I love brined turkey. This is a lovely sweet and savory turkey great for Thanksgiving. Cook time and serving size will vary depending on the size of your turkey. The brine is made the same way regardless of the size of your turkey. Only the cook time and amount of filling will vary. You will need a cooler or clean, food safe bucket large enough to hold your bird as well as lots of icy water. I use a cooler so my directions will be written for a cooler. If you use some sort of bucket just use your judgment to match the directions. You can customize the brine using fresh herbs, seasonings, fruits, and vegetables you prefer.
Ingredients
- 4 containerss chicken broth , 32 ounce
- 1 cup apple juice , Optional
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons dried sage
- 4 peppercorns
- 4 reds apples , halved
- 5 cloves garlic , crushed
- 10 pounds ice cubes , or as needed
- 1 turkey whole turkey - thawed , 20 pound
- 3 apples , cored and quartered
- 1 onion , cut into 8 wedges
- 3 cloves garlic
- 6 freshs sage leaves
- 3 tablespoons olive oil , or as needed
Instructions
-
1
Gather all ingredients.
-
2
Stir chicken broth, apple juice, brown sugar, salt, dried sage, and peppercorns together in a large stock pot; add apple halves and crushed garlic cloves. Bring the mixture just to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt. Remove from heat immediately.
-
3
Pour enough ice into a large food-safe container to be about half full. Pour chicken broth mixture over the ice; stir to cool liquid completely and evenly.
-
4
Gently lower turkey into the liquid with the breast facing down.
-
5
Brine turkey 24 to 36 hours, adding ice as needed to keep the brine and turkey cold.
-
6
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
-
7
Remove turkey from the brine and rinse well with cold water. Pat turkey dry with paper towels.
-
8
Mix apple quarters, onion wedges, whole garlic cloves, and fresh sage leaves in a bowl; loosely stuff into cavity of turkey.
-
9
Move the turkey to a shallow roasting pan. Lightly coat the turkey's skin with olive oil.
-
10
Bake the turkey in the preheated oven until the skin on the breast of the turkey is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
-
11
Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), cover turkey with aluminum foil, and continue roasting the turkey until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 6 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 180 degrees F (85 degrees C).
-
12
Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
Want to cook this?
Open in the PantryLink app to scale servings, check your pantry stock, and generate a shopping list.
Sign In to Save Recipe Create Free AccountSuggest an Edit
Help improve this recipe's categorization, image, or dietary info. Earn points and badges!
Suggest Changes in AppPrefer a printed copy? Use our print-friendly view with adjustable servings and font size.
Open Print ViewMore Unknown Recipes
Blue Ribbon Meatloaf from Crosse & Blackwell
Zesty cocktail sauce in the ground beef blend and the mustard-brown sugar glaze lend rich flavor to this classic family favorite.
Gluten Free Pie Crust
This recipe yields is a wonderful gluten-free pie crust I made! I suspect you could use Rice Krispies as well! It also works without the cocoa!
Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork (Boston Butt)
This simple yet effective Boston butt recipe gives the pulled pork a mildly spicy and tangy flavor. The combination of smoke and moisture from the drip pan works very well for cooking the meat evenly and leaves plenty of juices within the meat itself. I've tried several different methods with Boston butt and this one is my favorite, as well as a favorite among my friends. Give it a try and see if you like it, and please don't be shy and leave some feedback! I usually serve with barbeque sauce and baked beans (throwing the fat chunks from the pulled pork into the beans to add a little extra flavor). Check out my Sweet and Spicy Cornbread Muffins recipe for a great side. Enjoy!