The following post has been brought to you by Canadian Turkey. All opinions are my own
The holidays are pretty much here and the festivities have begun all across the country. I personally have 6 turkeys in my freezer waiting to be roasted over the next few weeks. I took advantage of some great deals at my local grocery store and stocked up. Cooking a turkey goes a long way when feeding crowd. The leftovers afterwards are great for quick and tasty meals throughout the week as well!
Traditionally holiday meals are a roasted turkey but there so many other options. No matter how many guests you have, Canadian Turkey has the recipes you need.
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 you need to create delicious and memorable meals.
A huge part of gearing up for all of your holiday preparations is deciding on some menu options for those major meals. A classic roast turkey with all the trimmings will steal the show at any festive gathering. Turkey is such a versatile choice, pairing well with many different flavour profiles, spice blends, seasonings, stuffings and glazes. Packed with lean protein and great flavour, turkey makes the perfect centerpiece for your celebration meal!
Canadian Turkey provides a gold mine of resources to help you get ready for the season and create amazing meals with minimal stress and planning. Our Holiday Guide will prepare you to host all of your festive get-togethers with ease and entertain family and friends with our favourite insider recipes. One of the best things to do to minimize your party preparations is to find ways to cut down on your time in the kitchen while still creating beautiful and satisfying meals. Finding ways to plan ahead and make some of your dishes in advance can significantly cut down on your work while leaving you with more time to mingle with your guests and have fun!
Feeling creative? Try to customize your favorite turkey recipe with different flavours and methods to create a dish your crowd will love, or feel free to experiment with a brand new recipe. Here are some pro-tips for making your next turkey your own:
- Experiment with different brining and marinating flavors – get creative with your own family favorites!
- Use a glaze to baste your bird throughout the roasting process to add a different flavor finish – think maple, cranberry, jalapeno, paprika or bourbon, for example.
- Create your own rub of family-favorite spices for a unique signature style.
- Stuff your turkey with a different selection of aromatics to customize and infuse flavor while cooking – shallots and thyme, apples and sage, or onions and rosemary are all a great place to start!
- Create spiced and flavored butters or oils to rub underneath the skin and add a major flavor boost while cooking.
Need more great ideas to get holiday-ready? Canadian Turkey is here to help! Read the Holiday Guide here.
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 turkey your guests will never know the difference!
- Get your family excited about this festive Canadian tradition by cooking your turkey using their favourite seasonings 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 turkey, 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 sites like Canadian Turkey, with resources like Turkey Basics videos to help you create the perfect roast turkey meal with fool-proof instructions, hints and tips.
Spanish Style Turkey Rice Pilaf
Prep time: 25 mins.
Cook time: 30 mins.
Serves: 4-6
2 lbs Canadian turkey thighs
2 Canadian turkey sausages
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp sweet paprika
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup diced onions
1/2 cup diced celery
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup turkey broth
1/2 cup water
2 pinches saffron
1 1/2 cups Basmati rice
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 cup peppers, sliced
1/2 cup green olives
1/2 cup cooked peas
2 tbsp capers
1 tbsp lemon zest
Cut thighs into large size chunks. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne and paprika.
Sear in a medium size non-stick frying pan over high heat until browned on all sides. Remove from pan and set aside.
Remove sausage from casings and crumble or cut into chunks. Cook over medium heat until cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
Heat vegetable oil. Sauté onions and celery, until cooked through and translucent, 3-5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.
Add white wine and turkey broth. Add saffron and let simmer for 1 minute.
Add water, rice, salt to taste, turmeric and peppers. Add turkey. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and let cook for 15-20 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked through. Remove from heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes.
Fluff rice. Top with olives, peas, capers and lemon zest.
Serve immediately.
Tip: Feel free to add any leftover veggies to the rice before you cook it like carrots, cauliflower, kale or mushrooms. Plan for some leftovers! This pilaf makes a great lunch the next day. Just drizzle with some olive oil or salad dressing and serve at room temperature.
1 lucky Canadian reader is going to win a $75 Amazon gift card from Canadian Turkey. Fill out the form below. Good luck!
I’d love to try the Spanish Stylish Turkey Rice Pilaf!
Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip sounds really good!
I’d love to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip.
I’d love to try the ADOBO-STYLE SLOW COOKER TURKEY ROAST! It sounds delish!
I will be trying Turkey Rice Pilaf because I like one pan meals.
The Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip sounds delicious!
Apple honey turkey sausage stuffing! It sounds amazing!
Turkey noodle soup
i think i shall be trying the nachos
Turkey meatballs is a recipe I would like to try.
I’d like to try the Turkey, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Party Bites recipe.
I will be making the Honey Apple Turkey Sausage Savoury Tartlets. I think they would make a delicious appetizer.
I will be making Classic Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup
I am going to try the turkey cranberry and goat cheese bites. They look so good.
I would love to try the apple honey turkey sausage stuffing
Mediterranean Turkey Sausage Pasta sounds like a great dish
The Honey Apple Turkey Sausage Savoury Tartlets would be fun to try this year.
I would love to make the HONEY APPLE TURKEY SAUSAGE SAVOURY TARTLETS
Turkey Mac and Cheese would be a great way to use my leftovers.
I love rice pilaf, so would love to try the SPANISH-STYLE TURKEY RICE PILAF
I really want to try the TURKEY CHEDDAR SPINACH DIP. It looks and sounds so good.
I would like to try making the Stuffed Turkey Breast Roll during the holidays
I plan to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip as an appetizer, I think everyone will love it!
Adobo-Style Slow Cooker Turkey Roast looks very yummy.
I’d like to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip recipe.
I would love to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip
CLASSIC HOMEMADE TURKEY NOODLE SOUP
Sky High Veggie Pack Turkey Nachos sound really good.
I will be trying the Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup for my family.
I would love to try the turkey cranberry and goat cheese bites.
I’d try the orange and black pepper cranberry sauce.
I’ll be trying APPLE HONEY TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING
Apple honey turkey sausage stuffing! I
I would love to try the TANDOORI TURKEY LEGS AND WINGS, they look good and I love my wings!
I would love to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip. Look so delicious!
I had to adjust the first tweet as it was too long!
The Holiday Nut Stuffing would be great for Christmas.
The Classic Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup looks like a great way to use my leftover turkey.
I will be trying to make the HONEY APPLE TURKEY SAUSAGE SAVOURY TARTLETS.
I would love to try the apple honey turkey sausage stufffing…sounds delicious!
I would like to try the MINI MASALA TURKEY POT PIES recipe.
The Mediterranean Turkey Sausage Pasta looks good
I would like to try the Classic Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup.
I’d like to try the turkey sausage pasta. We have tried something similar and loved it. Thanks for the giveaway.
I’d like to try the Meal Starter Turkey Ragu
I’m looking forward to trying the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip.
I’d try the One-Pot Cranberry Chipotle Sausage Rice Pilaf.
I’d try the Sky-High Veggie Packed Turkey Nachos because they look delicious
The HONEY APPLE TURKEY SAUSAGE SAVOURY TARTLETS would be perfect for entertaining!
I will be trying the Stuffed turkey breast roll
I will try APPLE HONEY TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING.
I will try SUPER EASY ROAST TURKEY DINNER
I am going to try making the CRANBERRY CHIPOTLE TURKEY SAUSAGE SAVOURY TARTLETS
The Turkey Haleem sounds good. I’d give it a try.
I’d like to try the apple honey turkey sausage stuffing.
I will be trying the Apple Honey Turkey Sausage Stuffing recipe.
I will be trying the Grilled Turkey, Portabello Mushrooms & Vegetable Kabobs (https://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipes/grilled-turkey-portabello-mushrooms-vegetable-kabobs/)
Classic Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup sounds delish and I will be making it
I’d like to try the ADOBO-STYLE SLOW COOKER TURKEY ROAST.
I would love to try the Mediterranean Turkey Sausage Pasta.
Spiced Turkey with Hummus.
the spanish style rice pilaf looks yummy
sun-dried tomato and balsamic marinade!
I’d like to try the HONEY APPLE TURKEY SAUSAGE SAVOURY TARTLETS, these look delicious.
https://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipes/spanish-style-turkey-rice-pilaf/ I would try this…I already had turkey quite a bit this month…two staff Christmas parties and last weekend I picked up a bird for about $10 (we’re still eating it lol) We’ll be going to supper for Christmas at both my sons and my MIL
I want to try One-Pot Cranberry Chipotle Sausage Rice Pilaf 🙂
Id love to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip
I’m going to try the ONE-POT CRANBERRY CHIPOTLE SAUSAGE RICE PILAF this Christmas!
APPLE HONEY TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING
I will try the WHOLE ROASTED TURKEY WITH CRANBERRY PEAR CHUTNEY.
I want to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip! Happy Holidays!
Definitely the turkey, cranberry and goat cheese party bites! Cheers!
I will be making Classic Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup
Mini Masala turkey pies
turkey cheddar spinach dip looks yum
The Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip
I’d like to try the Turkey, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Party Bites
I’d like to try the Apple Honey a turkey sausage stuffing!
I’ll be trying out the Classic Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup
We are trying the APPLE HONEY TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING this year with the turkey.
The Super Easy Roast Turkey Dinner
Some apple honey turkey sausage stuffing sounds great.
ONE-POT SAUCY TURKEY MEATBALLS would be a tasty treat.
Apple Honey Turkey Sausage Stuffing sounds so yummy!
I can’t wait to try the MEDITERRANEAN TURKEY SAUSAGE PASTA recipe with leftover turkey.
I think the SPANISH-STYLE TURKEY RICE PILAF looks worth a try.
Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip looks yummy.
I would like to try the Apple Honey Turkey Sausage Stuffing
Turkey cheddar spinach dip.
I’d love to try the Turkey, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Party Bites recipe.
Whole Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Pear Chutney. thanks
SKY-HIGH VEGGIE PACKED TURKEY NACHOS
I will be trying the Turkey Cheddar Spinach dip
The whole roasted Turkey with cranberry pear chutney sounds great
TURKEY CHEDDAR SPINACH DIP sounds really good!
I’d like to try the Adobo-Style Slow Cooker Turkey Roast.
Turkey cheddar spinach dip sounds pretty good..i might try that!
One-Pot Cranberry Chipotle Sausage Rice Pilaf
Mediterranean Turkey Sausage Pasta sounds like a great dish
I want to try the Oven Roasted Whole Turkey and Mixed Vegetables.
We don’t mind cranberry sauce that comes out of, for example, a can. But a simple, interesting twist on it is something I wouldn’t mind. So I’d like to try the recipe for orange cracked black pepper cranberry sauce that they have.
I would like to try the adobo style slow cooker turkey roast!
I’d love to try the turkey cheddar spinach dip.
I would love to try the ORANGE-CRACKED BLACK PEPPER CRANBERRY SAUCE! Looks sure good , really add a kick to the turkey this year !
I would like to try the turkey cheddar spinach dip.
I bookmarked a couple of them. I think the SPANISH-STYLE TURKEY RICE PILAF sounded really good and something my youngest kid (the tough one) would enjoy.
I will be trying the Apple Honey Turkey Sausage Stuffing recipe.
Today I feel like the Classic Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup
The apple honey turkey sausage stuffing sounds delish!
I’d like to try the Make-Ahead Creamy Turkey Mac and Cheese recipe over the holidays.
I`ll be trying the SPANISH STYLE TURKEY RICE PILAF
The Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip is one that I’ll be trying out first!
The Spanish Style Turkey Rice Pilaf!
I would like to make the Meal Starter Turkey Ragu.
The Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip sounds yummy!
I would like to try the INSTANT POT HERBED TURKEY BREAST AND GRAVY
I would like to try Grandma’s Turkey-Stuffed Mini-Buns. These sound delish
Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip. thx
I will be trying the Super Easy Roast Turkey Dinner
I’d love to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip.
I will try the Oven Roasted Whole Turkey!
I’ll be trying the Whole Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Pear Chutney.
Gotta keep those holiday appetizers exciting & new to make it a party to remember! That’s why I’m making the Mini Masala Turkey Pot Pies for my guests!
We will be trying The Turkey, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Party Bites recipe with leftovers for New Years.
Turkey Mac and Cheese would be good!
I’d try apple honey turkey sausage stuffing!
I will be trying the Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Bites with Cranberry-Chipotle BBQ Sauce this holiday.
Would love to try oven roasted whole turkey
turkey noodle soup
Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip.
Turkey & onion skillet supper!
I would like to make the spanish style turkey rice pilaf
I would make the OVEN ROASTED WHOLE TURKEY AND MIXED VEGETABLES
HERBED BUTTER ROAST TURKEY BREAST for me
the Turkey, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Party Bites recipe would be liked by my family.
I would like to try the SUPER EASY ROAST TURKEY DINNER recipe
I would love to try the OVEN ROASTED WHOLE TURKEY AND MIXED VEGETABLES
I would like to try the one pot turkey chipotle sausage, rice, pilaf. My family would love that rice. #EntertainWithTurkey
The CRANBERRY CHIPOTLE TURKEY SAUSAGE SAVOURY TARTLETS look delicious! I will have to try out this recipe!
I would try the HONEY APPLE TURKEY SAUSAGE SAVOURY TARTLETS
I would love to try the Tasty Turkey Lasagna Rolls, I love anything that has marinara sauce and cheese.
I would like to try Spanish Style Turkey Rice Pilaf
The recipe for SPANISH STYLE TURKEY RICE PILAF sounds so good I would buy the meat ingredients for it because we never have enough leftover meat for a recipe like this.
trying the APPLE HONEY TURKEY SAUSAGE STUFFING
Turkey pizza meatloaf
Supereasy Roasted Turkey Dinner
I would try this one as it sounds pretty easy. Oven Roasted Whole Turkey and Mixed Vegetables
OVEN ROASTED WHOLE TURKEY AND MIXED VEGETABLES
I’d love to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip
I’m going to make the Tasty Turkey Lasagna Rolls!
I would love to try the Turkey Sausage and Seafood Chowder recipe!
Turkey Noodle Soup
Turkey gravy using the neck… yum!
I’d love to try the Turkey Sausage and Seafood Chowder
I can’t get enough turkey! We had one cooked for Christmas and will be making another for New Year’s Eve because New Year’s Day is my mother in laws birthday. More leftover turkey will be perfect to try the turkey cheddar spinach dip!
I think I will try the ONE-POT CRANBERRY CHIPOTLE SAUSAGE RICE PILAF. It sounds delicious
I’d try the turkey noodle soup.
One-Pot Saucy Turkey Meatballs look good, I ‘m sure the family would like them
turkey noodle soup is perfect for turkey leftovers!
turkey sausage and seafood chowder
Roasting a whole turkey usually my mother in law does this but dinner is at my home this year.
https://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipes/make-ahead-creamy-turkey-mac-and-cheese/
I’m so going to make this!!!
Whole roast with cranberry pear chutney
TURKEY CHEDDAR SPINACH DIP
The recipe for TANDOORI TURKEY LEGS AND WINGS sounds delicious. Something different for the dinner table.
easy roast turkey dinner
The RUSTIC TUSCAN TURKEY, KALE AND BEAN DINNER sounds delicious. It’s not much of a holiday meal, but my family would love it!
The apple, honey, turkey sausage stuffing sounds amazing.
I’d like to try the recipe on this post. The moment I seen the picture, I started drooling. I know what I’m trying this week 🙂 I love turmeric with the rice *drools*
I would love to try the Turkey Cheddar Spinach Dip for our next appie night or for taking over when visiting friends.