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Our 23 Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

Make your bird the star of the show

By SAVEUR Editors

Updated: November 7, 2017

When brainstorming Thanksgiving dinner ideas, the turkey is always the centerpiece of the feast. We'll show you how to cook the perfect Thanksgiving turkey with our favorite recipes for grilling, slow-roasting, and stuffing your bird, because cooking a whole turkey doesn't have to be intimidating. Whether you're looking for a traditional roast turkey with vegetables or a glazed bird to spice up your Thanksgiving dishes, our best Thanksgiving turkey recipes will help you throw the ultimate Thanksgiving.

Pancetta-Wrapped Roast Turkey Breast (Turketta) — Due to our collective memory of overcooked holiday birds, turkey breast has the unfortunate reputation of being boring and dry. Thankfully, when it is cooked off the bone and seasoned appropriately, it can in fact be extremely juicy and flavorful. Get the recipe for Pancetta-Wrapped Roast Turkey Breast (Turketta) »Matt Taylor-Gross

Easy, Perfect Roast Turkey and Gravy — This is the easiest and most satisfying roast turkey you can make, simple enough for beginners but no less rewardingly juicy, flavorful, and golden brown than other more complicated techniques. There is no need to tie the legs or tuck the wings, and no basting necessary. But if you simply cannot imagine not basting your bird, use melted duck fat or olive oil, not the juices from the pan (their wetness can prevent the turkey's skin from crisping). Get the recipe for Easy, Perfect Roast Turkey and Gravy »Matt Taylor-Gross

Fast and Juicy Roast Turkey in Parts — Breaking the bird down into its primal cuts allows the meat to cook more evenly, and in half the time. It also frees up more space in the oven—enough to cook as many as three turkeys at once—while you simultaneously simmer the carcass into a quick stock for gravy. Get the recipe for Fast and Juicy Roast Turkey in Parts »Michelle Heimerman

Tamarind-Glazed Roast Turkey Recipe, Thanksgiving turkey recipe, african turkey recipe — The flavors of Senegal—sour tamarind, fiery scotch bonnets, and pungent fish sauce—add umami-rich depth to this unexpected Thanksgiving bird. Get the recipe for Tamarind-Glazed Roast Turkey »Ryan Liebe

Brined and Roasted Turkey — Brining turkeys has become de rigueur in many American households. Get the recipe for Brined and Roasted Turkey »Vanessa Rees

Bouchon Roast Turkey — At California's Bouchon Bistro, turkey is divided into pieces for cooking to maximize its flavor and texture. The drumsticks and breast soak in a tenderizing brine—honey, lemon, herbs, garlic, and lots of salt—before roasting, while thighs are deboned and stuffed with an herbed turkey mousse for roulades. Get the recipe for Bouchon Roast Turkey »Eilon Paz

Herbes de Provence Grilled Turkey — Massachusetts-based home cook Eric Silvers, a senior astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, employs an innovative method for cooking his family's Thanksgiving turkey each year: The bird is set atop a rack inside a disposable aluminum pan, which is nestled directly into the coals of a grill, and charred at a very high temperature. The result is a crisp-skinned, juicy, smoke-kissed turkey that's finished in just a fraction of the time it would take to roast it. Get the recipe for Herbes de Provence Grilled Turkey »Andre Baranowski

Roast Turkey with Celery-Root Stuffing and Giblet Gravy — Celery root brings an earthy dimension to the stuffing for this crisp-skinned bird, which is dressed in a white wine, giblet, and mushroom gravy. Get the recipe for Roast Turkey with Celery-Root Stuffing and Giblet Gravy »Michael Kraus

Chile-Rubbed Turkey with Beet Stuffing — New Mexico and arbol chiles create a sauce similar to a mole that coats the turkey, while adding spice and depth. Get the recipe for Chile-Rubbed Turkey with Beet Stuffing »Todd Coleman

Roast Turkey with Root Vegetables and Gravy — Roasting turkey wings, legs, and breasts over root vegetables, butternut squash, and herbs not only lends the meat a sweet and vegetal flavor but also allows you to treat each piece like a mini roast that can be taken out of the oven as soon as it's cooked to the correct temperature. Get the recipe for Roast Turkey with Root Vegetables and Gravy »Todd Coleman

Slow-Smoked and Spice-Brined Turkey Recipe, thanksgiving turkey recipes — Inspired by the flavors of Peking duck, this turkey is infused with a Sichuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, and fresh ginger brine, then lightly smoked over oak. Get the recipe for Slow-Smoked and Spice-Brined Turkey »Matt Taylor-Gross

