Wet-Brined Roast Whole Turkey
Wet-Brined Roast Whole Turkey delivers exceptionally juicy white and dark meat with a crisp, bronzed skin and gentle savory-sweet balance from salt and sugar in the brine. Butter basting and a splash of white wine add richness and aroma, making this centerpiece ideal for holiday gatherings or any celebratory dinner where you want impressive flavor and tenderness.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook2 hrs 5 mins
- Serves10
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Wet-Brined Roast Whole Turkey, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 33 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 10 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 100 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 57
- Heart Health
- 43
- Metabolic
- 52
- Digestive
- 23
- Inflammatory
- 18
- Performance
- 44
- General Wellness
- 1
Stir cool water, salt, and sugar in a large, clean stockpot until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved. Submerge the turkey in the brine; cover and refrigerate for 8 to 14 hours.
- 2
Remove the turkey from the brine; rinse the inside and outside under cool running water for several minutes to wash away all traces of salt. Pat dry with paper towels. Discard the brine.
- 3
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Set the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
- 4
Combine softened butter and pepper in a small bowl; rub the mixture under the turkey skin. Brush melted butter over the turkey skin and pour the wine into the pan.
- 5
Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Baste the turkey and rotate the pan. Continue roasting until the skin is golden brown, about 25 minutes; baste again and rotate the pan.
- 6
Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and continue roasting, basting, and rotating the pan once more about halfway through the cooking time, until the bone is no longer pink and the juices run clear, 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should register at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- 7
Remove from the oven and let rest for 20 minutes before carving.
- Calories 287.24 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 0.43 g Low Source 1%
- Carbohydrate 59.08 g 21%
- Total Fat 5.41 g Moderate 7%
- Saturated Fat 3.35 g Moderate 17%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 14.43 mg Low Source 5%
- Sodium 58.13 mg Low Source 3%
- Dietary Fiber 17.17 g Good Source 61%
- Total Sugars 53.33 g --
- Added Sugars 31.77 g High 64%
- Calcium 15.97 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 0.6 mg Low Source 3%
- Potassium 46.46 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 67.06 mcg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin C 2.15 mg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Wet Brined Roast Whole Turkey is made with 6 ingredients and serves 10. It takes about 2 hrs 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Coarse Salt, Sugar, and Unsalted Butter. Each serving provides about 287.24 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.
Recipe Questions
- What is Wet-Brined Roast Whole Turkey made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Coarse Salt, Sugar, Unsalted Butter, Water. The full list of 6 is above.
- How long does it take to make Wet-Brined Roast Whole Turkey?
- About 2 hrs 50 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 2 hrs 5 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 287.24 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Wet-Brined Roast Whole Turkey easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 6 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Wet-Brined Roast Whole Turkey healthy?
- Wet-Brined Roast Whole Turkey has an easyChef Pro health score of 44/100. Per serving, it provides 287.24 calories and 0.43 g of protein, or 1% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 3.35 g (17% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 31.77 g (64% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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