Holidays & Entertaining Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Recipes Everything You Need to Know About Cooking a Thanksgiving Turkey By Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Instagram Sarah Martens is the senior food and recipes editor at Better Homes & Gardens overseeing all food content on the site. She is a writer, recipe developer, and editor with more than a decade of expertise in publishing. She got her start writing a food blog and firmly believes it’s not a party without a cheese plate. When she’s not thinking about what she's going to eat next, you’ll find her attempting (and regretting) art projects with her kids, scouring the internet for the perfect pair of loafers, or working to perfect her grandmother’s all-butter pie crust recipe. She holds a B.A. in public relations and marketing from Drake University. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 13, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Brie Passano Mastering the turkey basics can be tricky. Even experienced cooks get nervous when it's time to prepare Thanksgiving's main entree. Let us relieve the pressure with our turkey recipes, Test Kitchen tips, and information on cooking a turkey that makes Thanksgiving dinner a success. 01 of 17 Must-Have Turkey Safety Tips Blaine Moats Cooking a large bird may feel like a daunting task but it doesn't need to be. Follow these Thanksgiving turkey safety tips to ensure your dinner comes out juicy, delicious, and safe to eat. The Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes From Classic to Creative 02 of 17 How Much Turkey Do I Need? Andy Lyons Whether you're hosting a crowd or planning a small family dinner, knowing how much turkey you'll need can help avoid mountains of leftovers or running short on meat. Get our best tips for buying a turkey and figuring out just how big of a bird you need. Exactly How Much Turkey Do I Need to Feed the Family? 03 of 17 How to Brine a Turkey Brining involves submerging your turkey overnight in a mixture of salt, water, and often added spices. The result is tender, flavorful meat with every bite. We'll show you how to brine a turkey in just four simple steps. Make Maple-Brined Turkey 04 of 17 How to Roast a Turkey Brie Passano For many of us, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a roasted turkey. Learn everything you need to know about how to roast a turkey, from thawing to trussing. We've included our best tips and tricks to make roasting a Thanksgiving turkey easy! How Long to Cook a 30-Pound Turkey 05 of 17 How to Smoke a Turkey This year, try something new! Smoking your Thanksgiving turkey results in a succulent bird that's filled with flavor. You'll learn how to smoke a turkey from brining the bird to carving the finished dish. 06 of 17 How to Deep-Fry a Turkey Marty Baldwin When deep-frying a turkey, it's crucial to keep safety in mind. While the crispy, juicy results are totally worth it, it's important to take a few precautions when working with hot oil. We'll break down the do's and don'ts of frying a whole turkey. 07 of 17 How to Make Stuffing Andy Lyons An essential part of how to prepare a turkey is the stuffing, of course! Always mix stuffing ingredients just before stuffing and roasting the bird—do not stuff in advance. Learn how to make stuffing in just a few simple steps. 08 of 17 How to Cook Turkey Breast Andy Lyons Cooking turkey breast is a simple way to serve up a taste of the holidays for small gatherings or Thanksgiving dinner for two. We'll show you how to cook turkey breast in the oven so it comes out juicy and succulent every time. 09 of 17 How to Cook Two Turkeys Together Robert Jacobs Feeding a crowd but only have one oven? Don't stress! Here's how to cook two turkeys together so each roasts to juicy perfection. We're also sharing ideas for alternative cooking methods like smoking, grilling, and frying. 10 of 17 How to Stuff a Turkey Scott Little Stuffing a Thanksgiving turkey takes just a bit of time and technique. We'll show you how to stuff a turkey including step-by-step photos and Test-Kitchen secrets. Once your stuffed turkey has roasted, we'll walk you through how to remove the stuffing for a picture-perfect presentation. 11 of 17 How to Make a Gorgeous Thanksgiving Turkey Photo courtesy of Jennifer Causey. Food stylist Rishon Hanners shares must-have tips and tricks for presenting a showstopping Thanksgiving turkey. Just a few simple steps will take your bird from ho-hum to truly memorable. 12 of 17 How Long to Cook a Stuffed Turkey Andy Lyons Juicy stuffed turkey is a Thanksgiving classic. However, it's important to cook the bird fully to ensure the stuffing is safe to eat. Our Test Kitchen shares just how long to cook a stuffed turkey for delicious (and safe!) results. 13 of 17 How to Cook Turkey in an Electric Roaster Greg DuPree When it comes to cooking Thanksgiving dinner, there are a lot of dishing vying for oven space. Help alleviate the demand by cooking your turkey in an electric roaster ($90, Walmart). We'll teach you our tricks for juicy turkey including how long your bird should cook. How to Cook Turkey in an Electric Roaster to Free Up Oven Space 14 of 17 How to Carve a Turkey Andy Lyons After you've successfully roasted the turkey, it's time to carve it and serve! Start by removing the drumsticks before moving on to breasts, wings, etc. We'll show you how to carve a Thanksgiving turkey with ease. 15 of 17 How to Make Turkey Gravy Andy Lyons Let's be honest, gravy makes everything better. We love spooning it over our turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Serve up a classic turkey gravy in just 15 minutes with our helpful tips. 16 of 17 How to Make Turkey Ahead Con Poulos Ease the stress of Thanksgiving entertaining by cooking your turkey ahead. Prep and prepare your roast turkey up to a day before serving. Reheat the meat in the oven and serve in just one hour of cook time. How to Make Turkey Ahead 17 of 17 How to Defrost a Turkey Blaine Moats Often when you buy whole turkeys, they come partially frozen. Before cooking, you'll need to thaw your bird properly. Get our best tips for how to thaw a turkey in the fridge or sink. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit