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Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy

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Total Time
Prep: 4-1/4 hours + freezing Bake: 50 min.

By Taste Of Home Editorial Team

Recipe by Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated on Jun. 30, 2023

Ease the holiday time crunch with a make-ahead turkey recipe that's ready to serve when you are. It's a great choice for potlucks, too. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Editor’s Note: It is best not to use a prebasted turkey for this recipe.
Test Kitchen Approved

Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy

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Yield: 16 servings (2-1/2 cups gravy)
Prep: 4 hours 15 min
Cook: 50 min
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Ingredients

  • 1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • for serving:
    • 1-1/2 cups chicken broth
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Text Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°. Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side up. Sprinkle with poultry seasoning and pepper. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together.
  2. Roast, uncovered, 30 minutes. In a 4-cup measuring cup, mix broth, herbs, lemon peel and juice, and garlic; pour over turkey. Roast, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, 3 to 3-1/2 hours, basting occasionally with broth mixture. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.
  3. Remove turkey from pan; let stand at least 20 minutes before carving. Skim fat from cooking juices.
  4. <b>To freeze:</b> Carve turkey and place in shallow freezer containers. Pour cooking juices over turkey; cool slightly, about 1 hour. Cover and freeze up to 3 months.
  5. <b>To serve:</b> Partially thaw turkey in refrigerator overnight. Preheat oven to 350°. Transfer turkey and cooking juices to a large baking dish. Pour 1-1/2 cups broth over top. Bake, covered, until a thermometer inserted in turkey reads 165°, 50-60 minutes.
  6. <b>To prepare gravy:</b> Remove turkey to a platter, reserving broth mixture; keep warm. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in broth mixture; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve with turkey.

Nutrition Facts

8 ounces cooked turkey with about 2-1/2 tablespoons gravy: 480 calories, 22g fat (7g saturated fat), 218mg cholesterol, 434mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 64g protein.
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