Dry-Brined Whole Turkey
Dry-Brined Whole Turkey delivers deeply seasoned meat with tender, juicy texture and crisp, bronze skin throughout. The salt works its magic ahead of time, drawing in flavor while keeping the bird moist, so every slice tastes well-seasoned from edge to center. It’s an excellent choice for a Thanksgiving centerpiece or any holiday feast when you want impressive results with minimal fuss.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook2 hrs 30 mins
- Serves15
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Dry-Brined Whole Turkey, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 65 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 10 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 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.
- 46
- Heart Health
- 73
- Metabolic
- 16
- Digestive
- 33
- Inflammatory
- 56
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Assemble all the ingredients.
- 2
Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Season the inside and outside of the turkey with kosher salt, concentrating on the breast and thighs. Set the turkey, breast-side up, in the roasting pan, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 2 days.
- 3
Turn the turkey breast-side down, cover again with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 1 more day.
- 4
The night before roasting, remove the plastic wrap and set the turkey on a rack over a baking sheet. Let the turkey air-dry in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours. This helps the skin crisp well during roasting.
- 5
Let the turkey come to room temperature for 1 to 2 hours; pat it dry with paper towels. Season the turkey with black pepper and put the onion and celery in the cavity.
- 6
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place the turkey, breast-side down, in a roasting pan.
- 7
Roast in the preheated oven until the skin is golden, about 30 minutes. Take the turkey out of the oven and turn it breast-side up. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C); keep roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 2 hours.
- 8
Move the turkey to a large platter and loosely tent it with aluminum foil; let it rest for about 30 minutes before carving.
- Calories 171.45 kcal Moderate 9%
- Protein 27.24 g Good Source 54%
- Carbohydrate 1.94 g 1%
- Total Fat 6.25 g Moderate 8%
- Saturated Fat 0.57 g Low Source 3%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 84.77 mg High 28%
- Sodium 267.48 mg Moderate 12%
- Dietary Fiber 0.77 g Low Source 3%
- Total Sugars 0.42 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 8.39 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 0.13 mg Low Source 1%
- Potassium 52.3 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 20.53 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 0.35 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Celery
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Dry Brined Whole Turkey is made with 5 ingredients and serves 15. It takes about 2 hrs 45 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Celery Sticks, Sea Salt, and White Onion. Each serving provides about 171.45 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Dry-Brined Whole Turkey made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Celery Sticks, Sea Salt, White Onion, Whole Chicken. The full list of 5 is above.
- How long does it take to make Dry-Brined Whole Turkey?
- About 2 hrs 45 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 2 hrs 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 171.45 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Dry-Brined Whole Turkey easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 5 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Dry-Brined Whole Turkey healthy?
- Dry-Brined Whole Turkey has an easyChef Pro health score of 54/100. Per serving, it provides 171.45 calories and 27.24 g of protein, or 54% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 267.48 mg (12% of the Daily Value). It contains Celery and Onions, 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.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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