Turkey Breast Roulade with Chestnut Stuffing — This rolled turkey breast cooks in about an hour, making it perfect for last minute Thanksgiving get-togethers. The delicately-flavored chestnut stuffing keeps the white meat moist, while reduced chicken stock adds rich flavor to the quick gravy. Get the recipe for Turkey Breast Roulade with Chestnut Stuffing »Anna Stockwell

Braised Turkey in Green Mole — Deconstructed turkey braised in a refreshing green mole provides a light and quick alternative to the standard Thanksgiving bird. Get the recipe for Braised Turkey in Green Mole »Helen Rosner

The Perfect Roast Turkey — This fail-proof roasting method produces the tastiest, juiciest Thanksgiving turkey. Get the recipe for The Perfect Roast Turkey »Todd Coleman

Herb-Roasted Turkey with Hominy, Oyster, and Sausage Dressing — Rubbing the turkey with olive oil and fresh herbs yields a moist, flavorful bird with crisp skin. An apple cider gravy and a dressing of hominy, sausage, and oysters add richness to the festive Thanksgiving centerpiece. Get the recipe for Herb-Roasted Turkey with Hominy, Oyster, and Sausage Dressing »Beth Rooney

Roasted Turkey with Achiote Citrus Marinade — Achiote paste gives the rub for this recipe a deep red hue, making for a visually striking roast holiday bird. Get the recipe for Roasted Turkey with Achiote Citrus Marinade »Helen Rosner

Turkey with Sauerkraut, Riesling, and Pork Sausages — Turkey soaks up aromatic flavors like a sponge, and this riff on the Alsatian dish choucroute garnie is a case in point: as the bird roasts under a cloak of bacon and braises in sauerkraut, wine, apples, and a bundle of spices, it takes on the piney fragrance of juniper berries, the fruity flavor of the riesling wine, and some of the smokiness and savor of the pork. Serve this dish with the traditional choucroute accompaniments: sausages, boiled potatoes, and tangy mustard. Get the recipe for Turkey with Sauerkraut, Riesling, and Pork Sausages »Todd Coleman

Roast Turkey with Cornbread Dressing — LouElla Hill, a Memphis, Tennessee, cook who was famous for her Thanksgiving feasts, liked to roast her turkeys in ordinary brown paper grocery bags to keep them moist. Today's recycled paper might contain toxins that can leach into food, so we recommend using roasting bags specifically designed for cooking instead. Get the recipe for Roast Turkey with Cornbread Dressing »Helen Rosner

Turkey in Mole Poblano — It may be called the great American bird, but turkey was first domesticated in Mexico, where, as James Beard once wrote, "it was to that country what beef is to the United States." One of our favorite preparations is a celebratory dish from the Mexican state of Puebla: a slow braise of breast meat in a deep, dark mole that's shot through with three kinds of dried chiles, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds and enriched with chocolate and spices. The spicy, sweet, savory sauce can be sopped up with hot tortillas and rice, or even crusty bread. Get the recipe for Turkey in Mole Poblano »Todd Coleman

Boudin-Stuffed Turkey Breast — Butterflying breast meat and stuffing it is a cook's trick for ensuring a flavorful, juicy, and evenly cooked holiday roast. This dish, inspired by a recipe from the chef Donald Link of Herbsaint and Cochon restaurants in New Orleans, has a Cajun accent: the stuffing of boudin (a spicy pork and rice sausage) gives the turkey a piquant appeal. The best part? Rolling the breast and slicing it enables everyone at the table to have a piece with plenty of sumptuous stuffing and crackly skin. Get the recipe for Boudin-Stuffed Turkey Breast »Todd Coleman

Grilled Turkey Breast with Caramelized Onion, Cracked Black Pepper, and Vinegar — Black pepper is a major ingredient in this dish, so be sure to use fresh-cracked as opposed to pre-cracked pepper. Get the recipe for Grilled Turkey Breast with Caramelized Onion, Cracked Black Pepper, and Vinegar»Helen Rosner

Roasted Capon with Sage Stuffing — Capon with sage stuffing makes a nice change from holiday turkey. This type of bird is readily available during the winter holiday months, but usually must be special-ordered. Get the recipe for Roasted Capon with Sage Stuffing »James Baigrie

Roast Turkey with Madeira Truffle Butter — This recipe yields a Thanksgiving turkey that is moist, delicious, and a perfect foil for inventive accompaniments, such as our Madeira-Truffle Butter, Multicultural Stuffing, and Rich Gravy recipes. Just garnish the bird with a few sprigs of fresh herbs before servings, and you've got the makings of a lovely holiday dinner. Get the recipe for Roast Turkey with Madeira Truffle Butter »Christopher Hirsheimer

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