Turkey 7 Ways

Ah, Thanksgiving, the day we gather to celebrate family, gratitude, and the noble tradition of cooking a bird that’s roughly the size of your cousin’s golden retriever. Sure, roasting is classic, but what if this is the year you break free from tradition and try something new? Here are seven ways to cook the bird and give your Thanksgiving the glow-up it deserves:

Classic Roasted Turkey

Roasting a turkey is the culinary equivalent of wearing your favorite pair of sweatpants—it’s cozy, familiar, and reliable. Skip the butter and use mayonnaise for a juicy, flavorful bird. Brine your turkey before popping it in the oven. You’ll get rave reviews. This balsamic glazed turkey will have guests asking for seconds and thirds. Turkey glazed with cranberries? Yes please.

Flattened and Fast Turkey

Spatchcocking sounds way fancier than it actually is. Essentially, you’re just removing the backbone of the turkey and flattening it out like a poultry pancake. This helps the turkey cook faster, so you have more time with guests. If you are new to spatchcocking, try this recipe. Go gourmet with this spatchcocked bird featuring anise and orange. Got ranch dressing? You’ve got a tasty turkey. This turkey is a little spicy.

Flavor-Infused Turkey on the Smoker

Impress your guests with turkey prepared in the smoker. The flavor? Unmatched. The aroma? Mouthwatering. The effort? Totally worth it. This smoked turkey recipe is easy enough for beginners. Combine spatchcocking, smoking, and siracha for an out-of-this-world Thanksgiving. This Cajun smoked turkey will take you back to New Orleans. Maple and bourbon are fall flavors perfect for smoked turkey.

Poultry Triple Threat

If a regular turkey just isn’t enough, why not try turducken? It’s a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey. Why? Because America, that’s why. Not sure where to start? Here’s a primer. Paula Deen takes the humble turducken recipe up a notch. Think turducken is only for big turkeys? Here’s a smaller version. A turducken roulade is a simple elegant dish.

Crispy Deep-Fried Turkey

Fried turkey is fast, crispy, and the perfect option for people who like their Thanksgiving dinner with a side of adrenaline. You can’t go wrong with classic fried turkey. Go South and try this Memphis fried turkey. Amp up your bird with a sweet and spicy glaze. Love Buffalo sauce? Then you’ll love this turkey.

Backyard-Cooked Turkey

This year let the grill do the heavy lifting. Bring a little summer into your fall with a citrus-marinated grilled turkey. Got a rotisserie attachment? Slow cook your turkey. What goes better than chipotle and turkey? Can you grill a whole turkey? Yes, you can.

Pressure Cooker Turkey

If your Thanksgiving crew consists of, say, four people and you’re not about to wrestle with a full-size turkey, meet the Instapot turkey. Don’t worry, you can still get a crispy skin using your pressure cooker. Got only dark meat lovers? Go with these fall-flavored chicken thighs. Try this delicious roast turkey breast recipe. Small whole turkey, big pressure cooker? Have we got a great recipe.

Turkey Made Easy with a Slow Cooker

For a fix-it-and-forget-it Thanksgiving, nothing works better than a slow cooker. Keep in mind this is only useful for small birds, cut up turkey, and turkey breasts. Slather butter on a whole turkey, pop it in the cooker, and spend more time with your guests. Try this simple and tasty turkey breast slow cooker recipe. The advantage of a slow cooker is you get turkey and gravy. Only two for Thanksgiving, try this slow cooker recipe.

Celebrate Turkey Day at Lago Mar

Want to celebrate your next Thanksgiving in style? Purchase a new home in Lago Mar. Not only will you have a fabulous kitchen or backyard to create your masterpiece in, but there is also plenty for you and your guests to do before and after dinner. Visit us today.