It’s time for turkey! Across the nation, approximately nine out of every 10 Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. And Americans aren’t the only ones celebrating the holiday. Around the world, people from countries such as Canada, Germany and Japan come together with friends and family to express their gratitude. Nothing unites people more than food, and for this particular November holiday, turkey is often the centerpiece of the table. It’s also the centerpiece for late-November food journalism. For this article, we are diving into four popular turkey recipes to see what they offer everyone from the novice to the experienced cook..

For The Visual Chefs: The New York Times: I’ve Tried Nearly Every Way to Cook a Turkey. This One Is Perfect.

Every year, The New York Times Cooking’s “How to Cook a Turkey” piece is one of their most popular recipes. At the top of the page, there’s a 20-minute video which proves especially helpful for visual learners. It’s by far one of the most thorough recipes and focuses a lot on the prep stage. It’s a great place to start since cooking a turkey is impossible without buying the bird. The first point the article makes is to plan ahead of time, pushing home chefs to go to the store at least a week prior if they’re buying a frozen turkey to give enough time for thawing. The article also delves into the main types of turkey such as Kosher, pasture-raised, heritage, and more. If you’re unsure of where to start, this article is for you!

For the Thorough Turkeymakers: The Food Network: Your Complete Guide to Preparing and Cooking a Turkey 

The Food Network is best known for one thing: food. So it makes sense that this article is a trove of information for all things turkey making. At the top are red hyperlinks which serve as a table of contents so there’s no need to spend time (that could be used for cooking) scrolling to find what you need. For those who enjoy detailed step by step explanations and aren’t overwhelmed with information easily, this article is the one for you. It goes into detail from start to finish with how to choose a turkey, thaw a turkey, brine it, and so forth. Is your turkey is still frozen and Thanksgiving is tomorrow? Don’t panic. The Food Network has a hack – simply roast your turkey until it’s thawed.

For First Time Turkey Makers: Downshiftology: Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe (Foolproof!)

This recipe by Downshiftology is beginner friendly (“think of it as cooking a really large chicken”). It dedicates a whole intro section on easing the nerves ahead of the big holiday. This recipe keeps it simple without the need for brining or basting, while still guaranteeing “perfect results every time.” There are clear photos at every step of the process to double check you’re at the right spot, so don’t sweat it!

For The Chefs Looking For An Easy Yet Fresh New Flavor: The Washington Post: Roast Turkey With Apple Cider Glaze Recipe – The Washington Post 

For those who are lazy and just want a good-tasting Thanksgiving turkey, this recipe is for you! It skips the complicated traditional steps and opts for one flavorant instead: apple cider glaze. Only requiring apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, sage, and oil, this glaze appears super simple to make. Featuring only a small extra info section and no photos, this article cuts straight into the turkey.

From the most nervous, first-time chef to experienced turkey maker, there’s a recipe for you. Whether you enjoy digging through The Food Network’s trove of turkey recipes to opting for The Washington Post’s five-ingredient list, your guests are bound to have a tasty Thanksgiving meal. So what are you waiting for? Put on your favorite apron and get to the kitchen! (Or store, if you have yet to buy your bird).

• Author
• Recent Posts

Heidi Ho

Heidi Ho is a first-year at Northeastern University pursuing a combined degree in Public Health and Journalism. She is a multimedia journalist who is passionate about science, storytelling, and social justice. In her free time, she can be seen at restaurants trying new cuisines, dancing, or reading. She can be reached at ho.he@northeastern.edu.

Latest posts by Heidi Ho (see all)

• Thanksgiving Turkey: Finding the Perfect Recipe  - November 25, 2025
• Streaming Content Producer Angela Chen on reinventing local TV news for the streaming generation at ABC7 Chicago - December 6, 2024
• Transforming journalism with data and AI: Research on representation, equity and accountability in news from the 2024 Computation + Journalism Symposium  - November 26, 2024