Turkey

Seasoning these turkey legs with a dry brine packs them with flavor before they head to the smoker, resulting in juicy, smoky, and tender meat with a light kick from the chipotle chiles. Brining the legs uncovered in the refrigerator overnight also helps to keep the skin dry, and crisp up as it cooks. The turkey legs will emerge from the smoker a beautiful mahogany color. Serve them whole (which would be perfect for Thanksgiving), or shred the meat and mix it into grain bowls, pasta salads, sandwiches, and more. Save the bones as well to make a smoky turkey broth for soups or sauces. Read more about how to make these turkey legs, step-by-step.

Roast this year’s bird in a salt crust for the juiciest turkey ever.

Banish any chance of a dry bird with this salt-crusted turkey breast. Salt-roasting is a technique that is often employed to keep lean fish moist while roasting; the mixture of salt and egg whites forms a nearly airtight crust when baked, locking in moisture and flavor. It works the same magic with turkey. Whereas traditional methods for roasting turkey tend to yield dry white meat, salt-roasting delivers an incredibly juicy breast that's perfectly seasoned to the bone, with no brining required. Use kosher salt to ensure maximum coverage at a reasonable cost. While a 10- to 15-minute rest is ideal, the turkey breast can rest in its crust up to 30 minutes while remaining juicy and tender.

A spiced, tomato-based turkey curry is the perfect use for leftover Thanksgiving turkey. The blend of spices, like mustard seeds and cumin, meld with dried chiles, garam masala, and fresh garlic and ginger for a warming, richly flavored dish finished with a touch of cream. Inspired by the flavor profile of butter chicken, cooked chicken can be substituted for turkey. For a vegetarian version, try with paneer, tofu, chickpeas, or beans.

Sweet, tangy, and succulent thanks to Rodney Scott’s smoky dry rub and spicy mopping sauce, this turkey is easy to tackle on a kamado-style cooker. While Scott swears by the thermal qualities of a ceramic grill, this turkey can also be cooked in a kettle grill or smoker at 225 until it reaches an internal temperature of 155F or roasted in the oven at 325F (cook times will vary).