30 Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes Worth Waiting For All Year

Like many of you, I always serve turkey for our family’s Thanksgiving meal. But instead of roasting a whole bird, I opt for a turkey breast since most of us prefer white meat. The herb butter basting sauce keeps it so moist, and it’s easy to carve. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana

There’s no place like home-style when roasting the big bird. Instead of sage stuffing with turkey, stuff this bird with fresh sage and sprigs of thyme. —Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I jazz up turkey Creole style with the trinity of onions, bell peppers and celery—plus a stuffing that gets hotter and hotter the longer it sits. —Eric Olsson, Macomb, Michigan

This chunky stew makes a hearty supper, especially in the fall and winter. It’salso a great way to use extra turkey during the holidays. —Lori Schlecht, Wimbledon, North Dakota

I’ve tried fancy stuffing recipes for our holiday bird, but none hits the spot like my mother’s simple mixture of bread, eggs and caramelized vegetables. Have it on any holiday. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

When the leaves start turning, it’s turkey time at our house. We use maple-sage brine to help brown the bird and make the meat incredibly juicy. —Kim Forni, Laconia, New Hampshire

When herbs are plentiful in my garden, I prepare this turkey recipe. The turkey stays moist in the slow cooker and is bursting with herb flavors. When I served this to our Bible study potluck group, everyone wanted the recipe! —Sue Jurack, Mequon, Wisconsin

Impress your holiday visitors with this fancier twist on the traditional casserole. —Kristine Blauert, Wabasha, Minnesota

I season turkey with a blend of rosemary, garlic and paprika. Because I rub half of the mixture directly on the meat under the skin, I can remove the skin before serving and not lose any of the flavor. The result is an entree that’s lower in fat, yet delicious—the perfect centerpiece for holiday meals. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas

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

Basted with a simple glaze, this wonderfully moist and tender turkey bakes to a lovely golden brown. Make it the centerpiece of your holiday table; guests will be glad you did. —Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, Texas

I know dried cranberries may seem like an odd ingredient to include in this dish, but they add just a hint of sweetness that makes this easy casserole so special. —Gilda Lester, Millsboro, Delaware

Fresh thyme and marjoram lend amazing flavor to turkey breast. It comes out of the slow cooker perfectly tender. —Laurie Mace, Los Osos, California

It’s easy for flavors to get lost when using too many seasonings together. When in doubt, a simple combination of butter and fresh thyme captures the essence of Thanksgiving for a classic turkey dinner. —Alma Winberry, Great Falls, Montana

Ease the holiday time crunch with a make-ahead turkey recipe that’s ready to serve when you are. It’s a great choice for potlucks, too. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I love Latin food so I created this recipe that combines wonderful spices and fresh ingredients. This is a traditional turkey recipe with a healthier twist because it uses chicken sausage instead of chorizo. —Melissa Lauer, San Antonio, Texas

My mom made this stew when I was young, and it was always a hit. Since it’s not time-consuming to make I can fix it on a weekend for our children, who love the tender dumplings. —Becky Mohr, Appleton, Wisconsin

My family enjoys this Thanksgiving turkey because it cooks up tender, tasty and golden brown. Build up flavor by marinating the meat, then grill it to add a tempting barbecued flavor. —Ken Churches, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

This easy turkey recipe is sure to be popular in your home. Everyone will love the taste, and you’ll love how quickly it comes together. —Heidi Vawdrey, Riverton, Utah

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 meat will stay tender and juicy. —Suzanne Anctil, West Vancouver, British Columbia

I remember my mom making this soup; now I make it for my kids as often as I can. It’s a good way to use up leftover vegetables. Sometimes I add a can of rinsed and drained kidney or garbanzo beans. —Angela Goodman, Kaneohe, Hawaii

I use this recipe often for an easy Sunday dinner. The turkey breast gets a “holiday treatment” when served with cranberry gravy seasoned with cinnamon, cloves and allspice. —Lois Woodward, Okeechobee, Florida

Apple, cranberry and raspberry flavors blend with fresh herbs in a tangy glaze for the roasted turkey. It’s a welcome change to a traditional entree. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho

This quick-prep recipe lets you feast on turkey at any time of year. We save the rich broth for gravy, noodles and soup making. —Joyce Hough, Annapolis, Maryland

We stuff acorn squash with leftovers like turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce. Make as much or as little as you need to use everything up. —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, Ontario

This recipe will make you love turkey again. Brining with lemon, rosemary and orange juice makes it so moist and flavorful. It’s the star attraction at our table. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas

Leftover turkey, dressing and sweet potatoes make terrific stuffing for jumbo pasta shells. We add cheese and use turkey gravy as the sauce for this crowd-pleaser. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island

A turkey breast is enough for us, but you can roast a whole bird if you’re feeding a big group. Either way, this super-succulent turkey wins the day. —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

My fiance loves to grill, so for the holidays we decided to grill our turkey instead of deep frying it. It was the best we’d ever tasted! Having the brine in the pan under the turkey catches the drippings, but also keeps everything nice and moist. Start with the breast down, then flip to the other side. —Sydney Botelho, Columbia, South Carolina

I sometimes make turkey just so I have the extras for the casserole! —Mary Jo O’Brien, Hastings, Minnesota