Black Folks Southern Turkey Recipe
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Meet my family’s favorite Thanksgiving centerpiece – my Black folks’ Southern turkey recipe!
This isn’t just any roasted bird. It’s a soul food tradition, seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor in every juicy bite. A true holiday classic, it carries all the hallmarks of Southern comfort: rich, savory, and made with love.
Perfect for a soul food Thanksgiving menu or a show-stopping Christmas feast, this turkey has long been the star of our family table. And the best part? It’s surprisingly simple to prepare, so you can enjoy all the flavor without the fuss.
What is a Black folks’ Southern turkey recipe?
A Black folks’ Southern turkey is all about soulful flavor. Crispy, golden skin wrapped around moist, juicy meat that’s seasoned to perfection, from the inside out. Unlike a regular Southern turkey, this recipe is rooted in soul food tradition, bringing bold, seasoned layers of flavor and cultural richness to every bite.
The secret to a moist turkey
My signature twist is brining the turkey in apple cider, a step that infuses every bite with sweet, tangy depth while keeping the meat tender, juicy, and holiday-table ready.
A brine is a seasoned saltwater solution that works its magic by locking in moisture and enhancing flavor from the inside out. My apple cider brine goes a step further. It’s a fragrant, flavorful marinade that not only preps the turkey but also roasts along with it, creating a bird that’s uniquely soulful and unforgettable.
Ingredients
You’ll find all the exact measurements listed in the recipe card below.
This is THE ultimate Southern turkey ingredient combo, as my recipe brings together all the essentials for a show-stopping holiday bird: a whole turkey as the centerpiece, my homemade apple cider brine that keeps it juicy and flavorful, a soulful blend of turkey seasonings for that signature soul food kick, and fresh herb sprigs to garnish for a beautiful, festive finish. Together, these ingredients create a turkey that’s both flavorful and picture-perfect for your holiday table!
How to make a Southern turkey
Here’s what to expect when making this soulful Southern turkey:
- Simmer the homemade apple cider brine with fruit and spices, then strain.
- Season the turkey with a Southern spice rub and spoon on the brine.
- Roast the turkey in the apple cider, uncovered, basting every 20–30 minutes.
- Rest, then garnish with fresh herbs and fruit, and serve with pan juices or gravy.
Pro tip: Use the leftover apples from the apple cider brine to make baked apple slices. Simply toss them in melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar for a sweet and easy treat!
🎙 Listen to the recipe on The Soul Food Pod episode: Black Folks Southern Turkey Recipe
What to serve with a juicy Southern turkey
Round out your holiday table with classic soul food sides that pair perfectly with this tender, flavorful bird. Southern collard greens, sweet candied yams, and savory cornbread dressing are timeless favorites that bring balance, comfort, and soulful tradition to every plate!
How to keep a turkey warm
Use a deep dish or roasting pan with a fitted lid to keep your turkey warm after it comes out of the oven. Once you’ve carved and served, simply cover the dish to trap the heat and lock in that just-roasted warmth.
If you don’t have a dish with a lid, aluminum foil works just as well to cover the turkey and hold in the heat.
How to get crispy turkey skin
For beautifully crisp skin, roast your turkey uncovered on the lower rack of the oven so the heat circulates evenly.
How to thaw a whole turkey
Thawing a frozen turkey doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you plan ahead. If you’re caught with a frozen bird right before Thanksgiving, you have three options: a slow thaw in the fridge for 24 hours, a medium thaw by soaking it in a pot of water, or a fast (though less ideal) thaw in the oven with frequent checks. Each method prepares your turkey for seasoning, roasting, and serving.
How much turkey per person?
A good rule of thumb is to plan for 1 pound of turkey per person, ensuring there’s plenty to go around without running out before the evening is over.
How to know when your Southern turkey is done
The most reliable way to check doneness is with a meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the thigh, making sure not to touch the bone.
Poultry is safe at 165 degrees F, but for best results, remove your turkey from the oven at around 155 degrees F, because the bird will continue to cook as it rests, reaching the perfect temperature while staying juicy and tender. A digital probe thermometer gives the quickest and most accurate readings in just a couple of seconds.
Easy brine, simple steps: My signature Southern Thanksgiving turkey recipe uses a simple apple cider brine and easy cooking steps to deliver a moist, juicy, and flavorful bird every time!
Equipment
- Large pot
- Reusable straining bag (for the brine)
- Deep-dish roasting pan with a lid
Ingredients
Ingredients for the apple cider turkey brine
- 8 cups water
- 5 apples quartered – and another apple or two to garnish (You can use a mix of tart and sweet if you like, i.e., Granny Smith, Gala, Red Delicious)
- 1 orange with the peel on, quartered (and another orange or two to garnish)
- 2 tablespoons ginger minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons whole cloves
- 1 pomegranate quartered
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 cinnamon sticks
Ingredients for the turkey
- 10-15 pound turkey This recipe works for a 10-15 pound turkey
- 2 tablespoons seasoning Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning, or similar
- 2 tablespoons seasoning Weber Roasted Garlic & Herb Seasoning, or similar
- 4-6 sprigs herbs i.e., rosemary, parsley, and thyme to garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, add water, apple slices, and brown sugar.
- Place the cloves, ginger, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate, and orange slices into a strainer bag. Tighten the strings of the bag and place the strainer in the pot.
- Allow the mixture to come to a simmer (a gentle heat, softer than a low boil) for 40 minutes.
- Once the simmering time is finished, remove the strainer bag and use a slotted spoon to scoop out the apples.
- In a small bowl, combine the seasonings (Famous Dave’s seasoning and roasted garlic & herb spice) to create a Southern spice rub for the turkey.
- Place the turkey in a deep-dish roasting pan.
- Spoon some of the apple cider brine onto the turkey to keep it moist, then rub the Southern spice rub mixture all over the bird.
- Lift the turkey to ensure you rub the seasoning on the bottom of the bird as well.
- Pour the apple cider into the deep-dish pan with the turkey for roasting.
- You may want to add a little more of the seasoning rub in areas where it may have rinsed off the turkey when the apple cider was added.
- Then, place the turkey on the lower rack in the oven, uncovered.
- Roast the turkey at 350 degrees F for 1 hour and 30 minutes in the apple cider brine.
- Baste the turkey with the brine every 20 to 30 minutes during roasting.
- When the cooking time is complete, remove the turkey from the oven and baste it again with the pan juices.
- Let the turkey sit for 20 to 30 minutes before carving.
- Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or parsley, as well as slices of apple and orange. Serve with the turkey broth ladled on top or optional giblet gravy, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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How I wish we have Thanksgiving Day too, to gather and eat mouth watering recipes likes this one!
You could make your own Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving!
Yes right! There’s always something to celebrate.
Yaasss!
Just wondering how 1.5 hours is enough when the time on the bird calls for 2.5-3hours
Thanks for asking! A reminder that this recipe & cook time works for a 10-15 pound turkey.
My turkey says 4 hours at 14lbs, I was wondering the same thing! I’ll check it at 1.5 hrs and if the thermometer pops up, I’ll eat it
Is the turkey hot (as in spicy hot)?
This turkey recipe is juicy and flavorful, but not at all spicy-hot.