This round-up collection has The Best Thanksgiving and Christmas Turkey Recipes around. From small dinners to big ones, there is something for everyone.
Holidays are around the corner and this is the time when we start looking for all kind of recipes more often, trying to plan meals for family and friends.
From turkey to sides and desserts, there is an abundance of recipes you can choose from the internet.
My collection of turkey recipes is created with the thought of helping you decide for different scenarios, from smaller celebrations to bigger ones. I hope you find something here to try.
This is a round-up where many bloggers contributed with their creations. There are so many beautiful recipes to choose from and all of them are amazing.
Thank you all for participating!
However, one of the questions people have every year when they host Thanksgiving is how much turkey do they need to make. It is important to know in advance how much meat is necessary for each guest and how many leftovers you will end up with. This will obviously determine the size of the turkey you will end up buying.
How much turkey meat per person?
This is a rule that most chefs and home cooks agree with. If you want to have enough turkey meat for serving, leftover meals for the next day and doggy bags, plan about 1-1 1/2 pounds per person. The golden rule is that it is better to have more food than not enough.
It seems that every year, turkeys get bigger and bigger and I am thinking that bigger doesn’t always mean better. I would suggest you buy 2 smaller turkeys instead of one, if you have to feed a crowd.
When you buy a big turkey you start running into some issues. The bird takes longer to defrost if it is frozen and then it takes for ever to cook. Plus, it might not cook evenly and it will also be harder to carve, carry or manipulate. Make your life easier and go for two smaller birds.
These turkeys can be roasted at the same time in the oven, at the same temperature. Also, when you buy smaller turkeys, like the ones between 10-12 pounds, you might actually end up buying organic, humanely raised, local and more tastier birds than the regular, big ones.
If you ask me, this would be the way to go. I usually do not host big crowds because I do not have a big family, so I always end up buying smaller, organic turkeys.
White or dark meat?
Well, this is a matter of choice. If you feed a small crowd and you know that they like white meat, order a bone in turkey breast. If they like dark meat, roast turkey legs instead.
Fresh or frozen turkey?
Fresh: Fresh might not be as fresh as you think it is. Check labels, dates(sell-by or use-by date) and do not buy turkey earlier than 1-2 days in advance. Keep it in the fridge until ready to cook.
Frozen: Make sure you allow plenty of time for thawing the bird. As a rule of thumb, you need 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey. Here is more information about that.
You can also submerge them in cold water that you replace every 30 minutes. It will take about 30 minutes per pound to defrost.
What kind of turkey should I buy?
The least expensive ones are usually injected with a saline solution and oils(aka emulsifiers and artificial flavors). These birds are factory-farmed.
If you care about how the birds were raised, probably this type of turkey is not for you. Also, keep in mind that meat was already salted, so brining is not suitable before roasting the bird.
There is another category called natural turkeys that are raised a little bit better, with no antibiotics or hormones, no artificial ingredients, or preservatives.
The meat is not salty, so you can actually brine the turkey if you want to.
Kosher turkeys, free range turkey and free-roaming turkeys are better options, as depending on how much the turkeys are allowed to move and get some exercise, the meat will also be leaner.
They are humanely processed, there are no additives, chemicals and the flavor is great.
Organic turkeys are more expensive, but they are fed organic feed and have good flavor. I usually buy organic as I like the flavor and the fact I can prepare the meat the way I want, adding the amount of saltI feel appropriate and the spices I like.
So, now that you know a little bit more about what kind of turkey to buy and how big of a bird should be, here are the recipes to choose from.
Best Thanksgiving And Christmas Turkey Recipes
This is one of the best Thanksgiving and Christmas Turkey Recipes Collection out there. I hope you will be able to get inspired and share with family and friends some of these recipes.
Turkey Recipes For Small Families or Just Two People:
Sometimes we celebrate Thanksgiving in small groups or alone. these recipes are for these type of occasions when we do not need to cook an entire turkey.
Turkey schnitzel with leeks and butter sage sauce is the answer to what to have for a smaller Thanksgiving. Also great for a weeknight meal anytime of year!
A small Thanksgiving dinner party is perfectly suited for a roasted whole bone-in turkey breast. Brined in a rich apple cider solution and basted in butter, a golden, roasted turkey breast will be the centerpiece of your celebration. Even if it’s just turkey for two!
This Garlic and Herb Roast Turkey Breast is crispy on the outside and tender, juicy, and flavorful on the inside. What more could you ask for in the centerpiece of your holiday meal? Perfect for Thanksgiving!
Oven-roasted, flavorful and juicy herb-roasted turkey legs for days when a whole turkey is just too much food or you are cooking for a smaller party.
I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving food. I love the roast turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and well, everything. BUT, Thanksgiving is not always a good day for people who are trying to eat healthy, there is just SO MUCH FOOD!
Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast with Chorizo, Cranberries, and Little Potatoes
Don’t want to roast a whole bird? Try my bacon wrapped turkey breast with chorizo, cranberries, and little potatoes!
Instant Pot Turkey is a wonderful alternative to making a big Whole Turkey for your Holiday Meal, especially when you don’t have a big crowd to feed. Plus is’t a great way to make Turkey year round! Who doesn’t love a good turkey sandwich now and again, right!
Turkey Recipes for Bigger Celebrations
Making a delicious turkey for the holidays is easier than you think. By following this simple step by step turkey roasting tutorial even the most novice cook will produce a tender, tasty and juicy bird sure to impress your guests!
So here’s something I never thought I’d be able to do: smoke a turkey for Thanksgiving. And I mean smoke that bad boy like the pros. I want to feel like I have to wait in a line around the block just to get a taste.
Instant Pot Turkey Breast w/delicious homemade gravy is moist and tender and cooks in under an hour in the pressure cooker. Low carb and gluten free.
May I introduce you to Thanksgiving’s superstar, the Simple and Perfect Roast Turkey! I’ve gone “old school” this year and back to the basics to bring you a simple and classic roast turkey recipe. It’s the stuff of Thanksgiving dreams and probably resembles the moist and delicious turkey you remember from your childhood.
Garlic Smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving with fresh herbs is a delicious choice for any holiday that your oven is space challenged! And, if you have never smoked a turkey before, you will be surprised at just how easy it is.https://familyspice.com/orange-sage-spatchcocked-turkey/
Butterflying a turkey takes a little muscle, but there is plenty of crispy skin in this Orange and Sage Spatchcocked Turkey. And the cooking time gets cut in half, too!
Roasting a turkey is easy following a few simple steps and using an oven thermometer. Aromatics such as herbs, lemon, celery and carrots with a few seasons infuse so much flavor into your holiday turkey.
Spatchcock Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey is one of the fastest and easiest ways to get your Thanksgiving dinner on the table. The cranberry orange glazed gets a delicious flavor boost from Soy Sauce and seasonal spices.
Cooking your whole turkey in a slow cooker is amazingly easy and it frees your oven up for side dishes and pies!
Incredibly moist, delicious, golden and perfectly roasted turkey. The secret is in the brine!!
Looking to jazz up your turkey this Thanksgiving? Well, then this slightly spicy, slightly sweet, fully-flavor-packed, Easy Spicy Honey Glazed Turkey is for you!
Prepare a showstopping entree for the holidays this year! Browned Butter Sage Turkey is a decadent twist on the classic roasted turkey. This turkey makes a flavorful entree for Thanksgiving or ANY holiday celebration.
The easiest turkey ever made. This Citrus and Herb Butter Roast Turkey is moist, tender and juicy. So simple to make and will definitely steal the show at your Thanksgiving dinner.
This delicious whole turkey is roasted in a flavorful maple butter packed with fresh herbs and lemon zest.
This Roast Turkey with Apple Cider Brine is our family’s recipe for a moist, juicy, and golden roast turkey for our Thanksgiving or holiday table. The secret to this turkey recipe is the Apple Cider Brine and lots of butter.
Dry Brined Orange Rosemary Roasted Turkey is the easy way to brine your turkey with no messy liquid! Roast it to perfection for a juicy, flavorful turkey with the crispiest skin ever.on for a juicy, flavorful turkey with the crispiest skin ever.
This turkey is easy to make and looks so pretty on the table. It has a light smokey flavor and is tender as can be. The drippings from this turkey makes such a delicious gravy too.
A very popular seasonal recipe in my blog teaching how to brine and roast a whole turkey to come out juicy.
Well, this is it, my friends! I had so many recipes of turkey to choose from and such a hard time to pick the best ones, but here I am at the end of this post, hoping you will find the perfect recipe for your Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations!
I hope your house is full of family and friends and your table full of beautiful dishes!
Happy holidays, everyone!
[…] If you are new to cooking a Thanksgiving meal, this post is a good place to start. If you also need to make a turkey recipe, you might find some recipes here. […]