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How to Cook a Turkey

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There are loads of ways to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving! Some cooks are looking for a fancy turkey recipe and others are just looking for a traditional recipe for their first turkey attempt. We’ve rounded up some of the best ways to cook the bird to make you the star cook of Thanksgiving!

Don’t miss our Thanksgiving Side Dish ideas to complete your meal!

how to cook a turkey

Roasted Turkey

Step by Step Turkey Tutorial
If you are a newbie to cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, this step-by-step tutorial by The Kitchn is a perfect place to start! They even have a video on how to carve the turkey. You know we are BIG fans of videos! 🙂
Check out this recipe
how to cook a turkey

Buttermilk-Brined Turkey

buttermilk brined turkey
Photo Credit: William Sonoma
Buttermilk-Brined Turkey
You only need 5 ingredients to make this melt-in-your-mouth Buttermilk-Brined Turkey by William Sonoma that is bursting with flavor. In case you don’t know what “brining” is – it is when you soaking the turkey in saltwater to produce the most tender, juicy meat.
Check out this recipe
buttermilk brined turkey

 Barbecued Turkey

BBQ Turkey
Photo Credit: Martha Stewart
Summer’s Best Whole BBQ Turkey
If you insist on a BBQ flavor in your turkey, this Barbecued Turkey recipe by This West Coast Mommy will do the trick.
Check out this recipe
BBQ Turkey

Citrus-Glazed Turkey with Chipotle Gravy

Citrus-Glazed Turkey with Chipotle Gravy
Photo Credit: Epicurious
Citrus-Glazed Turkey with Chipotle Gravy
Traditional flavors (honey and orange) and contemporary ones (cumin and chilies) come together in the glaze, to create the delicious Citrus-Glazed Turkey with Chipotle Gravy from Epicurious.
Check out this recipe
Citrus-Glazed Turkey with Chipotle Gravy

Roasted Turkey with Maple Cranberry Glaze

Roasted Turkey with Maple Cranberry Glaze
Photo Credit: Paula Deen
Roasted Turkey with Maple Cranberry Glaze
Paula Deen has nailed it with this Roasted Turkey with Maple Cranberry Glaze. For an added bonus, it’s pretty easy to make!
Check out this recipe
roasted turkey recipe

Pancetta-Wrapped Roasted Turkey

bacon wrapped turkey
Photo Credit: Food & Wine
Pancetta-Wrapped Roasted Turkey
We know there are bacon lovers out there that believe bacon is the answer to everything. This Pancetta-Wrapped Roasted Turkey Recipe from Food & Wine is for them!
Check out this recipe
Pancetta-Wrapped Roasted Turkey

Roasted Beer-Brined Turkey with Onion Gravy and Bacon

Roasted Beer-Brined Turkey with Onion Gravy and Bacon
Photo Credit: Food and Wine
Roasted Beer-Brined Turkey with Onion Gravy and Bacon
This is a manly turkey if we’ve ever seen one! Beer, onion AND bacon? It’s a football-lovers dream!
Check out this recipe
Roasted Beer-Brined Turkey with Onion Gravy and Bacon

Perfect Roast Turkey

Perfect roast turkey
Photo Credit: Food Network
Perfect Roast Turkey
If I were picking a turkey for my mother-in-law, this would probably be it! It it s butter-lover’s dream with an entire stick of butter needed to make this Perfect Roast Turkey by Food Network.
Check out this recipe
perfect roast turkey

Apple-Brined Turkey

apple brined turkey
Photo Credit: Food & Wine
Apple Brined Turkey
If you are looking for a sweet Turkey, this Apple-Brined Turkey by Food & Wine is it! Kids will love this one too because the secret ingredient is apple juice!
Check out this recipe
Apple Brined Turkey

Ultimate Turducken

ultimate turducken
Photo Credit: Serious Eats
Ultimate Turducken
This one is a triple threat! When one bird just isn’t enough for your family, may we recommend the Turducken! It’s very trendy to stuff a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey. Who knew, right?!? This Ultimate Turducken from Serious Eats may just be the best recipe out there.
Check out this recipe
Turducken
Suntanned Turkey

Suntanned Turkey – For those families with a healthy sense of humor, this is an out-of-the-box turkey idea we found on The Whole Enchilada.

What is your favorite way to cook a Thanksgiving turkey?

How to Make a Turkey

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