How to Make Brined Thanksgiving Turkey - A Step-by-Step Guide

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones and feasting on delicious foods. And at the center of the Thanksgiving table is often a beautifully roasted turkey. If you want to impress your family and friends with a tender and juicy bird this holiday season, then brining your turkey is the way to go. Brining is a process that involves soaking the turkey in a saltwater solution, along with various herbs and spices, to infuse it with flavor and moisture.

Brining a turkey is a sim...

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Ingredients

  • 4 (32 ounce) containers chicken broth
  • 1 cup apple juice (Optional)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons dried sage
  • 4 peppercorns
  • 4 red apples, halved
  • 5 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 10 pounds ice cubes, or as needed
  • 1 (20 pound) turkey whole turkey - thawed, neck and giblets removed
  • 3 apples, cored and quartered
  • 1 onion, cut into 8 wedges
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 6 fresh sage leaves
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 6 hrs 30 mins
  • Additional Time: 1 day
  • Total Time: 1 day 7 hrs
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 1 20-pound turkey

  • Gather all ingredients.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Gently lower turkey into the liquid with the breast facing down.
  • Brine turkey 24 to 36 hours, adding ice as needed to keep the brine and turkey cold.
  • Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
  • Remove turkey from the brine and rinse well with cold water. Pat turkey dry with paper towels.
  • Mix apple quarters, onion wedges, whole garlic cloves, and fresh sage leaves in a bowl; loosely stuff into cavity of turkey.
  • Move the turkey to a shallow roasting pan. Lightly coat the turkey's skin with olive oil.
  • Bake the turkey in the preheated oven until the skin on the breast of the turkey is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
  • 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).
  • 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

    1320 cal.

    • Total Fat: 57g
    • Saturated Fat: 16g
    • Cholesterol: 455mg
    • Sodium: 9411mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 36g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 31g
    • Protein: 155g
    • Vitamin C: 6mg
    • Calcium: 191mg
    • Iron: 10mg
    • Potassium: 1710mg