Best 5 Lemon Pepper Turkey With Bacon Gravy Recipes

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If you're looking for a flavorful and juicy turkey dish that's perfect for a special occasion, look no further than lemon pepper turkey with bacon gravy. This recipe combines the tangy brightness of lemon and black pepper with the richness of bacon and gravy to create a truly unforgettable meal. The turkey is roasted until golden brown and tender, while the bacon gravy adds a savory and decadent touch. Whether you're serving it for a holiday dinner or a special occasion, this lemon pepper turkey with bacon gravy is sure to be a hit.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ROAST HERITAGE TURKEY WITH BACON-HERB AND CIDER GRAVY



Roast Heritage Turkey with Bacon-Herb and Cider Gravy image

Provided by Nancy Oakes

Categories     Herb     Mustard     Poultry     turkey     Marinate     Roast     Christmas     Thanksgiving     High Fiber     Dinner     Vinegar     Apple     Bacon     Fennel     Fall     Family Reunion     Christmas Eve     Bon Appétit     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 35

Bacon, dijon, and herb butter:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces applewood-smoked bacon slices, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon coarse sea salt or coarse
kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
Cider gravy base:
Neck reserved from 18- to 19-pound heritage turkey
1/4 cup fat reserved from turkey cavities
1 whole turkey leg (thigh and drumstick)
2 1/2 cups coarsely chopped celery
2 cups coarsely chopped onions
6 large fresh thyme sprigs
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
8 cups chicken stock or low-salt chicken broth
4 whole sage leaves
Turkey:
1 18- to 19-pound heritage turkey, neck and 1/4 cup fat from cavities reserved for cider gravy base
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or coarse kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 cups coarsely chopped onions
2 cups coarsely chopped celery
2 cups coarsely chopped fresh fennel bulbs
2 cups coarsely chopped peeled carrots
2 cups coarsely chopped unpeeled apples
1/2 cup olive oil
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup all purpose flour

Steps:

  • For bacon, dijon, and herb butter:
  • Blend all ingredients in processor until bacon is finely chopped. Transfer to sheet of plastic wrap. Using plastic wrap as aid, roll butter mixture into 2-inch-diameter log; chill until firm. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.
  • For cider gravy base:
  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine turkey neck, 1/4 cup turkey fat, and turkey leg in heavy large ovenproof pot. Place in oven; roast uncovered until turkey parts are deep, dark brown, turning once, about 1 1/2 hours. Drain, reserving fat from pot. Reserve 1/4 cup fat for gravy; return 1 tablespoon fat to pot. Return turkey parts to pot; stir in celery, onions, thyme sprigs, and peppercorns. Return pot to oven; roast uncovered 10 minutes. Add apple cider and vinegar; roast 10 minutes longer. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Add 8 cups stock and sage to pot; cook in oven uncovered 1 1/2 hours. Strain gravy base through fine strainer; discard solids in strainer (there will be about 5 cups gravy base). DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
  • For turkey:
  • Cut bacon butter into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and let stand at room temperature 20 minutes. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. Starting at neck end, carefully slide hand between skin and breast meat, then slide hand between skin and thigh meat. Carefully slide butter slices between skin and leg, thigh, and breast meat to cover (there will be a generous amount of butter mixture). Sprinkle 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon pepper over turkey, and 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in main cavity of turkey. Place turkey on rimmed baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap or foil; chill at least 1 day. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
  • Set rack at lowest position in oven; preheat to 350°F. Mix onions, celery, fennel, carrots, apples, oil, and bay leaves in large roasting pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Place turkey atop vegetable mixture. Tuck wings under; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Place turkey in oven; roast until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 170°F, basting with pan drippings every 30 minutes and tenting loosely with foil if browning too quickly, about 4 hours total. Transfer turkey to platter (internal temperature of turkey will increase 5 to 10 degrees).
  • Pour vegetable mixture and pan drippings into large strainer set over large bowl; press on solids to extract liquid. Discard solids in strainer. Spoon off fat from pan drippings; discard (there will be a large amount of fat in pan drippings). Reserve degreased pan drippings for gravy (about 1 cup). Remove fat from surface of gravy base; reserve 1/4 cup fat. Rewarm cider gravy base.
  • Melt reserved 1/4 cup fat in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; stir 3 minutes. Gradually add warm cider gravy base and degreased pan drippings. Simmer until smooth, thickened, and reduced to 51/2 cups, whisking frequently, about 5 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper.
  • Serve turkey with gravy.

