Oven Baked Turkey Meatloaf
This recipe takes the wholesome goodness of ground turkey and elevates it to new heights, creating a flavorful and comforting dish that will have your taste buds dancing.
At the heart of this creation is 2 pounds of lean ground turkey, a canvas ready to absorb a symphony of flavors. As we dive into the process, you’ll witness the marriage of ingredients like breadcrumbs, a single egg, and a touch of half n half, working together to create a meatloaf that’s not only moist and tender but also full of delightful textures.
The flavor journey continues with the aromatic dance of onions, garlic, and a medley of herbs including thyme and sage. A dash of mustard powder, black pepper, and a hint of cayenne pepper add layers of depth, creating a profile that’s both savory and subtly spicy.
But what truly sets this meatloaf apart is the tangy glaze that will grace its surface. A magical blend of tomato paste, ketchup, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard will be brushed on top, creating a caramelized finish that’s both sweet and tangy. It’s the crowning glory that takes this meatloaf from ordinary to extraordinary.
As this delectable creation bakes in the oven, the tantalizing aroma will fill your kitchen, building anticipation for the flavorful experience to come. Whether you’re cooking for a family dinner or looking to impress guests, our Oven-Baked Turkey Meatloaf with Tangy Glaze is a delicious journey that promises satisfaction in every bite.
Man That’s Cooking
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 small yellow onion
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup half n half
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp ground sage
- 1/2 tsp mustard powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Glaze Topping
- 8 oz tomato paste
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
Directions
First dice and sauté the onion on medium heat with a splash of cooking oil. Cook for a few minutes then add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute.
In a large mixing bowl, add the egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce and dry seasonings. Whisk this mixture together then add the turkey, onions, garlic and breadcrumbs. Thoroughly mix together these ingredients for 1 to 2 minutes.
For the glaze sauce, combine in a small bowl the tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and dijon mustard. Whisk together the ingredients thoroughly. Set aside 1/4 of the glaze in a small container for later as there will be enough for extra on the side.
Place a sheet of aluminum foil on a cookie sheet. Transfer the turkey mixture to the center of the cookie sheet and form it by hand into a bread loaf shape. Next generously brush on the glaze sauce on all surfaces of the meat loaf.
Bake the meatloaf at 365 F for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches between 162 F – 165 F. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
After cooling, slice into 1 inch portions. Serve with the set aside glaze sauce if desired.
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Dutch Oven Boneless Turkey Roast
Dutch Oven Boneless Turkey Roast
In the world of hearty, home-cooked meals, few dishes rival the comforting embrace of a perfectly roasted turkey. Today, we’re unveiling a culinary gem – our Dutch Oven Boneless Turkey Roast. It’s a dish that combines simplicity and sophistication to deliver a mouthwatering experience that’s sure to become a cherished part of your family’s table.
At the heart of this recipe is a magnificent 3-pound boneless turkey roast, a canvas ready to absorb the flavors of our aromatic herbs and seasonings. We’ll infuse it with the earthy essence of fresh thyme, the robust aroma of rosemary, and the savory richness of sage. These herbs will not only add depth but create an irresistible fragrance that will fill your kitchen as it cooks to perfection.
To ensure every bite is seasoned to perfection, we’ll generously salt and pepper all sides of the roast. Then, we’ll take our culinary adventure to the stovetop, where a preheated Dutch oven awaits. Searing the turkey roast on all sides in a hot Dutch oven will lock in the juices and set the stage for a beautifully browned exterior.
But the magic doesn’t stop there. After this initial sear, we’ll generously coat our turkey roast with a medley of minced thyme, rosemary, and sage, infusing it with even more flavor. Then, into the preheated oven it goes, where it will gently roast to a succulent 170°F, ensuring a juicy and perfectly cooked centerpiece.
As the aroma fills your kitchen, the anticipation will grow. And when it’s finally time to slice and serve, you’ll discover that the Dutch Oven Boneless Turkey Roast is not just a meal; it’s an experience, a journey of flavor that brings warmth and comfort to your table.
Man That’s Cooking
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless turkey roast
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1 sprig fresh sage
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Preheat the dutch oven on a burner on medium heat. Remove the turkey roast from the outside packaging but leave the string net on the roast. Wipe down the roast with a paper towel, then rub it down with vegetable oil. Salt and pepper all sides.
When the dutch oven is heated, sear the turkey roast on all sides for about 2 – 3 minutes per side. After searing, coat all sides of the roast with oil, then minced thyme, rosemary and sage. Place the dutch oven without the lid in the preheated oven and cook for 60 – 90 minutes or until the roast reaches 170 F.
Remove the turkey roast and transfer it to a cutting board. Allow the roast to rest for 10 minutes uncovered. While the turkey is resting, prepare the gravy by transferring the juices from the dutch oven into a measuring cup.
Add water until you have 1 3/4 cups of liquid. Pour this liquid back into the Dutch oven along with the gravy packet and bring everything to a boil. When the gravy reaches a boiling point, reduce the heat to a medium low and stir with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula removing the fond from the bottom of the Dutch oven. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the gravy is thickened.
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Pellet Smoked Cajun Butter Turkey
Pellet Smoked Cajun Butter Turkey
Holiday time is here again and your family is looking forward to your smoked turkey. And this year it’s time to give them a different flavor of buttery creole goodness. Now don’t worry, this is not spicy and grandma won’t need a tall glass of milk to cool down the burn. This recipe uses Tony Chachere’s cajun butter injection which has a very buttery flavor with a little bit of kick. If you haven’t tried this before, you should give it a taste before injecting so you know what you are working with. But that’s not all, we’re going to add a creole seasoning herb butter underneath and on top of the turkey skin! Just smoke it for a few hours at 250F then crank the heat to 375F to crisp up the skin. Take it off the smoker when the breast hits 165F, let it rest, then slice in and be amazed at how juicy this turkey is.
