38 Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes Worth Waiting For All Year
Updated: Jun. 21, 2024
Make one of our best-loved Thanksgiving turkey recipes to ensure your holiday dinner is spectacular. We have the classics as well as a few new twists.
As much as we love stuffing and green bean casserole, there’s no denying turkey is the main event of the holiday meal. So, try one of our favorite Thanksgiving turkey recipes for the perfect crowning jewel. After choosing and cooking your bird, make sure you know how to carve a turkey the right way to avoid it drying out.
Then, serve your turkey with all the Thanksgiving sides and beverages. And don’t forget the pies!
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Herb-Glazed Turkey
Honey and corn syrup blend with savory herbs and seasonings to give my Thanksgiving turkey recipe a slightly sweet flavor. My tried-and-true herb turkey recipe never fails to win compliments. —Charlene Melenka, Vegreville, Alberta
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Turkey Brine
Say goodbye to dry, flavorless turkey. This turkey brine recipe creates perfectly seasoned turkey with tender, juicy meat.
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Grilled Turkey Legs
Try something different this Thanksgiving, and make grilled turkey legs. These smoky, tender turkey drumsticks cook in a fraction of the time needed for a whole turkey.
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Classic Stuffed Turkey
For years, my mother has made this moist stuffed Thanksgiving turkey recipe. Now, I do the same thing. The turkey stuffing nicely compliments the tender, juicy slices of oven-roasted turkey. —Kathi Graham, Naperville, Illinois
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Smoked Turkey
Our smoked turkey recipe uses a brine to keep the bird moist, plus a homemade dry rub to add incredible flavor. And it doesn't require a smoker or pellet grill to pull it off! Learn how to smoke a turkey using any type of grill.
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Turkey Leg Pot Roast
Well-seasoned turkey legs and tender veggies make an ideal dinner for a crisp fall day. This Thanksgiving turkey recipe couldn’t be easier! —Rick and Vegas Pearson, Cadillac, Michigan
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Romano Basil Turkey Breast
Guests will be impressed when you slice this golden, grilled turkey breast, dressed up with a flavorful layer of basil and cheese under the skin. —Darlene Markham, Rochester, New York
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Honey-Glazed Turkey
Even during the holidays, my husband wouldn't eat turkey—until I tried this recipe. Now he loves it! The sweet and spicy turkey glaze gives the bird a wonderful flavor. —Mary Smolka, Spring Grove, Illinois
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Brined Grilled Turkey Breast
You’ll want to give thanks for this mouthwatering Thanksgiving turkey recipe! A hint of spice makes this one of our best turkey recipes ever. —Tina Mirilovich, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
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BBQ Turkey
I don't remember where my sister found this BBQ turkey recipe, but it quickly became a family favorite. From the zesty, flavorful sauce and crispy skin to the juicy and tender meat, it's the best Thanksgiving turkey I've ever tried. —Valerie Delano, Cascade, Montana
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Bacon-Wrapped Turkey
Everything’s better with bacon, including turkey! This impressive Thanksgiving turkey recipe gets a blanket of bacon, which not only adds flavor but helps keep the turkey juicy. The best part? It’s easier than it looks! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Turkey and Root Veggie Sheet-Pan Dinner
My family loves turkey tenderloin so I wanted to try using it in a sheet-pan supper. The vegetables were tender and moist and the turkey was juicy. Use any of you favorite vegetables. You can add turnips to the mix for a bit of sweetness. —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
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Classic Cheesecloth Turkey
This cheesecloth turkey uses a classic method, wine-soaked cheesecloth, to give you the juiciest turkey and most flavorful gravy you've ever tasted! Pair with your favorite sides for a complete meal. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Spicy Turkey Tenderloin
Here’s a full-flavored Thanksgiving turkey recipe that will really wake up your taste buds.
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Turkey in Cream Sauce
I've been relying on this recipe for tender turkey since I first moved out on my own years ago. I serve it whenever I invite new guests to the house, and I'm constantly writing out the recipe. —Kathy-Jo Winterbottom, Pottstown, Pennsylvania
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Lemon-Herb Roasted Turkey
Lemon and thyme are the predominant flavors in this golden, tender and moist turkey that has just six ingredients. It’s so easy, we guarantee success! —Felicia Smith, Georgetown, Texas
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Grilled Huli Huli Turkey Drumsticks
I'm never one to do things traditionally, so when it came time to hosting Thanksgiving, I went in a completely tropical direction. Borrowing my favorite Hawaiian chicken recipe, I used turkey legs instead and never looked back. —Jacyn Siebert, San Francisco, California
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How to Deep-Fry a Turkey
A deep-fried turkey means tender, juicy meat that’s ready in a fraction of the time. Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to deep-fry a turkey.
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Apple & Herb Roasted Turkey
My daughter loves to help me make this moist apple turkey. Her job is to hand Mommy the ingredients—if she doesn’t eat them first! —Kimberly Jackson, Gay, Georgia
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Herbed Roast Turkey Breast
When learning how to cook turkey breast for my first formal dinner party as a newlywed, I came across this particular Thanksgiving turkey recipe. It was such a success that this turkey breast recipe has become a standby on all my entertaining menus. —Lisa Mahon Fluegeman, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Turkey Breast Tenderloins with Raspberry Sauce
Sweet and tangy raspberry sauce is a perfect match for this Thanksgiving turkey recipe. In fact, this sauce is so good, you’ll be tempted to eat it with a spoon. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
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Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast
Make this Thanksgiving dinner the easiest ever with our slow-cooker turkey breast recipe.
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Roasted Sage Turkey with Vegetable Gravy
There’s no prep like home-style when roasting the big bird. Instead of sage stuffing with turkey, fill this bird with fresh sage and thyme sprigs for the same delicious flavors. —Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Turkey Cutlets with Pan Gravy
Using cutlets or any boneless meat speeds up cooking time for this quick entree. You can use thin boneless, skinless chicken breast as well. —Margaret Wilson, Sun City, California
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Maple-Sage Brined Turkey
When the leaves start turning, it’s time for Thanksgiving turkey. We use maple-sage brine to help brown the bird and make the meat incredibly juicy. —Kim Forni, Laconia, New Hampshire
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Happy Orange Turkey
Here’s the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving feast. Champagne and oranges flavor this special bird that will become one of your favorite turkey recipes ever. —Tara Baier, Menomonie, Wisconsin
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Seasoned Roast Turkey
Rubbing the skin with melted butter keeps this simply seasoned turkey moist and tender. —Nancy Reichert, Thomasville, Georgia
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Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy
Ease the holiday time crunch with a make-ahead Thanksgiving turkey recipe that’s ready to serve when you are. It’s a great choice for potlucks, too. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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How to Grill a Turkey
It is not the most common way to cook Thanksgiving dinner, but once you learn how to grill a turkey, you will never want to make the bird any other way.
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Maple-Glazed Turkey
I prepare turkey with a taste of Canada in mind. The sweet maple flavor comes through even in the breast meat. You may start to notice it's caramelized color after about 2 hours. That's when I cover it loosely with foil while it finishes cooking. The maple-glazed turkey will stay tender and juicy. —Suzanne Anctil, West Vancouver, British Columbia
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Dry-Brined Turkey
To wet brine a turkey the traditional way, you need a container that’s large enough to hold five gallons of liquid. However, a dry brine turkey uses no water, so it takes up less space and requires much less fuss.
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How to Cook the Juiciest Instant Pot Turkey Breast Ever
This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to make Instant Pot turkey breast that’s crisp, juicy and tender.Originally Published: August 19, 2019
