If the idea of handling a 10-pound bird to feed a crowd seems daunting, you’re not alone.
There are always lots of questions for hosts to answer leading up to Thanksgiving. Should you buy your turkey fresh or frozen? Should you brine it, and for how long? And once you’ve figured out the time tables, you’re stuck with the task of finding the right aromatics, the cooking time per weight, and whether butter or ghee should go underneath the skin.
Fear not, because there are many of different routes to make your turkey stand out this year. Whether you want to go the traditional route or find exciting new ways to cook your bird, we’ve got you covered with these show-stopping turkey recipes.
If you’ve got a grill, try a smoked turkey recipe using cherry or apple wood chips. You can butterfly the turkey and try spatchcocking, or pound turkey breasts and roll them up with mushroom fillings. We found turkey recipes both with and without stuffing, and ideas for using the turkey drippings to make drool-worthy gravy, sans flour.
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For smaller crowds, skip the fuss and focus on making drumsticks, turkey thighs, or a turkey breast instead of the whole bird. Or pull out your slow cooker and let those turkey parts simmer all day in the crockpot.
Whatever your holiday needs are, this list of great turkey recipes from bloggers everywhere will ensure a healthy and delicious Thanksgiving turkey for all your family and friends. And we promise, there will be no dearth of cranberries, sage, rosemary or citrus this year!
Turmeric and Honey Roast Turkey
This turkey recipe gets a sumptuous glaze of honey and turmeric. The savory sweet aroma alone is enough to make your heart skip a beat.
Recipe: PaleoHacks | Turmeric and Honey Roast Turkey
Easy Roasted Turkey with Sage Butter
Everyone knows to put a little butter under the skin, but when it’s sage butter, it’s a whole new ballgame. Lemons and apples help flavor the pan juices here, too.
Recipe: I Breathe I’m Hungry | Easy Roasted Turkey with Sage Butter
Maple Glazed Spicy Apple Turkey
This bird is stuffed with sage and steamed with a maple, apple, star anise and cinnamon mixture for an amazingly aromatic turkey.
Recipe: The Healthy Foodie | Maple Glazed Spicy Apple Turkey
Perfect Smoked Turkey
Fire up your grill and try something a little different this year. A combination of apple wood and cherry wood chips give your turkey that deep smoky taste you can’t get any other way.
Recipe: The Domestic Man | Perfect Smoked Turkey
Garlic and Herb Roasted Turkey
Lemon, onion, garlic, carrots and celery help tease out the flavors of the turkey in this bright and exquisite dish.
Recipe: Delish | Garlic and Herb Roasted Turkey
Butterflied Big Bird
Try a completely new technique this year in this spatchcocked and dry-brined recipe. Don’t worry – the step-by-step pictures and video make this approach completely doable.
Recipe: Nom Nom Paleo | Butterflied Big Bird
Grill-Roasted Turkey
This crispy-skinned grilled turkey, stuffed with red onions and oranges, needs to cook for only about three hours.
Recipe: Bon Appetit | Grill-Roasted Turkey
Mom’s Roast Turkey
This easy, home-style recipe is tried and true, and only takes 15 minutes of prep work.
Recipe: Simply Recipes | Mom’s Roast Turkey
Paleo Herb Roasted Turkey Legs
Skip messing with the whole turkey and give everyone their own leg instead! This recipe includes a honey brine for a sweet and succulent final product.
Recipe: Paleo Cupboard | Paleo Herb Roasted Turkey Legs
Simple Roast Turkey Breast
Alternatively, you can just focus on bone-in turkey breasts, rubbed completely in melted duck fat for simple and moist main course.
Recipe: Cook Eat Paleo | Simple Roast Turkey Breast
Dry-Brined Roast Turkey
Rub the turkey all over with kosher salt and rosemary, and you’ll get the same results as a regular brine – with far less fuss.
Recipe: Good + Simple | Dry-Brined Roast Turkey
Maple-Glazed Turkey with Bacon and Sage Butter
Whether you brine your bird or not, it will invariably come out delicious when you drape it with bacon.
Recipe: Five Heart Home | Maple-Glazed Turkey with Bacon and Sage Butter
Herb-Crusted Turkey with Apple-Cranberry and Veal Stuffing
If you have your heart set on a traditional-style stuffing, try this almond, apple, cranberry and veal stuffing that will trounce anything made with bread. Fair warning: this recipe is pretty advanced and not recommended for first-time turkey roasters!
Recipe: Paleo Leap | Herb-Crusted Turkey with Apple-Cranberry and Veal Stuffing
Herbes de Provence Grilled Turkey
With lots of herbs like rosemary, thyme and parsley, this crispy-skinned juicy turkey just might be the best reason you’ve found for turning on your grill this November.
Recipe: Saveur | Herbes de Provence Grilled Turkey
Braised Turkey in Green Mole
This deconstructed and braised turkey cooks in a homemade mole sauce of cilantro, tomatillos, and toasted pumpkin and cumin seeds for a Mexican-inspired take on Thanksgiving this year.
Recipe: Saveur | Braised Turkey in Green Mole
Turkey for Two
Having a small Thanksgiving this year? This recipe uses a bone-in turkey breast for a juicy roasted turkey, topped with a warm, apple-cranberry compote.
Recipe: Paleo Newbie | Turkey for Two
Wild Mushroom Butter Roasted Turkey
Wild dried mushrooms and clarified butter (ghee) come together to ensure that your turkey never tastes bland again.
Recipe: Paleo Leap | Wild Mushroom Butter Roasted Turkey
Crock Pot Turkey Breast
Why didn’t we ever think of this? With a little citrus, cranberries and a turkey just large enough to fit into your slow cooker, you’ll free up your oven space for all those side dishes you need to keep warm this Thanksgiving.
Recipe: Stupid Easy Paleo | Crock Pot Turkey Breast
Savory Roast Turkey
This simple turkey recipe is more about the method for succulent meat, rather than the added ingredients. As a bonus, there’s a Paleo-friendly gravy recipe included!
Recipe: Real Food Forager | Savory Roast Turkey
Simple Herb and Garlic Roasted Turkey Breast
Dress up your turkey breast with lots of green herbs for a delicious, fuss-free Thanksgiving dinner.
Recipe: Flavor the Moments | Simple Herb and Garlic Roasted Turkey Breast
Roasted Turkey Breast with Lemon and Oregano
We all love turkey, but sometimes it needs a little nudge in the moisture department. Roasted with chicken broth to steam your whole bird, you’ll see that just a little extra juice will make all the difference.
Recipe: Foodie Crush | Roasted Turkey Breast with Lemon and Oregano
Herb Roasted Turkey Thighs
If you’re a dark meat lover, focus on these turkey thighs seasoned with lots of fresh herbs and roasted with veggies. You get your main dish and your first side dish in one go!
Recipe: Wishful Chef | Herb Roasted Turkey Thighs
Mushroom & Sage Rolled Turkey Breast
This roll-up method of roasted turkey only looks complicated. The beautiful mushroom swirls inside each slice will delight and impress your guests.
Recipe: All Day I Dream About Food | Mushroom & Sage Rolled Turkey Breast
Stuffed Turkey Rubbed with Duck Fat and Herbs
Because turkeys aren’t naturally fatty, this blogger suggests making a rosemary and thyme duck fat compound and rubbing it all over the bird for a big flavor boost. Count us in!
Recipe: Breaking Muscle | Stuffed Turkey Rubbed with Duck Fat and Herbs
(You’ll Also Love: 31 Thanksgiving Side Dishes You’ll Want to Make All Year Round)
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