Turkey recipes are where a lot of home cooks get nervous, so this page walks you through the whole bird. You'll find how to thaw, brine, and roast it, how to smoke or spatchcock it, and how to carve it so every slice stays juicy.
I'm a classically trained chef, and I'll keep you on the safe side too: thaw in the refrigerator, and cook every turkey to 165F in the thickest part of the thigh and breast.
When dinner's done, keep going. The leftover turkey recipes and turkey breast ideas below work well past November. Planning the whole holiday table? Start with my Thanksgiving recipes and what to serve with turkey.
Learn a kitchen skill
How to Carve a Turkey Breast
Clean, even slices off the bone in a few minutes; the carving guide thousands of you look up every year.
Whole Turkey Recipes
A juicy whole turkey starts days ahead with a safe thaw and a good brine. Then pick your method: roasted in the oven, smoked low and slow, or spatchcocked so it cooks evenly in about half the time.
How to Carve a Turkey and Make Gravy
Let the turkey rest 20 to 30 minutes before you carve so the juices stay in the meat, not on the board. That rest is your window to make gravy from the pan drippings.
Sous Vide Turkey Roulade
A boneless turkey breast rolled around stuffing and cooked sous vide, so it's evenly juicy edge to edge.
Leftover Turkey Recipes
Leftover turkey is the best part of the week. Roll it into egg rolls, pile it on fries with gravy, tuck it into sliders, then simmer the carcass into stock.
Ground Turkey Recipes
Ground turkey is the budget-friendly way to put turkey on the table any night of the year. It's lean, so cook it through to 165F and add a little fat or sauce to keep it moist.
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Turkey Recipes FAQ
While I try to share all the information you need to make these recipes in your home with restaurant-quality results, there still may be a question or two. Or these are questions I have received from the community about these recipes. I do my best to answer them as clearly as I can. I hope this helps.
How long does it take to thaw a frozen turkey?
In the refrigerator, plan on 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds, so a 16-pound turkey needs about 4 days. In a hurry, submerge it in cold water in its wrapper and change the water every 30 minutes; figure about 30 minutes per pound. Never thaw it on the counter. My turkey thawing guide has the chart.
What temperature should turkey be cooked to?
165F, measured with an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, the wing, and the breast, without touching bone. Stuffing cooked inside the bird needs to reach 165F too.
Is a lower sous vide temperature safe for turkey breast?
Yes, when you hold it long enough. Sous vide makes turkey safe through time at temperature, not just a single reading, so follow the time in the recipe exactly and don't cut it short.
How long is leftover turkey good for?
Get it into the refrigerator within 2 hours of serving and use it within 3 to 4 days. Slice the meat off the bone before you store it so it cools faster. Then turn it into leftover turkey egg rolls.
More Turkey Recipes
Every turkey recipe and how-to on Savoring The Good, newest first.