LEMON-HERB TURKEY WITH BAY BUTTER AND GRAVY



Lemon-Herb Turkey with Bay Butter and Gravy image

Bay leaves, rosemary, and lemon zest are tucked under the skin of this turkey and gently perfume the meat with a fragrant, floral flavor. Then the roast turkey is set on fresh bay branches for a dramatic presentation.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Turkey Recipes

Time 3h45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
Flaky sea salt, such as Jacobsen
6 fresh bay leaves
1 bunch fresh rosemary, woody stems removed
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds), preferably heritage, neck and giblets reserved for stock, patted dry
Peeled zest of 2 lemons, plus 3 whole lemons
1 bunch fresh thyme
2 heads garlic, halved crosswise
3 cups turkey stock or low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
Freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine butter and 3 tablespoons salt. Lightly pound bay leaves and two-thirds of rosemary in a mortar-and-pestle (or roll over a few times in a sealed plastic bag with a rolling pin), keeping leaves intact.
  • Using your fingers, separate turkey skin from breasts and legs. Rub half of butter mixture under skin. Tuck bay-rosemary mixture and lemon zest evenly under skin. Season both cavities with salt; stuff with all but 3 sprigs thyme and all but 3 sprigs remaining rosemary. Rub outside of turkey all over with remaining butter mixture. Transfer turkey to a roasting pan lined with a rack and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 24 hours and up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature 1 to 2 hours before roasting.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack in lower third. Prick whole lemons all over with the tines of a fork. Stuff 2 lemons into larger cavity, along with 1 head garlic; tie legs with kitchen twine. Stuff remaining lemon into neck cavity. Pour 1 cup stock into pan. Add remaining 1 head garlic.
  • Roast turkey 1 hour. Continue roasting, basting every 20 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh (near but not touching bone) registers 165°, 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours, 30 minutes more, depending on size. If pan becomes dry during roasting, add more stock, 1/2 cup at a time. Transfer turkey to a carving board or platter; let stand at least 20 minutes before carving.
  • Meanwhile, remove rack from pan. Tilt pan and skim excess fat from drippings (or use a fat separator). Place pan across 2 burners. Carefully remove lemon from neck cavity and squeeze 1 to 2 tablespoons juice into drippings; squeeze cloves of roasted garlic from pan into drippings. Add remaining rosemary and thyme sprigs. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add 2 cups stock; boil until reduced by half and thickened slightly, 6 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and more squeezes of lemon juice to taste. Strain gravy through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Carve turkey and serve with gravy.

GRILLED LEMON-PEPPER CORN



Grilled Lemon-Pepper Corn image

Lemon pepper is a favorite flavor combination. Use lemon zest and grated pepper on this corn instead of the bottled spice blend for a fresher flavor.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     side-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 0

Steps:

  • Mix 2 tablespoons each softened butter and olive oil with the grated zest of 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Quarter 3 ears corn; arrange on a large sheet of foil and dollop with the butter. Form into a packet; flip and wrap again in foil. Grill over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

HONEY,LEMON PEPPER GARLIC ROASTED TURKEY WITH GRAVY



Honey,lemon Pepper Garlic Roasted Turkey With Gravy image

Make and share this Honey,lemon Pepper Garlic Roasted Turkey With Gravy recipe from Food.com.

Provided by KseL1694

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 6h

Yield 4 pounds, 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 (4 lb) turkey breast
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
4 garlic cloves, halfed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon pepper
4 sprigs rosemary
1 tablespoon oregano
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon sage
1 tablespoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon tarragon
1 cup honey
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon pan dripping
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cold water
salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon Accent seasoning (optional)
1 teaspoon gravymaster (optional)

Steps:

  • Clean and dry the chicken. Place turkey in large bowl.
  • Starting at neck cavity, carefully start cutting the turkey skin, so that it remains on turkey,but is easy to pull back, using your fingers to pull back skin.Do not pull skin off of turkey,just pull skin back.
  • Pour broth over turkey, under skin.
  • Insert 2 pieces of garlic, and 2 sprigs of rosemary under breast skin,rub garlic under skin of turkey,then leave garlic, and rosemary under skin.Rub garlic under the skin of wing and drumstick sections to,let garlic rest under skin in the center of the breast.
  • Pull back skin from wings and drumsticks. Rub oregano, sage and tarragon, under breast drumstick and wing skin.Pull skin back so that turkey is covered with it's original skin.
  • Season turkey skin with lemon pepper,salt, and poultry seasoning. Place remaining garlic,onion,celery, and bay leaf in the body cavity of turkey. cover turkey and refrigerate for 1- 2 hours.
  • In a separate bowl combine honey and lemon juice. Rub mixture into skin of turkey,making sure to coat breast,wings, and drumsticks.
  • Remove turkey from bowl with broth,and place in slow cooker on low,or preheat oven to 250 degrees and place turkey in a ovensafe pan. Cook turkey for 4- 6 hours or until juices run clear, when turkey is pierced with knife, and turkey is not pinkish in inside.
  • Remove turkey from pan,leaving at least 1 tablespoon of reserved pan drippings.
  • In a small pan or skillet brown 1 tablespoon flour.Remove flour from pan,and mix with water.Mix browned flour water mixture with 1 tablespoon of pan drippings,mix well and heat gravy on low for 5 minutes. Stir in salt pepper, Accent, and GravyMaster. Remove from heat, and pour over sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, and/or rice. serve while hot, enjoy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1015, Fat 32.5, SaturatedFat 8.9, Cholesterol 294.8, Sodium 2224.5, Carbohydrate 78.4, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 71.8, Protein 101.8

