As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, it's time to start thinking about Thanksgiving dinner. The centerpiece of the meal is undoubtedly the turkey, and there are many different ways to cook it. Whether you prefer a classic roasted turkey, a juicy smoked turkey, or a flavorful deep-fried turkey, there's a recipe out there to suit your taste. And of course, no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.
Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!
TURKEY AND STUFFING
Turkey and stuffing like Grandma used to make. Sage adds a special pungent flavor to this simple recipe. Adjust the ingredients and cooking time as appropriate for different sized turkeys.
Provided by VICKI C
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Turkey Whole Turkey Recipes
Time 4h
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Prepare stuffing according to package directions, and set aside in a large bowl.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring water to boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and stir in the onion, celery and sage. Boil 10 minutes, or until the onion is soft. Stir into the prepared stuffing.
- Rinse turkey, and pat dry. Loosely fill the body and neck cavities with the stuffing mixture.
- Place turkey in a large roasting pan and cook 3 to 3 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, or until the internal temperature of the thigh meat is 180 degrees F (80 degrees C) and the stuffing is at least 165 degrees F (75 degrees C).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 533 calories, Carbohydrate 15.8 g, Cholesterol 178.9 mg, Fat 21.9 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 63.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 460.3 mg, Sugar 2.2 g
THANKSGIVING TURKEY AND STUFFING DINNER
This is my family recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner. I love my mom's stuffing and would be lost without this recipe. If you try it, I hope you like it as much as we all do.
Provided by Trixyinaz
Categories Whole Turkey
Time 6h
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- NOTE: If you cannot find stuffing bread in your grocery store, use the cheapest white bread possible and be sure to use the poultry seasoning.
- Thaw your turkey in the refrigerator (takes about 3-4 days).
- Unwrap turkey, take out the neck that is in one cavity and take out the bag that is in the other cavity of the turkey. This bag contains the gizzards and such. You will want to save this bag. I don't like the neck and throw it away, but my dad loves it and cooks it also.
- Rinse your turkey inside and out. Rub both cavities inside with salt. Put back in fridge in refrigerator until ready to stuff.
- Take the gizzards and such out of the bag. Rinse them out with salt and water.
- Place the gizzards and such in a small pan filled with water. Bring to a boil for about 25 minutes.
- Once boiled, strain the gizzards and rinse the scum off. Please in blender or food processor and chop fine. Set aside.
- In a large frying pan, melt 1/2 stick of butter and 1 tbs oil. Heat and saute celery until soft. Place in bowl.
- Add more butter or oil as needed and fry the onions until soft and transparent. Place in bowl with celery.
- Add more butter or oil as needed and fry the mushrooms and chopped gizzards together until cooked.
- Reduce heat, return the celery and onions to frying pan, add the red wine, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Put all fried ingredients, with juice in large bowl.
- Stir in eggs, the parmasean cheese and poultry seasoning (if using). Mix well.
- Add your pieces of bread slowly until most of the moisture/juice is absorbed. We like to keep ours a bit on the moist side. You may not use all the bread. Place in fridge.
- When you are ready to cook the turkey, remove from the fridge, and stuff both cavities of the turkey with the stuffing. You may have extra stuffing left over. Place the extra in a 9x13 pan to cook separately.
- Preheat the oven to 350. Rub the turkey with crisco or butter, place in a tin foil tray, add 2 bottles of beer, place in a cooking bag, cut slit on top and place in oven. Cook until the turkey reaches the following temperatures (about 4 hours depending on size of turkey):.
- Breast: 165 degrees.
- Thigh: 170 to 180 degrees.
- Stuffing: 165 degrees.
TURKEY WITH STUFFING
Follow Alton Brown's lead for stuffing a turkey with his Turkey with Stuffing recipe from Good Eats on Food Network.
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories side-dish
Time 3h15m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the turkey into a deep, high-sided bowl on its end with the stuffing end up. Set aside.
- Heat the chicken broth in the microwave in a large microwave-proof container. Place mushrooms in a glass bowl and pour heated broth over them. Cover and allow to sit for 35 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl toss the onion, celery, and green pepper with the oil and salt. Place the vegetables on a sheet pan and roast for 35 minutes. During the last 10 minutes of cooking, spread the cubed bread over the vegetables, return to the oven, and continue cooking.
