Thanksgiving feast is incomplete without the turkey. To have a crazylicious turkey treat on the holiday feast, try Alton Brown Good Eats roast turkey.
It is thawed and infused with the most decadent spices and herbs. So, get ready to give a celebrity chef twist to a classic Thanksgiving mascot.
I saw this roast turkey recipe by Alton Brown on Good Eats. The roast turkey for Thanksgiving is kept for about 8 to 16 hours in the brine.
It is infused with the flavors of onion, rosemary, sage, ginger, and many other spices. Pat dry the turkey before adding the aromatics into the cavity and coating it with canola oil. So, let’s transform our classic turkey into a work of art.
To make Alton Brown Good Eats roast turkey recipe more delightful, you can stuff it with veggies, butter cubes as per your taste preference.
You can also tweak the ingredients and add some cheese garlic cloves some bacon depending on your taste preference.
If, you love experimenting, then you can infuse the dish with some wine and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or all spice.
To make Alton Brown Good Eats roast turkey, you should know the equipment and the ingredients required. Read the lists below along with the instructions.
I’m sure it’ll look and taste as amazing as described below. This recipe takes two to three days to get ready, but the result is worth it.
What's In The Post
What Equipment Will You Need To Make Alton Brown Good Eats Roast Turkey?
- Oven – Oven is the main equipment for this recipe to get crispy, and tender turkey.
- Roasting Tray – Roast the turkey by placing it on the roasting tray.
- Pot – Use a large pot to make brine for the turkey.
- Bowl – Use a bowl to make the aromatics mixture for the turkey. You can also use small bowls to keep chopped apples, onion, and spices, or other ingredients before using them in the recipe.
- Bucket – Use a 5-gallons bucket to immerse the turkey in it and to safely thaw it before roasting.
- Spatula – To stir the ingredients on the brine and to braise the turkey, you’ll need a spatula.
- Spoon – Mix the ingredients of the aromatics in the bowl using a spoon.
- Aluminum Foil – After you’re done with roasting the turkey, remove it from the oven and loosely wrap it in aluminum foil. The foil maintains the moisture of the turkey and keeps it tender.
How Much Time Will You Need To Make Alton Brown Good Eats Roast Turkey?
| Preparation Time | Resting Hour | Resting Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Minutes | 7 Hours | 2 Hours 30 Minutes | 9 Hours 45 Minutes |
What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Alton Brown Good Eats Roast Turkey?
For Roast Turkey
- Turkey – Turkey is the main ingredient in the recipe. Use a 16 pounds frozen young turkey for this recipe.
For The Brine
- Vegetable Stock – Vegetable stock gives body to the brine. Add a gallon of vegetable stock to the brine to braise the turkey.
- Heavily Iced Water – You can also add water to the bucket and then put ice cubes in to safely thaw the turkey. It prevents any bacterial action on the outer skin of the turkey.
- Peppercorns – Add a tablespoon of black peppercorns to add heat and spiciness to the turkey.
- Allspice Berries – Add allspice berries to the brine to add more spicy flavors to the turkey.
- Ginger – Chop candied ginger to add a spicy flavor to the turkey.
- Kosher Salt – Add a cup of kosher salt for the brine to enhance the flavor of the turkey.
- Sugar – Add half cup of light brown sugar to balance the strong flavors in the turkey.
For The Aromatics
- Canola Oil – Canola oil will help in maintaining the inner moisture of the turkey skin while roasting it. Coating it with canola oil will help with roasting the turkey and glazing its outer skin while making it flaky.
- Water – A cup of water will perfectly blend all the flavors and will infuse into turkey skin with all the aromatic flavors.
- Apple – Slice a red apple and add it to the turkey cavity to infuse its skin with a mildly sweet and tart flavor of red apple.
- Onion – Slice half an onion to add aroma and slightly sweet flavor to the turkey.
- Cinnamon – Add a cinnamon stick to the cavity of the turkey and it’ll add spicy and aromatic flavor to the turkey.
- Rosemary – Put at least four rosemary sprigs into the turkey cavity to give an earthy lift to the turkey.
- Sage – Along with rosemary sprigs, add six sage leaves to give a fresh aroma and flavor to the turkey roast.
Steps To Make Alton Brown Good Eats Roast Turkey
1. Prep The Brine
Start with thawing the turkey in the refrigerator at 38 F, two to three days before roasting the bird.
Add brown sugar, peppercorns, candied ginger, allspice berries, and salt to a large pot containing vegetable stock over medium heat.
Stir to combine and bring it to a boil. Remove from the heat and keep it aside to cool. Then, keep it in the refrigerator.
2. Brine The Bird
A day before roasting the turkey, add water, ice, and brine to a 5-gallons bucket. Put the thawed turkey in the bucket with the breast side down.
Fully immerse the bird in the bucket. Cover it and refrigerate it for about 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird halfway.
3. Roast The Turkey
Remove the bird from the brine and rinse it inside out with cold water. Pat dry the bird and preheat the oven at 500 F.
