This collection has 25 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 perfect time to start planning the menu, if you are entertaining family ad 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 collection of recipes was created with the help of other bloggers who kindly accepted to participate with their creations. there are so many beautiful recipes to choose from and all of them are amazing. Thank you all for participating!
One of the questions people often have when they host Thanksgiving is how much turkey 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 think that bigger doesn’t always mean better. I would suggest you to buy two 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 forever 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.
When you buy smaller turkeys, like the ones between 10-12 pounds, you might actually end up buying organic, humanely raised, local, and 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, order 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 are 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 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 that I can prepare the meat the way I want, addng the amount of salt I 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.
25 Best Thanksgiving And Christmas Turkey Recipes
This is one of the best Thanksgiving and Christmas Turkey Recipes collections out there. I hope you will be able to get inspired and share with family and friends some of these 25 recipes.
Turkey Recipes For Small Families or Just Two People:
Sometimes we celebrate Thanksgiving in small groups or alone. These recipes are for these types of occasions when we do not need to cook an entire turkey.
Turkey Schnitzel with Leeks and Butter Sage Sauce
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 any time of year!
Roasting a Turkey for Two: Turkey Breast with an Apple Cider Brine
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!
Garlic and Herb Roast Turkey Breast
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!
Herb Roasted Turkey Legs
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.
Holiday Stuffed Turkey Breast Roulade Recipe
I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving food. I love roast turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and well, everything. However, Thanksgiving is not always a good day for people trying to eat healthily; 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 Breast
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, it's 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
How to Cook a Turkey
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!
How to Smoke a Turkey
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 to get a taste.
Instant Pot Turkey Breast w/delicious homemade gravy
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.
Simple, and Perfect Roast Turkey
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
Garlic Smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving with fresh herbs is a delicious choice for any holiday your oven is space-challenged! And, if you have never smoked a turkey before, you will be surprised at just how easy it is.
Orange and Sage Spatchcocked (Butterflied) 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!
Herb Roasted Turkey
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 Recipe
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.
Slow Cooker Whole Turkey
Cooking your whole turkey in a slow cooker is amazingly easy, and it frees your oven up for side dishes and pies!
Brined and Roasted Turkey ~ Perfect Every Time!
Incredibly moist, delicious, golden, and perfectly roasted turkey. The secret is in the brine!!
Easy Spicy Honey Glazed Turkey
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!
Browned Butter Sage Turkey
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.
Citrus and Herb Butter Roast Turkey Recipe
The easiest turkey ever made. This Citrus and Herb Butter Roast Turkey are moist, tender, and juicy. So simple to make and will definitely steal the show at your Thanksgiving dinner.
How to Cook a Turkey with Maple Butter
This delicious, whole turkey is roasted in a flavorful maple butter packed with fresh herbs and lemon zest.
Roast Turkey with Apple Cider Brine
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
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 juicy, flavorful turkey with the crispiest skin.
How to Barbecue a Turkey
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 make such a delicious gravy too.
The Best Brined Whole Turkey and Tips for a Juicy Bird
In my blog, a very popular seasonal recipe teaches how to brine and roast a whole turkey to come out juicy.
Well, this is it, my friends! I had so many turkey recipes to choose from and such a hard time picking 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 also hope your house is full of family and friends and your table full of beautiful dishes!
Happy holidays, everyone!