- Drain mushrooms, reserving 1 cup of liquid. Chop the mushrooms and place in a large
- microwave-proof bowl with the vegetables and bread, reserved chicken stock, cherries, pecans, eggs, sage, parsley and black pepper. Stir well in order to break up pieces of bread. Use your hands to combine, if necessary. Heat the stuffing in a microwave on high power for 6 minutes.
- While the stuffing is heating, rub the bird with oil. Working quickly, place the stuffing into the cavity of the turkey to avoid losing heat. Place the turkey into a roasting pan, on a rack, and season with salt and pepper. Place the roasting pan on the middle rack of the oven. Roast for 45 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and cook for another 60 to 75 minutes or until the bird reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees F. Serve immediately.
TURKEY AND STUFFING
I generally follow the rule of 12 to 15 minutes per pound if the bird has stuffing in the cavity. A little less if no stuffing is involved. My recipe below makes enough stuffing for a 16 to 20-pound bird.
Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli
Time 3h50m
Yield serves 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- For the turkey: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Transfer the turkey to a roasting pan, fitted with a roasting rack if desired, and soak the cheesecloth in the butter. Season the bird with salt and pepper. Brush any remaining butter on top of the bird and cover the breasts with the cheesecloth to prevent the top skin from burning before it is cooked. Place the celery, onions, garlic, sage, bay, and rosemary in and around the turkey in the roasting pan - these will be used to make the stuffing when everything is roasted.
- Place the roasting pan in the center of the oven. Cook for about 12 minutes per pound. After about 2 hours of cooking, remove the cheesecloth from the top of the breasts and return the turkey to the oven to cook for 1 more hour. If the tips of the wings start to get too dark, cover with foil to prevent them from burning.
- For the gravy: Place the neck and the chicken stock in a pot and simmer gently on top of the stove as the turkey finishes cooking. The stock should reduce by about half. Season with salt and pepper.
- How do you know when the turkey is done? The temperature of the thigh meat (where the meat is thickest and takes the longest time to cook) should register 165 degrees F when tested with a thermometer. When done, remove the bird from the oven, transfer it to a flat surface (or serving platter), and allow it to rest for 20 to 30 minutes before removing the vegetables for stuffing and carving the meat.
- For the stuffing: Heat a large skillet and add half a stick of butter. Add the sausage and cook until brown and crispy. Reserve any grease and set the sausage in a large bowl with the roasted vegetables from the turkey tray. Add the remaining butter to the pan. Add the cubed sourdough bread and cook, stirring, until they toast golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Toss and season with salt and pepper before adding to the bowl with the vegetables. Stir everything together and taste for seasoning, adjusting if necessary.
- For the gravy: Unless the bottom of the roasting pan is burned, you can make delicious gravy. Place the roasting pan over the burners of the stove, add the mustard and marsala to the pan, and warm it over low heat. Scrape the bottom to get the drippings and tasty bits off of the pan as the marsala reduces. Strain the neck out from the stock and pour about 1/2 cup into a small bowl. Whisk the flour into the bowl, taking care there are no lumps. Reduce the marsala until there is almost no liquid. Add the remaining chicken stock and the flour mixture to the roasting pan. Whisk to blend. Taste for seasoning. Reduce until the mixture thickens. Transfer to a gravy boat.
- Allow the turkey to rest for 15 to 20 minutes before carving. Serve sliced turkey with stuffing (dressing) on the side.
TURKEY AND STUFFING CASSEROLE
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- For the turkey filling: Heat the EVOO in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat and melt in the butter. Add the turkey and cook, crumbling the meat, until browned. Season with the Worcestershire and some salt and pepper. Add the celery, carrots, onions, potatoes and thyme and cook, partially covered, to soften the vegetables, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute; add the stock and cook to thicken. Stir in the peas until warmed through. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
- For the stuffing: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. When melted, add the celery, apples, bay leaf and onions. Add the poultry seasoning and salt and pepper if using and cook until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the stuffing mix and moisten with the stock. Arrange the stuffing on top of the turkey filling and dot with butter.
