5 of Ina Garten’s 5-Star Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
There’s no shortage of five-star Ina Garten Thanksgiving turkey recipes. The longtime Barefoot Contessa host and celebrity chef has created many holiday dishes from various pumpkin desserts to sides. But, like Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey is the centerpiece. Without further ado, here are some of Garten’s Thanksgiving turkey recipes.
1. Ina Garten’s Roast Turkey and Gravy with Onions and Sage is a classic
Originally featured in Food Network Magazine, this particular turkey recipe of Garten’s is great for those who want to take the guesswork out of gravy. “No one wants to stand around hoping their gravy won’t be lumpy at the moment the turkey comes out of the oven,” Garten said in the publication, according to Food Network. “With this recipe, that will never happen!”
Like the majority of Garten’s Barefoot Contessa recipes, this one is relatively simple and straightforward. Although, a fair warning to anyone who plans on making this for Thanksgiving, it does require some time. The Modern Comfort Food author preps the turkey as she would a roast chicken. Except when that’s all done she wraps the bird in plastic wrap and leaves it in the fridge for a day or two. Then the day before roasting it she removes the plastic wrap so the skin dries out.
Finally, the turkey goes in the oven. When it’s cooked and resting Garten prepares the gravy. There’s also the option to make the entire meal (gravy included) ahead of time. Yet another option? Use frozen drippings from the previous year to make gravy like Garten does every Thanksgiving.
2. The Barefoot Contessa’s Perfect Roast Turkey is her Thanksgiving answer to Perfect Roast Chicken
Garten’s Perfect Roast Chicken is one of her most famous Barefoot Contessa recipes and she’s adapted it for Thanksgiving. Essentially she follows the same steps but instead of chicken, she uses turkey. Like her Perfect Roast Chicken, Garten’s Perfect Roast Turkey comes out of the oven with a golden brown outside and tender inside. This is also a great Thanksgiving turkey recipe for those who aren’t experts on Thanksgiving because the steps are simple. An added bonus, there’s no getting up early to put the bird in the oven because it takes all day to cook. Garten’s Perfect Roast Turkey is done cooking in 90 minutes.
3. The Food Network star’s Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast amps up the standard Thanksgiving turkey
Already mastered Garten’s Perfect Roast Turkey and want to try something a little different? Start with this variation. The Barefoot Contessa turns up the volume on the standard Thanksgiving turkey by coating it with an herb paste. Best of all, it only takes 25 minutes to prep and two hours to cook. Make it and prepare to have one of Garten’s patented “How easy is that?” moments.
4. Garten’s Roasted Turkey Roulade is a Thanksgiving dinner showstopper
Really want to impress guests at Thanksgiving? Serve them this turkey from Garten. It’s not the typical roast turkey but it still has all of those classic Thanksgiving flavors. Think of it as a savory Thanksgiving jelly roll. The Barefoot Contessa makes a sausage-stuffing then fills a turkey breast with it. Then she rolls it all up and roasts it.
5. The ‘Modern Comfort Food’ author’s Roast Turkey with Truffle Butter is a fresh take on the traditional Thanksgiving turkey
Want to give a classic Thanksgiving turkey recipe a little update? Turn to Garten’s Roast Turkey with Truffle Butter. It’s simple, requires only a few ingredients — seven in all — and takes only 10 minutes to prep. Featured in Garten’s “Thanksgiving 2.0” episode of Barefoot Contessa: Modern Comfort Food, it’s the celebrity chef’s way of tweaking the classic roast turkey with the addition of truffle butter.