LEMON-HERB TURKEY WITH LEMON-GARLIC GRAVY



Lemon-Herb Turkey with Lemon-Garlic Gravy image

Provided by Bruce Aidells

Categories     Microwave     Garlic     turkey     Roast     Christmas     Thanksgiving     Lemon     Sage     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 10 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 30

Lemon-Herb Butter:
1 large lemon
1 small head of garlic
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
3 tablespoons chopped fresh fennel fronds
1 small shallot, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large pinch of powdered saffron or saffron threads
Turkey:
1 14- to 16-pound turkey, rinsed, patted dry inside and out; neck, heart, and gizzard reserved for Shortcut Turkey Stock
3 lemons, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
10 fresh Italian parsley sprigs
6 fresh sage sprigs
6 fresh fennel fronds
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups Shortcut Turkey Stock or water
Gravy:
2 cups (or more) Shortcut Turkey Stock
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 small shallot, chopped
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fennel fronds
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
1/2 cup crème fraîche* (optional)

Steps:

  • For lemon-herb butter:
  • Make 4 long 1/2-inch-deep cuts in lemon. Place in microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high 2 minutes. Place garlic head in medium microwave-safe bowl; add enough water to cover garlic. Cover bowl and microwave on high until soft, about 3 minutes. Transfer garlic to work surface; cool and peel.
  • Pour any lemon juice from bowl into small cup. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice into same cup; reserve juice for gravy. Scrape all fruit and pith from inside peel halves; discard insides. Chop peel. Blend peel and garlic in mini processor until finely chopped. Add butter and all remaining ingredients; process to blend. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Transfer to bowl. Cover lemon juice and lemon-herb butter separately; chill. Bring butter to room temperature before using. WELL PRESERVED: The microwave method for the lemon is a neat trick. It's a two-minute way to make fresh-tasting Moroccan-style "preserved" lemons (which usually take from one week to one month to cure). TEST-KITCHEN TIP: Fennel fronds, those delicate, feathery, dark-green leaves rising from the fresh fennel bulb, are jampacked with fennel flavor. At the market, look for fennel bulbs that still have the fronds attached (you'll find that some bulbs have been too closely trimmed).
  • For turkey:
  • Set rack at lowest position in oven and preheat to 325°F. Transfer 2 tablespoons lemon-herb butter to small bowl; reserve for gravy. Sprinkle main turkey cavity with salt and pepper and spread with 2 tablespoons lemon butter. Starting at neck end of turkey, carefully slide hand between skin and meat of breast, thighs, and upper drumsticks to loosen skin. Spread lemon butter over thigh and drumstick on both sides. Arrange a few lemon slices under skin. Spread remaining butter over breast meat; place lemon slices atop butter under skin. Fill main cavity with any remaining lemon slices, parsley and sage sprigs, and fennel fronds. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Tuck wing tips under.
  • Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Rub outside of turkey all over with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour stock into pan. Roast turkey until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°F to 170°F, about 3 hours. Tilt turkey so juices from main cavity run into pan. Transfer turkey to platter. Tent very loosely with foil; let rest at least 30 minutes (internal temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees). Reserve pan.
  • For gravy:
  • Scrape juices and browned bits from reserved roasting pan into large glass measuring cup. Spoon off fat, reserving 2 tablespoons. Add enough stock to juices to measure 1 2/3 cups.
  • Heat reserved 2 tablespoons fat in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and shallot; sauté 2 minutes. Add flour; whisk until golden, about 4 minutes. Add degreased pan juices and 2 cups stock. Bring to boil, whisking until smooth. Reduce heat and simmer until gravy is reduced to desired consistency, about 4 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons reserved lemon butter, 2 tablespoons reserved lemon juice, lemon peel, and sugar, then herbs. Whisk in crème fraîche, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • *Available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

Tips:

  • To achieve crispy bacon, ensure you cook it over medium heat and frequently flip it.
  • To enhance the flavor of the turkey, use unsalted butter, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and lemon zest when preparing the marinade. Allow the turkey to marinate for at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to penetrate.
  • To obtain evenly cooked turkey, place it breast-side up on a roasting rack set inside a baking pan with a little water or stock. This will prevent the turkey from sticking to the pan and ensure it cooks evenly.
  • Baste the turkey with the melted butter and bacon fat mixture every 30 minutes during roasting to keep it moist and flavorful.
  • To make the bacon gravy, start by cooking the bacon until crispy, then remove it from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté the chopped onion and garlic until softened. Add the flour and cook for a minute to create a roux. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until the gravy reaches your desired consistency. Finally, stir in the reserved bacon and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • To ensure the turkey is cooked safely and thoroughly, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. The internal temperature should read 165°F (74°C) before removing it from the oven.
  • Allow the cooked turkey to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful turkey.

Conclusion:

The combination of zesty lemon, fragrant herbs, and savory bacon creates a tantalizing and irresistible dish. Whether you're hosting a special occasion dinner or looking for a delectable weeknight meal, this lemon-pepper turkey with bacon gravy will undoubtedly impress your taste buds. Its crispy bacon, juicy turkey, and flavorful gravy come together perfectly to create a culinary masterpiece that will have everyone asking for seconds. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on this delightful culinary adventure today. Your taste buds will thank you for it!

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