- Cool and store for a make-ahead meal, or bake to serve immediately. If baking immediately, bake at 375 degrees F until brown, bubbly and crisp on top, 15 to 20 minutes. If baking later, bring to room temperature and bake at 375 degrees F until brown, bubbly and crisp on top, 40 to 45 minutes.
TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING TURKEY STUFFING / DRESSING
Never enjoyed stuffing/dressing until the day before I got married in November 1978! My in-laws threw a big Thanksgiving Day feast (a day late) for our wedding rehearsal dinner for about 30 of us. MIL made this recipe, and it made a believer out-a me! And...29 years later, I'm still making it, and all seven of my children are stuffing/dressing lovers--in fact, I think they'd eat it for breakfast all year long if I'd make it that often! Cooking time does NOT count how long it is baked--that would depend on if you stuff the turkey or bake separately. But figure a minimum of 30 minutes if baked in a separate pan at 350.
Provided by Debber
Categories Vegetable
Time 30m
Yield 6-8 cups?, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Fry meats (we use a combination of burger and mild Italian sausage).
- While meat is frying, cube the bread and dump in a very large bowl; drizzle butter over bread cubes; toss cubes, then set aside.
- When meats are browned, add onions & celery; cook until tender; then pour over bread cubes, tossing again and again until well-mixed.
- Add water/milk ONLY if you like a wetter dressing--otherwise omit.
- Add seasonings according to your taste, toss again.
- Mixture can now be stuffed into the rinsed-out & salted turkey cavities (then placed immediately into oven to be roasted) -- when turkey is roasted, remove stuffing with a long-handled spoon, into a nice serving dish--it will have absorbed all that wonderful turkey pan juices---oh goodness how delicious!
- OR -- spoon into a greased casserole dish, cover and bake until JUST crispy along the edges -- about 45 minutes.
- Whatever doesn't fit into the turkey, spoon into a small casserole pan and bake along with the turkey---turns out every time.
- VARIATION #1: Sliced, fresh mushrooms when browning the meats.
- VARIATION #2: Sprinkle some cornmeal when tossing the bread with the meat---mmmm!
- VARIATION #3: Water chestnuts coarsely chopped or sliced--adds a nice crunchiness the kids love!
- SUGGESTION: Unless you have a very small family -- DOUBLE THE RECIPE -- you won't be sorry, this is EXCELLENT when reheated the next day, too.
- PICKY EATER OPTION: Saute onions & celery in a separate pan until transparent, then dump in the blender along with the melted butter---pour this over the bread cubes and meat. All the aroma & flavor, just no "yukkies" to pick out for those who "hate" onions or celery.
- LEFTOVERS (if you're lucky!): reheat in the microwave.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 317, Fat 22.6, SaturatedFat 12.3, Cholesterol 66.4, Sodium 344.2, Carbohydrate 19.1, Fiber 3, Sugar 2.9, Protein 11.1
EASY BEGINNER'S TURKEY WITH STUFFING
This easy to make turkey is great for beginners, but experts will find it equally delicious. Adjust the cooking time for different sized birds.
Provided by DD123
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Turkey Whole Turkey Recipes
Time 4h30m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse turkey, remove giblets and place in a shallow roasting pan.
- Prepare stuffing according to package directions. Mix in water.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and slowly cook and stir the celery and onion until tender.
- Mix celery, onion, and toasted bread pieces into the stuffing, and season with salt and pepper. Loosely scoop stuffing into the turkey body cavity and neck cavity. Rub the exterior of the turkey with vegetable oil.
- Loosely cover turkey with aluminum foil, and roast 3 1/2 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (85 degrees C) and the interior of the stuffing reaches 165 degrees F (70 degrees C). Remove foil during the last half hour of cooking to brown the bird.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 834.7 calories, Carbohydrate 15.6 g, Cholesterol 311.4 mg, Fat 40.4 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 95 g, SaturatedFat 11.4 g, Sodium 592.6 mg, Sugar 1.8 g
TURKEY WITH GRANDMA'S STUFFING
Everyone is ready to dig in when my mom sets this impressive Thanksgiving favorite on the dinner table. The moist turkey, seasoned bread stuffing and flavorful gravy remind her of holiday meals when she was growing up. -Jacinta Ransom, South Haven, Michigan
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 4h40m
Yield 8 servings (10 cups stuffing).
