36 Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes for an Extra Juicy and Delicious Bird
All the best ways to prepare this show-stopper at dinner!
There’s so much to think about when prepping Thanksgiving. Between the full spread of Thanksgiving sides and Thanksgiving desserts, it’s all too easy for the Thanksgiving turkey recipe to become an afterthought. But the bird deserves its top spot as the show-stopping centerpiece of the table (yes, even if you’re serving tofurkey!). Think about it: You may have to spend days thawing the turkey, and then more time seasoning the bird — even longer, so you know you want all your hard effort to pay off with a bird that tastes amazing. (Though if you’re short on time, we’ve got a few tasty solutions for that too!)
No doubt, a traditional roast turkey is always a crowd-pleaser. But if you’re craving something a little different this year, there’s actually a surprising number of creative ways to give yours a flavorful spin. (And there’s even more ways to transform the leftover turkey.) You can choose to go with roasted, brined, stuffed, grilled, fried, or you can even infuse it with some exciting new flavors or herbs. And if it’s your first time pulling together the holiday dinner, or maybe you’re hosting a small group this year or don’t have much time, you can whip up a just-as-impressive-looking turkey roulade instead of cooking a whole bird (Another bonus: It won’t hog up your entire oven either). So before you even begin thinking about your Thanksgiving menu, you may want to start with a standout turkey recipe that will happily be gobbled up by all.
Best Ever Turkey
This is turkey is all about stuffing aromatics like garlic, bay leaves thyme and onions into the main cavity. For an extra flavorful gravy, scatter herbs on the roasting pan where the juices will collect.
Get the Best Ever Turkey recipe.
RELATED: 10 Very Important Turkey Cooking Tips You Need to Know
Herb-Roasted Turkey Recipe
Who needs scented candles when you can just stuff your turkey with lots of sage that makes your house smell amazing as it roasts?
Get the Herb-Roasted Turkey recipe.
Stuffed Turkey Breast
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner for a small crowd? Don’t worry about roasting a whole bird and try our tasty herb stuffed turkey breast instead.
Get the Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe.
RELATED: 21 Easy, Romantic Dinner Ideas for Two to Make Tonight
Classic Roast Turkey Recipe
Let's start with the basics, shall we? This beautiful roasted bird keeps it classy, classic, and straightforward. Perfect for a first-timer.
Get the Classic Roast Turkey recipe.
Cajun-Spiced Turkey Recipe
We took a cue from New Orleans cuisine and coated our turkey with a blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and other Cajun spices.
Get the Cajun-Spiced Turkey recipe.
Golden-Glazed Turkey Recipe
We've figured out how to cook the bird and the veggie sides all at once without adjusting the oven. (Hint: Timing is everything!)
Thyme-Roasted Turkey and Gravy Recipe
It's about thyme we give thanks to the fresh herb that packs an extra (licorice-like) punch, and brings this simple roasted turkey to the next level.
Luscious Roast Turkey Recipe
Meet our most popular Thanksgiving star, courtesy of the one and only Ina Garten.
Get the Luscious Roast Turkey recipe.
RELATED: 19 Delicious Ina Garten Thanksgiving Recipes for a Truly Sophisticated Feast
Roast Turkey Breast Recipe
Want to cut down on dishes this year? Try this one-pan turkey stunner.
Get the Roast Turkey Breast recipe.
Perfect Roast Turkey with Herbes-de-Provence Rub
This Herbes de Provence rub, which includes dried lavender, salt, white peppercorns, dried thyme and fennel seeds, makes all the difference.
Get the Perfect Roast Turkey with Herbes-de-Provence Rub recipe.
Sage and Orange Roast Turkey Recipe
You may think citrus should be reserved for Christmas. Well, think again.
Get the Sage and Orange Roast Turkey recipe from Woman's Day.
Thyme-and-Sage Roasted Turkey
Woodsy herbs like thyme and sage bring tons of flavor to juicy turkey — and will make your kitchen smell amazing as the bird roasts!
Get the Thyme-and-Sage Turkey recipe from Woman's Day.
Herb-Roasted Turkey Recipe
Fresh herbs can take your turkey from "average" to one that the whole family will be talking about for years to come.
Get the Herb-Roasted Turkey recipe from Woman's Day.
RELATED: 70 Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Are Easy to Make for Turkey Day
Bacon Maple-Orange Turkey
Lay slices of bacon over your bird before baking, they lend extra juiciness and salty flavor.
Get the Bacon Maple-Orange Turkey recipe from Woman's Day.
Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey
Fresh orange, rosemary and a hefty dose of butter give this simple bird super flavor.
Get the Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Grilled Citrus-and-Spice Turkey
Free up oven space and take the turkey cooking outside!
Get the Grilled Citrus-and-Spice Turkey recipe from Country Living.
Herb and Lemon Stuffed Turkey
For when you’re craving those classic, homey vibes for your holiday dinner, lean into lemon, rosemary and sage.
Get the Herb and Lemon Stuffed Turkey recipe from Woman's Day.
Garlic and Herb Roasted Turkey
Stuff garlic, lemon, onions and thyme into the turkey's main cavity before roasting — it'll infuse the bird with flavor from the inside out.
Get the Garlic and Herb Roasted Turkey recipe from Woman's Day.
Seasoned Roasted Turkey
Rubbed generously with Bell's seasoning, this crispy and juicy bird is the standout recipe your Thanksgiving table's been waiting for.
Get the Seasoned Roast Turkey recipe from Country Living.
Dry-Brined Lemon-Rosemary Roasted Turkey
One big benefit of dry brining? Less mess than a wet brine! Just rub the turkey down with salt and seasonings, place on a baking sheet in a large plastic bag and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Get the Dry-Brined Lemon-Rosemary Roasted Turkey recipe from Woman's Day.
Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Yolanda Wikiel is a freelance writer and editor based in New Jersey, where she lives with her husband, overly energetic toddler and supremely lazy calico. She has covered everything from home, food, and life skills to fashion, travel, and consumer goods for over a decade. Her work has appeared in Parents, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Oprah and Woman’s Day.
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