10 Perfect Turkeys 10 Different Ways

This turkey made its way into chef Craig Deihl's recipe collection by way of a staff meal at his Charleston restaurant Cypress. He explains that while many people don't do it on Thanksgiving, the brine is the single most important part of getting a perfectly moist turkey, and adds, "The brine makes the difference between a good turkey and a great one." After trying his recipe, we believe him.

Click here to see the Brined Turkey Recipe

Herb-Roasted Turkey

For the traditionalists, sometimes all you want is a simple roasted turkey. We chose Freddy Vargas', of James Beard Award-winning Scarpetta in Beverly Hills, herb roasted turkey. He knows how to add flavor to a bird without overdoing it, with a brine of toasted spices and flavorful spice rub under the skin for roasting.

Click here to see the Herb-Roasted Turkey Recipe

Maple-Brined Turkey

Cookbook author Anna Maria de Freitas brings a little of her San Juan heritage to her brined and smoked turkey with dried chile flakes and a hint of sweetness. She recommends a Japanese Kamado smoker for this recipe, but even just roasted, the maple syrup brine does the bird justice.

Click here to see the Maple-Brined Turkey Recipe

Deep-Fried Turkey

Chef Jimmy Bradley of New York City's Red Cat shared this recipe with us last year, and it was so unintimidating and easy to follow, we decided to include it again in our roundup. We all know the benefits of deep-fried turkey, but one of Bradley's gripes is that you don't have pan drippings to make gravy. His solution is reducing chicken stock so that it's thick and packed with meaty flavors. 

Click here to see Jimmy Bradley's Deep-Fried Turkey Recipe

Myron Mixon's Smoked Turkey

Who better to get a smoked turkey recipe from than the king of barbecue himself, Myron Mixon. We agree that this recipe doesn't have to be enjoyed only once a year.

Click here to see Myron Mixon's Smoked Turkey Recipe

Braised Turkey Legs

For those who can't get enough red meat on Thanksgiving, this is a great way to prepare turkey legs. Chef Michael Mina adds extra flavor by braising his in chicken stock with flavor-boosting ingredients like bacon, mushrooms, and thyme.

Click here to see the Braised Turkey Legs Recipe

Sweet Tea Turkey Brine

We've heard that brines are important, and this chef's recipe shakes things up a bit by adding sweet tea to the brine. His tip is to place the turkey and brine in two doubled garbage bags, which allows you to easily brine it overnight in a roasting pan.

Click here to see the Sweet Tea Turkey Brine Recipe

Bacon-Wrapped Turkey

You know the people who say that bacon makes everything better? This turkey recipe is for them.

Click here to see the Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Recipe

Chicken Fried Turkey

Try something a little different with your turkey this year, like this chicken-fried steak recipe from chef Steve Freidkin of TEXAZ Grill in Phoenix. We promise it's not as crazy as it seems — the crunchy buttermilk skin fits in perfectly with the stuffing and mashed potatoes.

Click here to see the Chicken Fried Turkey Recipe

Yogurt-Glazed Roast Turkey

Winner of Bravo's Top Chef All Stars, chef Richard Blais developed this roasted turkey recipe for Dannon using their Oikos plain Greek nonfat yogurt. If you can't get your hands on Dannon, any Greek yogurt will do. The yogurt-based glaze makes the perfect basting liquid and gives a sweet, tangy flavor to the turkey's skin.

Click here to see the Yogurt-Glazed Roast Turkey Recipe