Man That’s Cooking
Ingredients
- 10 – 15 lb whole turkey
- 1 bottle Tony Chachere’s cajun butter injection
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp fresh sage
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 3 – 5 tbsp Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning
Directions
Thawing
Usually your turkey will be fully frozen and if so let it thaw out in the refrigerator for at least 48 hours.
Spatchcocking
When the turkey is thawed, remove it from the packaging and remove any giblets and pop up thermometers. Next, cut out the backbone using kitchen shears or a chef’s knife. Cut from the tail along the side of the backbone up to the neck. Repeat this step on the other side of the backbone and remove it completely. Following this, cut the breastbone in the center and now you can flatten out the turkey. This flattening of the bird is called spatchcocking and it will allow the breast and thigh meat to reach their finishing temperatures at the same time. And don’t throw way that backbone, it’s perfect for making gravy or turkey broth!
Injecting
For this recipe, we are using a bottle of Tony Chachere’s cajun butter injection. You may end up using only half the bottle per turkey so pour the injection into another container and do not stick your injection needle directly into the bottle. That will cross contaminate the injection liquid with raw turkey and besides that, it’s just easier to use a wider mouth container. Use your injection needle to pump the turkey up with all the injection liquid as possible. Inject the thighs, legs, wings and breasts and move the needle around to inject multiple points. Putting too much liquid in one area will create a pocket of injection, which is not a bad thing but will be noticeable.
Butter Rub
Use one stick of room temperature unsalted butter and mix with 1 tablespoon of Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning. Add about a teaspoon each of fresh chopped sage, thyme, and rosemary then mix everything together. Next use a small silicone spatula to separate the skin from the meat starting at the neck area and working around to the thighs. Next you can put some seasoned butter on the spatula and work it down underneath the skin. Use your fingers above the skin to spread the butter around. If you are careful you can separate the skin from the thigh meat and get some seasoned butter there as well.
Seasoning
Flip the turkey over and use Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning to coat the inside of the turkey. You can be heavy handed with the seasoning if you like, this is a big piece of meat! Flip the turkey back over and season the skin side. Next rub on the remaining seasoned butter then add the remaining herbs. Add one light coat of creole seasoning for good looks and flavor.
Smoking
Turkey can be smoked at temperatures ranging from 225F up to 325F. However there are some food safety concerns when smoking a turkey larger than 15 pounds at 250F or less. For this recipe we recommend using a turkey less than 15 pounds and smoking at 250F using a wood such as apple, pecan or hickory. Your total cook time will vary depending on the total weight of the turkey and cooking temperature. A 14 pound turkey would take around 4 hours more or less of cook time. The problem with a smoke temperature lower than 300F will be rubbery skin or at least skin that is not crisp and possibly chewy. To help fix this, you will need to crank up the heat of your smoker to 375F when the breast reaches an internal temp of 150 – 155F. Let the turkey continue to cook and when the turkey reaches around 165F in the breast and 175F in the thigh, remove it from the smoker and let it rest uncovered. If you cover the turkey for too long, the steam will work against you and moisten the skin. Just let it rest 15 minutes to allow carryover cooking to do it’s job and work the juices around. After resting, carve into that turkey and be ready to deal with a cutting board full of juices!
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Pellet Smoked Turkey Legs (Disney Style-ish)
Pellet Smoked Turkey Legs
Everyone loves smoked Disney turkey legs and we searched the inter webs for the best Disney style recipe. We found most recipes to vary from each other and it started to seem like nobody really knows the recipe, just like KFC’s secret herbs and spices. So we’re not going to claim this recipe to be the actual Disney formula, but it is a mashup of a few good ones with our own spin on the spices and steps. This recipe is easy but it does take some time from start to finish. You will need to make a brine and soak the turkey legs overnight in that mixture. This adds a great level of flavor to the meat and helps to keep the meat moist. After the brine, you should dry out the turkey legs in the refrigerator overnight to give the skin a less chewy texture. This last step is optional but plan for 1 to 2 days of prep work before the actual cook.
Man That’s Cooking
Ingredients
- 4 turkey legs
Brine
- 1 gallon water
- ½ cup kosher salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp dried sage
- 1 tbsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp black peppercorns
Directions
Boil 1 gallon of water along with all of the listed brine ingredients. Allow the brine to boil for a few minutes then turn off the heat. Remove the pot from the burner and allow the liquid to cool for 1 hour. You can add ice in a large zip seal bag to speed up the cooling process but do not add ice directly to the brine because this will dilute the solution. When the liquid reaches a medium warm temperature, add it to an 8 quart container and place it in the refrigerator for several hours.
When the brine reaches refrigerator temperature (around 32F) then add the turkey legs to the brine. Place the brine back in the refrigerator overnight or at least 12 hours.
After the brine phase, wash off the turkey legs then place them on a sheet pan with a cooling rack. Pat the turkey down with paper towels to absorb as much liquid as possible. It is important to dry off the skin as much as possible to prevent rubbery skin texture. If you have time, place the turkey legs back in the refrigerator overnight and this will circulate air around them which dries off the skin.
When you are ready to cook, preheat your smoker to 230 using apple wood pellets. Spray the turkey legs with duck fat to act as a binder and skin browner. Apply smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and kosher salt on all sides.
Place the turkey legs on an upper rack in your smoker and let them cook for an hour. After an hour, flip them over and then spray them down with duck fat. Check the temperatures and move around any legs from hot areas to cool areas if needed. Repeat these steps until you get close to 165 F, then increase the heat to 300F. Higher heat will help tighten up the skin. Continue cooking until the turkey legs reach around 175F. This should take around 3 hours.
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