28-Days-to-Lean Meal Plan
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Read articleThe turkey is the culinary centerpiece on Thanksgiving Day; and for most families, the way the turkey is prepped and dressed remains a family staple year after year.
And while there isn’t any shame in keeping it the same, this protein-packed main dish has the ability to take on other flavors and spices that just might rock your world. (And taste buds).
As with every Thanksgiving Day, the turkey has the potential to be the most remembered food on the table, so if you’re looking for new recipes for this edible centerpiece, you need one that you and your guests can count on. Here, I’ll show you nine ways you can shake up your Thanksgiving Day turkey that are simple, healthy, and most important, delicious!
Toby Amidor is the owner of Toby Amidor Nutrition and best-selling author of Smart Meal Prep for Beginners, The Easy 5-Ingredient Healthy Cookbook, The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook, and The Greek Yogurt Kitchen.
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Bochkarev Photography / Shutterstock
Apple and herb turkey brine infuses wonderful flavor into the meat and helps keep it juicy while roasting. Plus, it’s easy to prep ahead!
Skill level: Intermediate
Serves: 10
Start to Finish: 10 hours+
Prep: 10 hours
Cook: Varies (see chef’s notes)
Ingredients:
To make the brine mix
To brine a 20-pound turkey*
Instructions:
Chef’s notes:
*To brine a turkey breast (6-7 pounds) instead of a whole turkey, halve the recipe and reduce brining time to 5 hours.
**The turkey needs to be totally submerged in the brining liquid. Any non-reactive deep vessel (a huge bowl or deep pot) covered with plastic wrap will work for this.
***A 20-pound turkey should be cooked in a 325°F oven between 4 1/4 and 4 3/4 hours until the minimum internal cooking temperature reaches 165°F.
Recipe courtesy of Amanda Biddle of Striped Spatula.
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Magrig / Shutterstock
This year, serve this mouthwatering turkey breast drizzled in a decadent red wine soaked cherry sauce. The extra sauce also compliments the mashed potatoes and stuffing.
Skill level: Beginner
Serves: 6-8
Start to Finish: 1 hour
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
For the Turkey
For the Red Wine Soaked Cherry Sauce
Instructions:
*Chefs notes: Ask your butcher to butterfly the turkey breast for you.
**Chefs notes: Find roasted and shelled chestnuts usually by the nuts/raisins section of your grocery store or sometimes in the aisle by the register in plastic pouches.
***Chefs notes: You can add a cornstarch slurry to the mixture at the end right before removing it from the heat if you’d like it a bit more “saucy” (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon cold water – stir to dissolve then add to pot).
Nutrition Information (per serving):
Calories: 300; Protein: 42 grams; Fat: 7 grams; Carbs: 14 grams
Recipe courtesy of Gina Matasoukas of RunningToTheKitchen.com on behalf of the Cherry Marketing Institute.
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sarsmis / Shutterstock
With this light and healthy turkey recipe, you’ll have plenty of room in your appetite for all your favorite side dishes!
Skill level: Intermediate
Serves: 6
Start to Finish: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Instructions:
*For two 3-pound breasts, cook for 1 1/2 hours
Nutrition Information (per serving):
Calories: 283; Protein: 21 grams; Fat: 13.7 grams; Carbs: 19.6 grams
Recipe courtesy of Layne Lieberman, MS, RDN, CDN, LDN, an internationally recognized registered dietitian-nutritionist, and author of the award-winning lifestyle cookbook, Beyond the Mediterranean Diet: European Secrets of the Super-Healthy.
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Benoist / Shutterstock
If you’re looking for a more classic turkey on your holiday table, this four-ingredient recipe is a perfect fit. Just a little salt, black pepper, and butter for flavor allow the delicious flavor of the turkey to shine.
Skill level: Intermediate
Serves: 10-12
Start to Finish: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Prep: 45 minutes
Cook: 4 hours, 45 minutes
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Recipe courtesy of The Fresh Market.
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Natallia Harahliad / Shutterstock
Hosting a smaller Thanksgiving? Opt for a turkey breast instead of a whole bird. Using only a breast frees up a lot less oven space and takes a lot less cooking time.
Skill level: Beginner
Serves: 6-8
Start to Finish: 1 hour, 40 minutes, plus marinating time
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Recipe courtesy of Prep Dish.
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Liliya Kandrashevich / Shutterstock
Some guests prefer dark meat only like in this turkey wing recipe slathered in spicy Mexican-inspired flavors and served with a tequila-flavored cranberry sauce on the side.
Skill level: Beginner
Serves: 8-10
Start to Finish: 25 minutes, plus marinating time
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Recipe courtesy of the National Turkey Federation.
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Lisa Lotts / Garlic and Zest
If you’re not feeding an army, do you really want to saddle yourself with an 18-pound bird? Probably not. You can get all the flavors of the holidays you crave in this tender, juicy turkey tenderloin with a savory parmesan apple stuffing and sage wine gravy—ready in just over an hour.
Skill level: Intermediate
Serves: 4
Start to Finish: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Prep: 45 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
For the gravy:
Instructions:
Nutrition Information (per serving):
Calories: 356; Protein: 12 grams; Fat: 22 grams; Carbs: 23 grams; Sugars: 5 grams
Recipe courtesy of Lisa Lotts of Garlic and Zest.
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freeskyline / Shutterstock
No Thanksgiving holiday would be complete without a turkey. This version has an Italian flair to the preparation method, but still fits perfectly into your turkey day spread.
Skill level: Intermediate
Serves: 8-10
Start to Finish: 3 hours, 25 minutes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Ingredients:
For the turkey
For the stuffing
For the trimmings
Instructions:
Recipe and photo courtesy of Cooking with Nonna: A Year of Italian Holidays by Rossella Rago. The Quarto Group (2018).
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National Turkey Federation
This Thanksgiving add some BBQ to your feast by making these simple turkey breasts. The flavor comes from a variety of dried spices which you rub over the breast right before firing up the grill. Serve the turkey breasts with a pico de gallo and corn on the cob.
Skill level: Beginner
Serves: 16
Start to Finish: 1 hour, 30 minutes, plus marinating time
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Recipe courtesy of the National Turkey Federation.
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