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place giblets in a saucepan and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45-50 minutes or until tender. Chop giblets; set broth and giblets aside. , In a large skillet, saute celery and onion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. In a large bowl, combine bread cubes, celery mixture, giblets, egg substitute and seasonings. Stir in 1 cup giblet broth., Just before roasting, loosely stuff turkey with 8 cups stuffing. Place remaining stuffing in a greased 2-qt. baking dish; refrigerate until ready to bake. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together with kitchen string. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1 cup giblet broth over turkey. Melt remaining butter; brush over turkey. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 3-1/2 to 4 hours or until a thermometer reads 165° when inserted in center of stuffing and the thigh reaches at least 170°, basting occasionally. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns to quickly.), Bake additional stuffing, covered, for 30-40 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until lightly browned. Cover turkey and let stand for 20 minutes before removing stuffing and carving turkey. , Pour pan drippings into a 2-cup measuring cup; skim fat. Add water or remaining giblet broth to measure 2 cups. In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Gradually stir in broth mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with turkey.
Nutrition Facts :
THANKSGIVING STUFFED TURKEY
I've tried fancy stuffing recipes for our holiday bird, but none hits the spot like my mother's simple mixture of bread, eggs and caramelized vegetables. Have it on any holiday. -Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 4h50m
Yield 24 servings (3 cups gravy, 16 cups stuffing).
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325°. Reserve turkey giblets and neck; cover and refrigerate. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side up. Melt 1/4 cup butter; brush over turkey. Sprinkle with seasonings., Roast, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, 4 to 4-1/2 hours, basting every 30 minutes after the first hour. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.), In a large skillet, heat remaining butter over medium heat; saute vegetables until tender. In a large bowl, combine bread cubes, parsley and onion mixture; stir in broth and egg substitute. Divide mixture between two greased 2-qt. baking dishes. Bake, covered, until a thermometer reads 165°, about 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes., For gravy, place vegetables, seasonings, 4 cups water and reserved giblets and neck in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until giblets are tender, about 1 hour. Strain stock; return to pan., Remove turkey from oven; tent with foil. Let stand 20 minutes before carving. Skim fat from pan drippings; add remaining drippings and loosened browned bits from roasting pan to stock., Mix flour and remaining water until smooth; stir into stock mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve with turkey and stuffing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 534 calories, Fat 24g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 199mg cholesterol, Sodium 408mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 53g protein.
THANKSGIVING STUFFED SHELLS
Leftover turkey, dressing and sweet potatoes make terrific stuffing for jumbo pasta shells. We add cheese and use turkey gravy as the sauce for this crowd-pleaser. -Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Cook shells according to package directions for al dente., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix mozzarella cheese, turkey, stuffing and green onions. In a small bowl, stir sweet potatoes and, if desired, mix in chili powder., Drain shells; fill each with 2 tablespoons stuffing mixture and 2 teaspoons sweet potato mixture. Arrange in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, covered, 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with gravy.
Nutrition Facts :
Tips:
- To ensure a moist and flavorful turkey, brine it for at least 12 hours before cooking. You can use a simple brine made with salt, sugar, and water, or you can experiment with different herbs and spices to create a more flavorful brine.
- When roasting the turkey, make sure to truss it properly to help it cook evenly. You can also use a roasting rack to help the juices circulate and prevent the turkey from sticking to the pan.
- Cook the turkey at a low temperature (325 degrees F) for a longer period of time (3-4 hours) to ensure that it cooks through without drying out.
- Baste the turkey with its own juices or a mixture of butter and herbs every 30 minutes or so to help keep it moist.
- Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute.
- For the stuffing, use a combination of bread cubes, vegetables, herbs, and spices. You can also add cooked meat, such as sausage or bacon, to the stuffing for extra flavor.
- Make sure to cook the stuffing thoroughly before serving. You can do this by baking it in a casserole dish or by stuffing it inside the turkey.
- Serve the turkey and stuffing with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.
Conclusion:
Thanksgiving dinner is a time-honored tradition that brings family and friends together. With a little planning and preparation, you can create a delicious and memorable Thanksgiving feast that everyone will enjoy. So gather your loved ones, set the table, and enjoy a day of feasting and celebration.
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