Wondering how to make the best Thanksgiving turkey ever this year? This easy Turkey recipe is the answer. It packs tons of flavor and makes a juicy Thanksgiving turkey slathered with garlic herb butter and browned to perfection. No brining needed in this no-fuss turkey recipe!
Roasting. Roasting a turkey in its own juices is the healthiest method of cooking a turkey, if you don’t add butter under the skin. You’re even better off if you don’t eat the skin because that’s where the saturated fat is hidden, as mentioned before.
What Size Turkey Do You Need?
When selecting my turkey the first thing I determine is how many people will be at my Thanksgiving dinner.
You need about 1.5lbs of meat per person, so just multiple 1.5 x [the number of people at dinner] and that equals the size of the turkey you need!
Ingredients for the Garlic Herb Compound Butter:
This compound butter is super easy to make and adds tons of flavor! We are going to be sticking it in between the turkey meat and the skin (more on that below) for the ultimate juicy turkey.
- Unsalted butter – You can also use salted butter, but you may need to add the amount of salt used separately.
- Salt – I used black truffle salt from Sur la Table
- Fresh herbs – Tarragon, sage, thyme and rosemary
- Garlic cloves – Finely minced so that their flavor is distributed evenly.
- Fresh lemon zest – Also adds flavor
The trick to using this butter to cook up a moist turkey is loosening the skin and using a cheesecloth. We’re not going to just slather the butter onto the turkey, at which point it would quickly melt and slide off the meat. Instead we’re going to stuff the butter in between the turkey skin and the meat. Then, we’re going to use a cheesecloth to hold more butter in place and really let those flavors soak into the turkey.
Ok. So those are the main steps to “prep your turkey.”
EASY THANKSGIVING TURKEY | how to cook and carve the BEST turkey recipe
FAQ
What is the healthiest way to cook a turkey?
Is roasting a turkey a healthy choice?
What cooking method is best for turkey?
What is the healthiest turkey to eat?
Should you stuff a thawed Turkey before roasting?
Stuff the turkey just before roasting. Stuffing it the night before could cause food-borne illness. Stuff both the neck and body cavity of the thawed turkey and pack it loosely. This means about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound of meat. Tuck the legs and wings back underneath the bird before putting it in the oven.
What are the health benefits of ground turkey?
Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.