Add a cup of water to a microwave-safe bowl. Now, add chopped onion, apple, cinnamon stick, and microwave it for about 5 minutes.
Add these aromatics along with sage and rosemary to the turkey cavity. Tuck the wings of the bird underneath it and coat its skin with canola oil.
4. Serve
Roast the turkey in the oven for about 30 minutes until crispy and tender. Then, reduce the temperature to 350 F.
Roast it further for about 2 to 2.5 hours until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 161 F. Remove from the oven and loosely wrap the turkey in a foil.
Let the turkey rest for about 15 minutes before carving.
Nutritional Information
| Calories | 672 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 17 g |
| Protein | 93 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Saturated Fat | 6 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8 g |
| Trans Fat | 1 g |
| Cholesterol | 309 mg |
| Sodium | 11194 mg |
| Potassium | 1018 mg |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Vitamin A | 930 IU |
| Vitamin C | 1 mg |
| Calcium | 84 mg |
| Iron | 4 mg |
How Will Alton Brown Good Eats Roast Turkey Look And Taste Like?
Alton Brown Good Eats roast turkey has a crispy golden crust. This turkey has a golden flaky crust with tender and juicy skin on the inside. It is flavored with the seasoning spices like salt and pepper.
Each forkful bite of the turkey is juicy and infused with the flavors of apple, onion, cinnamon, ginger, peppercorns, allspice, and herbs like rosemary and sage.
Try this recipe for Thanksgiving and surprise your guests with an unforgettable turkey treat.
Recipe Card
Alton Brown Good Eats Roast Turkey Recipe
Equipment
- Oven
- Roasting Tray
- Pot
- Bowl
- Bucket
- Spatula
- Spoon
- Aluminum Foil
Ingredients
- 16 pound Frozen Young Turkey
For The Brine
- 1 gallon Vegetable Stock
- 1 gallon Heavily Iced Water
- 1 ½ teaspoons Allspice Berries
- 1 tablespoon Black Peppercorns
- 1 ½ teaspoons Candied Ginger (chopped)
- 1 cup Kosher Salt
- ½ cup Light Brown Sugar
For The Aromatics
- 2 tablespoon Canola Oil
- 1 cup Water
- 1 Red Apple (sliced)
- ½ cup Onion (sliced)
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 4 sprigs Rosemary
- 6 leaves Sage
Instructions
Prior To Roasting
- Three or two days before roasting the bird, start with thawing the turkey in the refrigerator at 38 F.
- Now, add peppercorns, candied ginger, brown sugar, allspice berries, salt, and vegetable stock to a large pot over medium heat.
- Stir them together and bring to a boil. After remove from the heat, keep the brine aside to cool. Then, refrigerate it.
- On the day before roasting the turkey, pour water, ice, and brine into a 5-gallons bucket.
- Immerse the thawed turkey in the bucket with the breast side down.
- Cover the bucket (or turkey) and refrigerate this turkey for about 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird halfway.
Roasting The Bird
- As you remove the bird from the brine, rinse it inside out with cold water.
- Pat it dry and preheat the oven at 500 F. Add 1 cup of water to the microwave-safe dish and add onion, apple, cinnamon stick to it.
- Microwave it for about 5 minutes. Now, put these aromatics along with sage and rosemary into the turkey cavity.
- Tuck the wings of the bird underneath it and coat its skin with canola oil.
- Now, roast the turkey in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes until crispy and tender.
- Reduce the temperature to 350 F and then, roast it further for about 2 to 2.5 hours.
- Let the internal temperature of the turkey reached 161 F.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and loosely wrap it in a foil. Now, let it rest for about 15 minutes and then carve.
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Alton Brown Good Eats roast turkey recipe?
Alton Brown Good Eats roast turkey recipe is a simple, yet delicious way to cook a turkey. The ingredients are few and the method is straightforward, making it an ideal choice for even the novice cook.
How do I make Alton Brown’s roast turkey?
To make Alton Brown Good Eats roast turkey, simply follow the instructions. You’ll need a whole turkey, some butter, salt, and pepper. That’s it!
What are the benefits of cooking a turkey using Alton Brown’s recipe?
There are several benefits to cooking a turkey using Alton Brown’s recipe. First, the simplicity of the ingredients list means that you’re less likely to make mistakes during the cooking process.
Second, the method is straightforward and easy to follow, so even novice cooks can successfully produce a delicious bird.
Finally, this recipe produces a juicy and flavorful turkey that your guests are sure to enjoy.
Is it better to roast a turkey covered or uncovered?
To achieve that balance, the ideal is to let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered: We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out, then removing the cover for the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp.
Conclusion
When it comes to roast turkey, Alton Brown’s recipe is hard to beat. The ingredients are few and the method is straightforward, making it an ideal choice for even the novice cook.
If you’re looking for a delicious roast turkey recipe that is sure to impress your guests, look no further than Alton Brown Good Eats roast turkey.
If you tried this recipe, share your experience in the comments below. Try other thanksgiving recipes and enjoy your feast.
