The turkey is the star of the show every Thanksgiving and I have a few of my favorite recipes that are tried and true and sure to be a hit. There is not much worse than a dry flavorless turkey, but when done right turkey is truly underrated in my opinion. I have a few tips and tricks to ensure that your turkey is moist, flavorful, and a no fail every year.

I have recipes for whatever your preference may be from grilled, to roasted, to dry brined, and more! You really can’t go wrong with any of these delicious turkey recipes and they would all be amazing to add to your Thanksgiving menu this year.

Before we jump into the recipes, here are a few tips for your turkey cookin’!

Make sure to thaw your turkey a few days in advance before Thanksgiving. Nothing is worse than going to get your turkey out of the fridge and realizing that it is still partially frozen which will lead to uneven cooking time.
Set your turkey out at room temperature at least an hour before cooking. This will help it to cook more evenly in the oven, grill, smoker etc.
Make sure to season underneath the skin as well as on top of the skin. We want tons of flavor throughout eat bite.
Don’t be shy on the seasoning. Remember this is a huge bird and it needs a hefty amount of seasoning whether that is herbs, salt, cajun spices etc.
Feel free to substitute a turkey breast here instead of a whole turkey for a smaller portion or if you want to reduce cook time. You can also buy a breast and separate legs if you want both dark and light meat without having to cook the whole bird.
Let the turkey have at least 30 minutes of rest time before slicing after it is done cooking to ensure the juices stay inside the meat! We want a juicy turkey!
Save the bones to make stock post Thanksgiving.
Dry brine, season etc. the day before so that the turkey has ample time to get seasoned.
Use those leftovers for more than just sandwiches! I have included some of my favorite ways to use up that leftover turkey and make it feel new.
Lastly, don’t stress. Give yourself plenty of time for the turkey so no one is waiting on it when the rest of the dishes are ready. I would rather have the turkey ready earlier than later, because it doesn’t have to be served piping hot.