These 32 Turkey Recipes Guarantee An Incredible Thanksgiving Dinner
Bird is the word.

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Thanksgiving is ALL about the turkey, so this year, make sure yours is the best it can be. No more worrying about how much turkey to make, when to thaw it, or what the deal is with brining or rubbing… we’ve got you. Whether you’re cooking a whole turkey or are looking for alternatives to the full bird, we’ve got everything you’ll need to get it just right. Check out our best 32 turkey recipes for ideas—try them and you might just start a new Thanksgiving tradition.
The way we see it, there are a couple solid routes to the perfect roast turkey. If you’ve got extra time (24 to 72 hours), we recommend dry or wet brining your turkey. If you choose to go the wet brine route, feel free to get creative with your liquids, like we did in our apple cider-brined turkey or our pickle-brined turkey (trust us 😉).
If you’re shorter on time, you can always try a last-minute rub to add flavor to your bird, like our Italian, lemon-herb, or ranch rubs. They’re pretty much foolproof, even for turkey novices.
Looking for something a little less intense this year than a whole turkey? Try making a turkey breast instead of the whole bird. If you go smaller, the benefit is having a lot more flavor leeway, like in our rosemary, sage, and pecan-crusted turkey breast, our harissa-spiced turkey breast, or our cranberry-glazed BBQ turkey breast. These are perfect for smaller celebrations where you don’t feel the need to adhere too strongly to tradition.
Not a fan of the whole bird but still want to keep with the Thanksgiving spirit? It’s YOUR meal, so make whatever you want. We’ve included some turkey-full alternatives here, like our turkey pot pie, our turkey burgers, our turkey á la king, or our turkey meatloaf, but we give you permission to sub in turkey into any of your family faves. These recipes are perfect for potlucks and Friendsgivings where the more options, the merrier.
Want more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our best Thanksgiving appetizers, side dishes, and desserts too.

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