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Apple-Sage Brined Holiday Turkey

Dinner 🍽️ American Gluten-Free

Apple-Sage Brined Holiday Turkey delivers a juicy, well-seasoned bird with a gentle sweetness from apples and a fragrant lift of sage. The brine infuses depth while roasting with apples, onion, and garlic builds rich aroma and crisp, golden skin. Ideal for a festive centerpiece at Thanksgiving or any celebratory dinner.

  • Prep30 mins
  • Cook6 hrs 30 mins
  • Serves12
  • DifficultyMedium
Apple-Sage Brined Holiday Turkey
  1. 1

    Assemble all the ingredients.

  2. 2

    In a large stock pot, stir together the chicken broth, apple juice, brown sugar, salt, dried sage, and peppercorns; add the apple halves and crushed garlic cloves. Bring the mixture just to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove from the heat immediately.

  3. 3

    Fill a large food-safe container about halfway with ice. Pour the chicken broth mixture over the ice; stir to cool the liquid completely and evenly.

  4. 4

    Carefully lower the turkey into the liquid with the breast facing down.

  5. 5

    Brine the turkey for 24 to 36 hours, adding ice as needed to keep the brine and turkey cold.

  6. 6

    Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).

  7. 7

    Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse well with cold water. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.

  8. 8

    Combine the apple quarters, onion wedges, whole garlic cloves, and fresh sage leaves in a bowl; loosely stuff them into the cavity of the turkey.

  9. 9

    Place the turkey in a shallow roasting pan. Lightly coat the skin of the turkey with olive oil.

  10. 10

    Bake the turkey in the preheated oven until the skin on the breast is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

  11. 11

    Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), cover the turkey with aluminum foil, and continue roasting until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 6 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 180 degrees F (85 degrees C).

  12. 12

    Take the turkey out of the oven, cover it with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and let it rest in a warm place for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.