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The secret to a delicious, juicy Thanksgiving turkey is all about the brine. This Maple Brined Turkey recipe is sure to have your Thanksgiving turkey be the talk of the dinner table.
Even for the best of cooks, roasting a turkey can be a huge stress! I’ve cooked more than my share of turkeys over the years and the one thing that I’ve come to realize is – less is more. In my opinion, the key to a perfect turkey is brining. I like to prepare a simple brine for my turkey to sit in for a day or two before cooking (this is one of Kenya’s favorite jobs because he loves playing with all the spices involved) and then into the oven it goes. This recipe is so easy it will make even a turkey roasting first timer look like a seasoned (pun intended) pro!
Remember, when you make a good turkey, people will remember and compliment you forever. But when you mess up a turkey, no one will let you forget it. So, don’t mess up the turkey! With brining you won’t. No stuffing, no flipping it halfway through, just a few easy steps that make this Maple Brined Turkey the most juicy, succulent turkey you and your family will ever eat!
Here’s a few tips that will guarantee you make a turkey that will make you a legend in your family!
1. No maple syrup on hand, but still want to make a brined turkey? Make my Best Brined Turkey which is a game changer.
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2. Your turkey is totally frozen? You can totally add it to any brining recipe and brine it for 3 days (even better) adding more ice to cover on day two.
3. After your turkey cooks at 450 degrees for 30 minutes, cover the breast with a piece of foil to prevent further browning in order to make sure the legs cook and brown even. You’ll thank me later!
4. You don’t have enough room in your oven? Open your grill to cook your turkey in a way that will blow your guests mind (and love more space in your oven for stuffing and sides.)
Of course, every Thanksgiving turkey is supported by the delicious sides it’s served with. Pair this scrumptious Maple Brined Turkey with some of my favorite Thanksgiving sides like Cornbread Cranberry Stuffing, Maple Roast Vegetables, Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Poppy Seeds, and Sweet Potatoes in Orange Cups. Still hungry? You need dessert! Gluten free Apples Pie, Pecan Pie, Maple Pumpkin Pie or Cinnamon Apple Crisp will change your world and create desserts that are so simple you can make them with anyone in your family who’s never even cooked before with perfect results.
What do you have on the menu for Thanksgiving this year? Let me know in the comments, and tag @weelicious on social media so I can see your recipes!
Maple Brined Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 12-14 pound turkey (defrosted)
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1 orange, cut in half
- 1 onion, quartered
- 10 cloves
- 20 peppercorns
- 3 star anise
- 1-2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- water
Instructions
- Place the maple syrup and salt in 4 cups of hot water. Stir until the salt dissolves.
- Place the maple syrup mixture in a large stock pot with a gallon of cold water, the juice of the orange, the orange halves (once juiced, of course), the onion, cloves, peppercorns, and star anise and stir to combine.
- Wash the turkey inside and out (putting aside the neck and liver to make gravy) and place breast side down in the stockpot with the brine (you want the brine to just cover the turkey).
- Refrigerate 18 hours to 2 days. (Or, you can set it in a cool safe place outdoors as long as it’s below 55 degrees outside).
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Take the turkey out of the brine and rinse inside and out with cold water, discarding brine.
- Place the turkey on a roasting rack inside a wide low pan and blot the turkey with a paper towel.
- Tuck back the wings (or cover with small pieces of foil) and rub the skin of the turkey with the oil.
- Roast on the lowest rack of the oven for 30 minutes and then place a piece of foil just over the breast of the turkey to cover (the breast cooks faster then the legs and wings so this process helps it to cook more evenly).
- Pour 1 cup of water in the pan, reduce temperature to 350 degrees and continue to roast 1 hour.
- Remove the foil from the breast, turn the pan so the other side of the breast is towards the back of the oven (most oven’s heat comes from the back, so turning it prevents overcooking) and cook for another hour to 90 minutes. Insert a meat thermometer into the deepest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone) until you reach a temperature of 160-165 degrees. The turkey will actually continue to cook a bit more even after you take it out of the oven (the total cooking time in the oven will be 2 1/2-3 hours total).
- Let the turkey rest for 20-30 minutes (this is an essential step to allow the juices to redistribute and settle).
- Slice and serve with gravy or Cranberr-Wee-Sauce.
Can you deep fry a brined turkey?
Just double the recipe 🙂
Hi Catherine, I got an organic turkey from Whole Foods that will be anywhere from 18-20lbs. How would I alter this recipe to accommodate for the bigger bird?
I so wanted to try a brined turkey this Thanksgiving. I’ve been scouring recipes. I think this is the keeper!
Thanks!
Of course, you could even do this with a chicken 🙂 I would cook it bone in, skin on at 450 degrees for 20 minutes and then 40-60 minutes at 350 degrees. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s cooked to 165 degrees and allow it to rest for 10 -15 minutes to let the juices settle.
I’m interested if you can do this with a small (48 oz) breast as well. I’m a vegetarian, so I only get a small breast for my husband, but this sounds great for him!
I have the same question. Would be boneless turkey breast with skin around five lbs or so from whole foods.
Are you cooking a bone in, skin on turkey? How many pounds?
How would you do this with turkey breast?
What a beautiful presentation with the pomegranates and pears. I love the placemats or tablecloth, too. I would love to try this recipe, however, my husband is in charge of the turkey every year. I’ll have to show him this and see if he wants to try it. Thanks!
yes, brine is what you soak it in (most basic would be water with salt and some spices)
I am in charge of making a turkey for the first time, and am definitely going to use this recipe. The only part I don’t understand, and please don’t tease, is what the brine is. Is that the name of all the juices you soak it in for 2 days? Also, am I right in understanding that I don’t need to put any stuffing into this??
How many pounds are you thinking?
This sounds wonderful! What would you do with a turkey twice that size? Would you double all that up?
Why do you only have to cook a brined turkey for 2 hours? That doesn’t seem like enough time, when, usually I have to cook one for 5-6 hours.
Thanks, carol
This is very close to how I roast my turkeys and I can attest that they always turn out wonderful! I’ve never used maple syrup in the brine before but I look forward to trying it!