The Thanksgiving Recipes You'll Come Back to Forever

whole turkey

🥗Healthier: cornish hens

💰Cheaper: chicken

Cornish hens are smaller and can be a healthier option for smaller gatherings.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil provides a healthier fat option while still adding flavor.

fresh herbs

🥗Healthier: dried herbs

💰Cheaper: mixed Italian seasoning

Dried herbs are often more accessible and still flavorful.

chicken broth

🥗Healthier: vegetable broth

💰Cheaper: water with seasoning

Vegetable broth is a lower-calorie option, while seasoned water can be a budget-friendly alternative.

Thaw the turkey in the fridge for 7 days or speed thaw in cold water for about 8 hours.

Remove the giblets, neck, and plastic from the turkey.

Cut through the wing joint to remove the outer segments of each wing.

Make a wet brine with 4 L of water, 300 g of salt, 100 g of sugar, 3-4 bay leaves, 4 heads of garlic (sliced in half), and several sprigs of rosemary, thyme, and sage.

Simmer the brine for 10 minutes, then let it infuse for 30 minutes.

Pour the brine over 4,000 g of ice to cool it down.

Inject the brine into each breast 5-6 times and each leg 2-3 times.

Stab each breast about 50 times to help the brine absorb.

Brine the turkey in the fridge for 3 days, breast side down.

Break down the turkey neck and wings into 2-3 inch chunks and roast with chopped onion, carrots, and celery at 450°F for 15-20 minutes.

Add a cup of water to the roasting tray to scrape up the fond.

Combine the roasted drippings with 1,500 g of chicken stock, bay leaves, and thyme, and simmer for 30-45 minutes.

Strain off the bones and vegetables to make a rich poultry stock.

Whisk 100 g of flour into 115 g of melted butter, then add the roasted turkey stock and simmer until thickened for about 10 minutes.

Cool the gravy base and refrigerate until needed.

Make cranberry sauce by simmering 340 g of cranberries with 100 g of water, 125-150 g of sugar, and 3 g of salt for 10-15 minutes until jammy.

Cool the cranberry sauce until serving.

Prepare sheetpan apple pie by combining 400 g of flour, 40 g of sugar, 6 g of salt, and 300 g of grated butter in a food processor.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens