It is never too early to start planning your Christmas dinner. Many items on our table need to be prepared ahead of time so I like to get a jump start on it. Plus I love to get a great deal when shopping. If you have been to the grocery store lately you may have noticed many of the holiday faves sell out quick. So stocking up early is important. Obviously there are some items you can not buy ahead but many you can. Either way, I have no doubt your dinner will be fabulous. In our home we always serve turkey for Christmas dinner. Growing up we would go to my grandparents for a huge family dinner. Then my mom took it over and I would often give her a hand. Now living so far from family, I am the one who hosts. We still have quite a few people here as the kids all attend with their friends and we usually invite another couple. Having everyone bring something like a side or dessert helps make meal prep a bit easier.
This holiday season, let Canadian Turkey help you make delicious food that is easy and healthy to prepare and is sure to wow your guests! Making memories over a festive meal with family and friends is the greatest way to celebrate the season. Whether you’re a novice cook, new to feeding a crowd or a seasoned pro in the kitchen, Canadian Turkey can help you create show-stopping dishes and provide you with the tips and tricks you need to create delicious and memorable meals.
Looking for a go-to place to help solve all of your holiday planning needs? Visit canadianturkey.ca to discover everything you need to plan and cook the perfect entertaining meal. They have all the tips, tricks, techniques and recipe inspiration you might need. Their Year-Round Whole Turkey HOW TOs and Turkey Basics videos will provide you with a library of step-by-step information that can help you with easy preparation tips, techniques and instructions that you can use to make a turkey for the first time, or perfect all the details of your holiday meal if you’re an experienced cook. The Recipes section is packed with amazing recipes for main dishes and appetizers, and you can also find a gold mine of ideas for your holiday leftovers.
Finding meal solutions that will help you easily feed a crowd is the best way to prepare for those holiday get-togethers. Canadian turkey makes the perfect feature dish for your entertaining menus. Preparing an amazing classic roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings is time worth taking to create the perfect festive celebration for your many guests. You can feed a large crowd with a roast turkey as the centerpiece or feed a smaller group with an equally festive spread serving a stuffed breast roast or a variety of turkey cuts with all the traditional trimmings. In every case, turkey makes the perfect choice.
One of the best things about roasting a whole turkey is having delicious leftovers that are perfect for feeding your family during the week. It’s like making two meals in one! There are so many options for making a tasty main meal for your family from turkey leftovers. Turkey is easy to pair with many different flavours, and works well with many different cuisines. And don’t forget that the leftover bones make amazing stock or soup! You can find a delicious new recipe to inspire you, or just substitute turkey for the main protein in your favourite dish. After all, what busy family doesn’t love an easy bonus meal?
Need more holiday prep ideas? Read on for some helpful tips!
5 Ways to Get Holiday-Ready with Canadian Turkey:
- Save money by purchasing a utility turkey. Utility turkeys taste the same as Grade A turkeys but may be missing a wing or have a tear in the skin. Once you carve up your meat your guests will never know the difference!
- Get your family excited about this festive Canadian tradition by cooking your turkey using their favourite seasoning or traditional spices.
- Save precious cooking time and have more fun entertaining by preparing a meal using turkey parts instead of a whole turkey. You can customize your meal based on your guests’ preferences by easily serving more dark or white meat, and cut your cooking time in half or less.
- Plan to easily feed a large holiday crowd on a budget by serving a whole roasted Canadian turkey. You can prep your turkey in advance and plan to make all your sides while the turkey is in the oven! Check the Whole Turkey section of the Canadian Turkey website (canadianturkey.ca) where you’ll also find our Whole Bird Calculator to help you determine the perfect size of turkey for your meal.
- Bookmark helpful information on canadianturkey.ca with resources like Turkey Basics videos to help you create the perfect roast turkey meal with fool-proof instructions, hints and tips.
Looking for a yummy twist for your turkey dinner this year? Checkout the delicious recipe from Canadian Turkey.
Pomegranate Glazed Turkey Thigh Roast
Serves: 2-4
Prep time: 30 mins.
Cook time: 60 mins.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs. boneless Canadian turkey thigh
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. ground Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup turkey sausage (2 medium sausages)
- 2 cups finely diced crusty bread
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup chopped roasted chestnuts
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 tbsp. chopped parsley
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
- 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 5 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. pomegranates (I saw these already separated and cleaned, frozen at the store)
For glaze
1. Combine pomegranate juice, sugar and apple cider vinegar in a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce to a low simmer for 45 – 60 minutes until mixture thickens to a glaze and can coat the back of a spoon. Mixture can be made up to 1 week ahead and refrigerated until needed.
For stuffing:
1. Cook sausage over medium heat until cooked through and no longer pink, 8 – 12 minutes, set aside.
2. Add olive oil and onions. Cook over medium heat until onions and browned and caramelized, 8-10 minutes.
3. Cube bread into pieces and soak with milk until absorbed, 10-12 minutes.
4. Combine soaked bread, onion, and sausage together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Combine with chestnuts, parsley and eggs. Set aside.
For turkey:
1. Spread out turkey thigh meat skin side down.
2. Trim extra parts and pieces to create a rough rectangle.
3. Season with salt and pepper, and half of the garlic powder and half of the Italian seasoning.
- Drizzle glaze generously over the meat.
- Spread stuffing mixture over the meat leaving a few inches along the edges free of stuffing. This will make it easier to roll up.
- Roll up the turkey and tie with butchers twine.
- Season the outside with salt and pepper and the rest of the garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
- Sear all sides of the turkey roast over medium heat until browned, 10 – 15 minutes.
- Drizzle generously with the pomegranate glaze.
- Roast at 350°F (177°C) for 45 – 55 minutes until cooked through and a meat thermometer registers 180°F (82°C) in the thickest part of the roast.
- Once cooked, let the roast rest for 20 minutes before cutting and serving.
- Garnish with pomegranates.
TIP: If you have smaller turkey thighs on hand you can use the same method to make individual roasts.
Due to scheduling we are actually hosting 2 dinners this year and a Christmas eve get-together. I am thinking this recipe would be a fabulous addition to one of them. I can not wait to see what my guests thing. The colour of the pomegranate makes it so festive too!
Share with us below what you will be cooking for dinner this holiday season!
This post has been brought to you by Canadian Turkey, all opinions are my own
I would love to recreate the Pomegranate Glazed Turkey Thigh Roast dish!! looks so yummy
Would love to try the HOMESTYLE TURKEY TOURTIÈRE as part of our holiday tradition this year.
I would love to try Asparagus and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Turkey Cutlets
The GRILLED TURKEY BREAST GYROS sounds delicious. We used to eat gyros often whilst in Germany but I’ve never tried it with turkey, I’ll bet it’s delicious.
The turkey falafel bites, yum!
I’ll be using the Homestyle Turkey Tourtière recipe – my husband and stepdad will be very appreciative, as with their French Canadian heritage they will be happy to have a new twist on a traditional dish!
I am going to try the ROASTED TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD CRANBERRY STUFFING.
I think I’ll be making the ALL-IN-ONE THANKSGIVING DINNER BOWL the day after our Christmas dinner using the leftovers. Looks delicious.
I would like to add the Gluten-Free Red Quinoa Stuffing with Apples and Walnuts recipe to our holiday dinner.
The recipe for the ASPARAGUS AND SWISS CHEESE STUFFED TURKEY CUTLETS sounds great!
I am going to try the Apple, Sage and Shallot Stuffed Holiday Turkey
This year I will be hosting a Christmas brunch with family and friends and would love to add the Homestyle Turkey Tourtière to our table.
I want to do the Maple Thyme Basted Roast Turkey for the holidays -it sounds good
Adding this to my recipe box…looks amazing and so festive!
The SPICED THANKSGIVING TURKEY WITH TURKEY CHORIZO STUFFING sounds really good.
perfect for the left over turkey the next day! …All-In-One Thanksgiving Dinner Bowl
Oh the Turkey Falafel Bites sound amazing!!!! Cant wait to try this one
I would make the Homestyle Turkey Tourtière recipe! I am sure my family would enjoy it
i would try the piri piri turkey i think it would be such a nice different addition
I definitely want to try the HOMESTYLE TURKEY TOURTIÈRE
I want make the Maple Thyme Basted Roast Turkey
The MAPLE-THYME BASTED ROAST TURKEY sounds delicious and it’s a great time to try the recipe.
The Tasty Turkey Dinner Bites look like a perfect way to use up some of my leftover turkey.
The Tasty Turkey Dinner Bites are perfect for using some of my leftover turkey,
I’d make the Apple, Sage and Shallot Stuffed Holiday Turkey.
I think I’ll be trying the Homestyle Turkey Tourtière this holiday season
Would love to try the HOMESTYLE TURKEY TOURTIÈRE
I would love to try Asparagus and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Turkey Cutlets
I would choose the SUNDRIED TOMATO & GREENS STUFFED TURKEY BREAST ROAST
I’m thinking about Turkey Biryani.
Apple, Sage and Shallot Stuffed Holiday Turkey is what I am choosing to create a new delicious holiday tradition.
Homestyle Turkey Tourtière. thanks
The homestyle turkey toutiere sounds great!
tasty-turkey-dinner-bites
The Homestyle Turkey Tourtière looks amazing!
I would love to add the t ASPARAGUS AND SWISS CHEESE STUFFED TURKEY CUTLETS to our holiday dinner.
the homestyle turkey tourtière looks delicious
i’m really interested in try the Turkey Tourtière
I want ot give the Apple, Sage and Shallot Stuffed Holiday Turkey a try, sounds so good!
I would pick the Thanksgiving Turkey with Fig & Walnut Dressing. The dressing sounds delicious.
the ROASTED TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD CRANBERRY STUFFING sounds like a great new recipe to try.
I will be choosing the TURKEY FALAFEL BITES to add to my holiday menu.
I love leeks so much so combining them with turkey and sausage in the turkey sausage and leek stuffing would be amazing. I am not super creative with stuffing so I think if I followed this recipe I could fool everyone into thinking I was a genius. LOL.
Lots of great recipes on the site! I love the basic roast turkey, and also the turkey snack jars! The turkey dinner bites also look great too! Thank you! 🙂
This is my go to – Roasted Turkey with Cornbread Cranberry Stuffing
I like the Roasted Turkey with Cornbread Cranberry Stuffing recipe.
I like to try the Apple, Sage and Shallot Stuffed Holiday Turkey
I like the TURKEY EGG ROLLS WITH CRANBERRY CHILI DIPPING SAUCE
I would like to try the ALL-IN-ONE THANKSGIVING DINNER BOWL on boxing day. What a great way to eat leftovers.
Going to be trying the MUSHROOM, LEEK AND TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING with the turkey this year.
I think I might choose the ASPARAGUS AND SWISS CHEESE STUFFED TURKEY CUTLETS for our holiday dinner.
This is a different take on a glazed turkey! It’s creative, and the pictures show it looks very flavorful. I’d like to try this!
I would definitely try the ROASTED TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD CRANBERRY STUFFING.
Get that maple-thyme roasted turkey in my belly immediately! Om nom nom. I’m so hungry now!
I would love to have the turkey tourtierre
we’d definitely try the turkey falafel bites!
I will try the Roasted Turkey with Cornbread Cranberry Stuffing. Thanks
My family would like Homestyle Turkey Tourtière and I will make this
The Homestyle Turkey Tourtière looks yummy
One Pan Turkey Pilaf with Olives, Orange and Apricots
I’ve bookmarked the recipe for Rustic Colombian Turkey Soup for the days after Christmas!
The Rustic Turkey Soup sounds delicious.
Looks delicious, and so pretty cool! The asparagus and swiss cheese stuffed turkey sounds great too – what a great combination of flavors.
The mushroom leek and turkey sausage stuffing sounds perfect!
The Asparagus and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Turkey Cutlets look delicious!
I would create Leek and Turkey Sausage!!
I’d choose the Homestyle Turkey Tourtière to make!
I wanna make the TURKEY SNACK JARS 3 WAYS with the leftovers
I’ll be making the Homestyle Turkey Tourtière. We always have Tourtiere for Christmas but my mother used a mixture of beef and pork in hers.
ROASTED TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD CRANBERRY STUFFING sounds delish!
I would like to try the Spiced Thanksgiving Turkey with Turkey Chorizo Stuffing.
I like the MAPLE-THYME BASTED ROAST TURKEY!
I will be making the OPEN-FACED TURKEY SANDWICHES (USING LEFTOVER TURKEY)
I will be choosing the Homestyle Turkey Tourtière to serve at my Christmas dinner.
Definitely the Mushroom, Leek and Turkey Sausage Stuffing!
I’d like to try the Maple-Thyme Basted Roast Turkey
I would like to try the Mushroom, Leek and Turkey Sausage Stuffing
TURKEY FALAFEL BITES IS THE item I would try out, good luck everyone
I’d like to try the MAPLE-THYME BASTED ROAST TURKEY, it sounds delicious.
I would like to make the HOMESTYLE TURKEY TOURTIÈRE these holidays.
I have been meaning to try the MUSHROOM, LEEK AND TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING.
I’d like to adapt the Asparagus and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Turkey Cutlets.
Maple thyme basted turkey
I would love the ROASTED TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD CRANBERRY STUFFING for a holiday meal.
I am all about glazes for turkey! It makes it so much more tender and moist! Love it!
totally would make the MUSHROOM, LEEK AND TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING looks delicious
I’ve never had Pomegranate Glazed Turkey Thigh Roast before, but that sure would be a great addition to any gathering. Looks so good!
I would love to try the ONE PAN TURKEY PILAF WITH OLIVES, ORANGE AND APRICOTS! Looks delicious and healthy!
Wow, this looks so amazing! I’ll have to try making this soon.
The Homestyle Turkey Tourtière with it’s gorgeous, flaky crust would make such a unique new accompaniment to our holiday table!
The Turkey Falafel Bites sound amazing. I will try making these perhaps for the holiday season
oooh the Asparagus and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Turkey Cutlets
I would like to use the MAPLE-THYME BASTED ROAST TURKEY to create my holiday dinner.
I would love to give the Turkey Falafel Bites a try.
I’m going to try out the Homestyle Turkey Tourtière recipe.
I want to try making the MAPLE-THYME BASTED ROAST TURKEY, it sounds so good!
I’d make the turkey tourtiere
The Turkey Falafel Bites will be a nice appetizer before our big dinner
I’d love to give the HOMESTYLE TURKEY TOURTIÈRE recipe a try. It would be a tasty change to our regular holiday menu.
I’d like to try Turkey Snack Jars 3 ways. I think it’s very creative.
The Homestyle Turkey Tourtière recipe sounds delicious. I am sure that my family would enjoy it.
I would choose to make Pomegranate Glazed Turkey Thigh Roast.
I’d like to try the Mediterranean Stuffing
I’d love to make HOMESTYLE TURKEY TOURTIÈRE! With cranberry sauce, this would be delicious!
The Pomegranate Glazed Turkey Thigh Roast dish looks delish!
MUSHROOM, LEEK AND TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING looks like a delicious addon to Christmas Dinner
I would like to try the MUSHROOM, LEEK AND TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING
Pulled Turkey & Lentil Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette sounds like a great dish to try this holiday season!
I would like to try to make Turkey Fallafel Bites
I would love to try the pomegranate glazed turkey thigh roast! Thanks
The wild rice stuffing because it is gluten free for those in my family with celiac.
The Asparagus and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Turkey Cutlets look amazing!
Im loving on the idea of roasted apple butter turkey
Apple, Sage and Shallot Stuffed Holiday Turkey
The Asparagus and Swiss Cheese Stuffed Turkey Cutlets sound really good. I love swiss chese and asaparagus and am always looking for different ways to cook with asparagus for when I buy it.
Roasting a Whole Turkey is what recipe we will be using. We like to stick to a traditional recipe when we cook our turkey.
I’d love to try the MAPLE-THYME BASTED ROAST TURKEY recipe!
I will try the Turkey Falafel Bites!