for maximum flavor impact,
Make a Flavored Rub
Rubs made from spices, dried herbs, citrus zest, brown sugar, and other aromatic ingredients are a flavor powerhouse for poultry. Apply your homemade blend directly onto the turkey meat before roasting.
Slip in Some Garlic
The mellow sweetness of roasted garlic tastes amazing with turkey. Slip some bulb halves or loose peeled cloves into the cavity before roasting. They’ll add an underlying richness.
Use a Brine
Soaking a turkey in a saltwater brine solution before cooking infuses it with extra flavor and moisture. You can make basic brines with water, salt, sugar and spices or experiment with fruit juices, teas, and herbs.
Stuff with Onions
Quartered onions placed inside the turkey cavity add a sweetness that complements the meat well. The onion quarters also release moisture to help keep the breast juicy.
Go for Citrus
Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit – all make excellent turkey stuffers. Citrus fruits add bright flavor and aromatic oils that seamlessly pair with turkey. Try different combinations and slices versus wedges.
Add Fresh Herbs
Use woody herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage to infuse the turkey cavity with flavor. Heartier than delicate herbs, these stand up well to roasting. Arrange sprigs and leaves inside the cavity before cooking.
Use Compound Butter
Flavored butters made with herbs, citrus, honey, spices, etc. lend incredible flavor when slipped under the turkey skin. As the butter melts, it bastes the meat from the inside.
Stuff with Apples
The sweet-tart flavor of apples makes a pleasant pairing for turkey. Core an apple and stuff the center with herbs, citrus slices, or aromatics before placing inside the turkey.
Rub with Spices
Make your own spice rub to coat the turkey meat before roasting. A blend of brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, paprika and other spices gives a flavor punch.
Inject the Meat
Injecting the turkey breast and thighs with a butter and broth mixture guarantees extra juiciness and flavor. Commercial injectors allow you to pump the liquid deep into the meat.
So there you have it – 15 clever ways to get incredible flavor inside your Thanksgiving turkey. Herbs, citrus, onions, garlic, butter and more all lend their aromatic qualities to turkey meat. Use these techniques and your bird will be moist, delicious and the star of your holiday table. Happy Thanksgiving cooking!
How to Prepare and Cook Turkey
Thaw and remove giblets. Once your turkey is thawed, let it rest at room temperature for an hour. Take out the neck and the bag of giblets, which can be found in the large or smaller neck cavity (check both to make sure you got everything). You can save these items for gravy or discard them.
Pat dry and stuff. Pat the turkey dry with a paper towel. Removing any extra moisture ensures extra crispy skin. Then, put a lot of salt and pepper on the inside of the turkey and stuff it with lemon, quartered onion, and fresh herb sprigs. If anything, go lighter on the sage than the other herbs, as it’s more potent.
Make herb butter. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme to softened butter in a small bowl. Stir to make herb butter.
Spread herb butter all over. Loosen the skin of the turkey on top of the breasts by gently sliding your fingers underneath. Add about 1/3 of the herb compound butter and spread it evenly underneath the skin. Spread the remainder of the herb butter all around the outside of the turkey.
Don’t truss the legs! Resist the urge to tie the turkey legs together. Even though trussing makes the turkey look great, it stops the air from moving around properly, which causes the meat to cook unevenly. So even though your mom (and likely grandmother) did it, skip it.
Cook the turkey. Choose whether to put the turkey on a roasting rack or a bed of vegetables. I like to do both. Then there’s only one thing left to do – cook the turkey!.
What Size Turkey to Buy?
The general rule of thumb is 1 pound of turkey per person. Or 1 ½ pounds of turkey per person if you want leftovers (and we always want leftovers, right?). It’s always best to have a little extra turkey than not enough, so I recommend:
- Less than 8 people: A 10 to 12 pound turkey will be too much for you, but it will be a good size for the group. If it’s any smaller, you’ll pay more for bones than meat. Remember, you can freeze turkey leftovers.
- For 8 people: Get a 10 to 12 pound turkey
- For 12 people: Get a 14 to 18 pound turkey
- for 16 people: Get an 18 to 24 pound turkey
- If you have more than 16 people, you should buy two turkeys instead of one huge one.
What can I put in my turkey for flavor?
FAQ
How do you get the best flavor out of a turkey?
How can I improve my turkey flavor?
What is the secret to a moist turkey?
How to season a turkey for the best flavor?
How do you add flavor to a Turkey?
Rub flavored butter underneath the skin of your turkey to add another layer of flavor to your traditional turkey while also crisping up the skin. This is really an easy way to add flavor to your main course, so for those hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, don’t be afraid to try this technique. Marinades aren’t just for the grill!
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
What flavorings do you use for a roasted turkey?
Its the same flavorings you would use for a roasted turkey! You’ll need a mirepoix of shallots, carrots and celery and tons of fresh herbs. You’ll be adding some heavy cream, panko bread crumbs and lemon to the meat mixture to give it some crunch and moisture.
What can you put in a Thanksgiving turkey?
Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges. The citrus will add a nice brightness to the turkey and keep it perfectly moist. Here’s a full list of all the ways you can stuff your holiday turkey —that don’t include stuffing.
What herbs go well with a Thanksgiving turkey?
But you can expand upon these basics by using fall herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage, which are natural accompaniments for turkey. You can branch out further with your favorite seasoning blends. To add extra flavor and tenderness to your Thanksgiving turkey, try a basic brine or you could even go for a dry brine.
Can you make seasoning mix before cooking a Turkey?
Let the seasoned turkey sit in the fridge for 24 hours or at least overnight. For the crispiest skin, leave it uncovered. Yes, you can make your seasoning mix ahead of using it. Store in a glass or plastic container with a tight lid in a cool, dark, dry place until ready to use.