A whole roast turkey is classic and delicious. But for a true showstopping Thanksgiving feast, prepare our two genius recipes for white meat and dark meat and serve these instead. For the white meat, our Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast, a.k.a. turchetta, is a gorgeous preparation that takes its name, shape, and seasonings from the iconic Italian pork roast called porchetta. For the dark meat, our Turkey Thigh Confit with Citrus Mustard Sauce produces the most succulent and deeply flavorful turkey you’ve ever tasted, and it’s remarkably easy to prepare. Together, these deluxe recipes will feed 12 to 16 guests, and each can largely be prepared in advance.
Recipes
Combine These Two Recipes for the Ultimate Turkey Feast
For the most unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner you’ve ever made, roast a breast porchetta-style and confit a batch of thighs.
By Published Nov. 2, 2021
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How to Make Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast
In this preparation, mild-mannered breast is wrapped around a gutsy herb paste that adds so much flavor, you can cross gravy off of your to-do list. Almost all the hands-on work of assembling the roast happens up front, and you can do this up to 2 days ahead. Then, on turkey day, all you need to do is cook the turchetta in a low oven and then briefly blast it over high heat to bronze the skin.
Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast
Treat turkey the way Italians do pork, and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning, robustly seasoned, entertaining-friendly holiday roast (plus awesome leftovers).Get the Recipe
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How to Make Turkey Thigh Confit with Citrus Mustard Sauce
For dark meat lovers, it doesn’t get any better than these dense, silky thighs and their concentrated savory flavor—plus making them takes very little effort. Simply process onion, salt, pepper, sugar, and thyme in a food processor, then coat the thighs in this paste and let them cure for at least four days. As the thighs sit, the salt, sugar, and some water-soluble compounds in the aromatics gave the turkey a deeply savory flavor. Next, rinse away the cure and oven-poach the thighs in rich duck fat until they are tender, at which point they can be refrigerated for up to six days. When it’s time to serve, brown the thighs quickly in a hot oven (you can do this while the porchetta-style breast is resting) and then serve them with our bright and tangy citrus-mustard sauce.
Confit at a Glance
One more reason to love turkey confit is its terrific make-ahead potential. The process takes at least five days, but almost all the preparation time is unattended.
1. CURE
Salt turkey (along with aromatics) for 4 to 6 days.
2. COOK
Oven-poach turkey in fat for 4 to 5 hours.
3. HOLD
Refrigerate for up to 6 days. (This step can be skipped.)
4. BROWN
Warm through on stovetop, then brown in hot oven.
Turkey Thigh Confit with Citrus Mustard Sauce
The hands-off, naturally make-ahead confit technique transforms turkey thighs into a silky, dense, and savory revelation.Get the Recipe
Complete the Feast
French-Style Mashed Potatoes (Pommes Purée)
The luxuriously rich and silky pomme puree served in Paris is the result of tedious mixing by hand and a sinful amount of butter. But does it have to be?Get the Recipe
Jellied Cranberry Sauce with Rose Water
Give thanks for customizable flavors and forms—and a touch of nostalgia.Get the Recipe
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic, Red Pepper Flakes, and Parmesan
What would it take to create tender, nutty-tasting Brussels sprouts in just one pan?Get the Recipe
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Start Free TrialAbsolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy!
Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too.
Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Would not have thought that the amount of time under the broiler would have produced a very juicy and favorable chicken with a very crispy crust. Used my 12" Lodge Cast Iron skillet (which can withstand 1000 degree temps to respond to those who wondered if it would work) and it turned out great. A "make again" as my family rates things. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. My butcher gladly butterflied the chicken for me, therefore I found it to be a fast and easy prep. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous!
John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue.