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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
Honey-Glazed Turkey
Honey-Glazed Turkey Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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  • Total Time
    Prep: 25 min. Bake: 3-3/4 hours
  • Makes
    20 servings (8 cups stuffing)

Ingredients

  • 1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
  • GLAZE:
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • STUFFING:
  • 1/2 cup butter, cubed
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped celery
  • 12 cups unseasoned stuffing cubes or dry bread cubes
  • 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups boiling water

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 325°. Place turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Bake for 2 hours.
  • In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients; brush over turkey. Bake 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours longer or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°. Baste occasionally with pan drippings. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.)
  • For stuffing, in a Dutch oven, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until tender. Add stuffing cubes and seasonings; toss to combine. Stir in enough boiling water to reach desired moistness; transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, covered, for 1 hour. Uncover and bake until lightly browned, 10-15 minutes longer.
  • Remove turkey from oven; cover loosely with foil and let stand 15 minutes before carving. If desired, skim fat and thicken pan drippings for gravy. Serve with turkey and stuffing.

Honey-Glazed Turkey Tips

How do I make my turkey golden brown?

  The caramelization of the sugars in the honey glaze will naturally help make your turkey golden brown in this recipe. But you can also apply a layer of fat (olive oil, canola or vegetable oil, or softened butter) across the skin of the entire turkey prior to baking to roast it up golden and seal in moisture at the same time. While a golden bird is just one of the results you’re after, check out our full guide to find even more tips on how to cook turkey to perfection. 

Can I change the flavor of the glaze?

  You can easily switch up the flavor of the turkey’s glaze to your tastes! Keep the salt and pepper as your base seasonings, then experiment with different spices and spice blends in place of the garlic powder, onion powder, and rosemary. Try swapping out molasses for the honey for a deeper, richer flavor, or go for a honey-citrus glaze or an herb-glazed turkey, too.   

How do you thicken or thin the glaze?

  One quick and easy way to either thicken or thin your glaze is to apply heat. If the glaze seems too thick, place it in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until it is of a thinner consistency that will be easier to brush onto your turkey. On the other hand, if your glaze is too thin, heat the mixture over low to medium heat until it gently bubbles and evaporates a bit, stirring constantly (so it does not burn) until the liquid has reduced a bit and reaches the desired thickness.   Research contributed by Mark Neufang, Taste of Home Culinary Assistant
Nutrition Facts
7 ounces cooked turkey with about 1/3 cup stuffing: 464 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 133mg cholesterol, 794mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 51g protein.

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Reviews

Click stars to rate
Average Rating:
  • ohtoodles
    Nov 20, 2013

    Do you need to brine the turkey?

  • LindsayFanali1EliteModel
    Nov 22, 2012

    PERFECTION! It was OUT OF THIS WORLD! EVERYBODY LUVED BOTH, The Turkey & The Stuffing! They ALL WANT THE RECIPE!

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