36 Doable and Delicious Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
Don't let the big bird intimidate you!
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. 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 and 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. And 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 Stuffed Turkey Breast
This turkey breast is butterflied, spread with a mixture of garlic, shallot, parsley, rosemary and orange zest before it is rolled up and roasted to perfection. If you're cooking for a crowd, consider making a smaller bird and adding this into your Thanksgiving menu mix.
Get the Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe.
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.
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.
Air Fryer Cumin and Coriander Spiced Turkey Breast
Free up oven space by going for a smaller cut instead of the whole bird — and air-frying it to golden-brown perfection.
Get the Air Fryer Cumin and Coriander Spiced Turkey Breast recipe.
Sage Infused Turkey
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 Sage Infused Turkey recipe.
Cajun-Spiced Turkey
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.
Roast Turkey Breast and Root Vegetables
Want to cut down on dishes this year? Try this one-pan turkey stunner.
Thyme-Roasted Turkey and Gravy
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.
Orange and Sage Roast Turkey
You may think citrus should be reserved for Christmas. Well, think again.
Get the Orange and Sage Roast Turkey recipe from Woman's Day.
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.
The Simplest Deep-Fried Turkey Recipe
If you're cooking for Southerners, you'll definitely want to break out the deep fryer for this take on the bird, filled with quintessential comfort-food flavor.
Get The Simplest Deep-Fried Turkey recipe from Country Living.
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.
RELATED: 70 Easy To Make Thanksgiving Sides
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.
Red-Rubbed Turkey
Mix up your traditional turkey just by swapping the seasonings. The combo of paprika, coriander, and garlic adds a zesty — and colorful— kick.
Get the Red-Rubbed 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.
Golden-Glazed Turkey Recipe
We figured out how to cook the bird and the veggie sides all at once without adjusting the oven. (Hint: Timing is everything!)
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.
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
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.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
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