Roast Stuffed Turkey Dinner - Free Printable Recipe with Pictures

"During the first few weeks of class, my chef instructor gave us a writing assignment: 'Find a chef that you admire.' I was stumped. I wasn't familiar with popular chefs at the time. Even though I was in culinary school, I never had lofty goals of owning a fancy restaurant with fancy food. But I did some research, and what I learned became one of the most important professional questions I have answered. Finding your culinary mentor is not an easy thing to do. Some people search for decades to connect with someone who shares a basic level of understanding and background. Miss Lewis was that person for me. It took me years to realize that a cookbook would help me find my north star."

- Mashama Bailey

Interested in learning how to make a delicious turkey dinner with your kids while skipping all the drama and overly complicated recipes? Well, you're in the right spot.

We're sharing a simple roast stuffed turkey recipe that will support kids on their journey to independence in the kitchen AND help them develop a relationship with their environment.

You can find a free printable recipe with pics down at the bottom. Give it a shot and let us know what your young chefs think.

If you like this turkey dinner recipe, try the marmalade, Bahian chicken stew, chicken parm, oxtails, and beef tostadas.

Learn more about cooking with kids.

Jump to:

• In Pursuit of Flavor
• Montessori Education + In Pursuit of Flavor
• Food from Around the World: Free Cooking Lessons
• The Best Cornbread Stuffing
• How to Make a Roast Stuffed Turkey
• Free Roast Stuffed Turkey Recipe
• Roast Stuffed Turkey Dinner

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In Pursuit of Flavor

This roast stuffed turkey dinner recipe comes from In Pursuit of Flavor by Edna Lewis.

There's much to love about this cookbook. I truly appreciate that In Pursuit of Flavor is organized by the ingredients' origin. It's inherently designed for kids, home cooks, and, in my opinion, Montessori students.

Montessori Education + In Pursuit of Flavor

The start of any truly great work for elementary and up should include the child working on where to source materials, what is accessible, how much they need, etc. during the planning phase before moving forward with implementation. And this same conversational and practical approach to cooking guides the flow of In Pursuit of Flavor.

Whenever I spend time with this cookbook, in my mind's eye, I see children planning for a great meal and pouring through In Pursuit of Flavor as they brainstorm about their menu, divvy up tasks and recipes, and head out to the garden, the farmyard, the local stream, or an inviting marketplace as they bring their plans to life. The work ends as they celebrate their accomplishments around the table.

I think Miss Lewis was a natural Montessorian, even if she wasn't aware of it.

In Mashama Bailey's foreword, she shares:

My restaurant, The Grey, in Savannah, is only a hundred miles from where my mother grew up. In Pursuit of Flavor helped me to put my own menu into perspective. We use Miss Lewis's distinctions of country living - along with my own childhood memories of the South - to seek out the freshest ingredients, and her book helps us understand how to process and present these ingredients to our guests in a truly southern way.

I never had the opportunity to meet Miss Lewis, but through her food, I like to think that I've come to know her very well. From her, I've learned about my own likes and cravings. I've learned what people once had to do in the country to survive. There has been a reemergence of traditional ways and cooking good old-fashioned food in this country, and it started with Miss Lewis many years ago. She was at the forefront then and three decades later, her voice continues to lead the way for chefs young and old in their pursuit of flavor.

- Mashama Bailey

Stop by our shop to see more Family & Kid's Cooking Resources.

Learn more about allergies and your family.

Tips like the salting calendar above and other important info to help you along on your cooking journey can be found in Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat.

How to Make a Roast Stuffed Turkey

Ingredients

• fresh or thawed turkey
• stuffing
• butter
• all-purpose flour
• water
• salt
• pepper
• pan drippings

Equipment

• apron
• prep bowls
• kitchen scale
• measuring spoons
• measuring cup
• wooden spoon
• small saucepan
• roasting pan
• twine
• basting brush
• turkey baster
• kitchen thermometer
• serving platter
• large pot or pan
• serving utensils
• chef knife or carving knife

1. Stuff the Turkey

Wash your hands with soap and water. Turn the oven on 425°F. Pat the turkey dry with a paper towel and place it on a roasting pan. Use a spoon or your hands to stuff the turkey.

If you have leftover stuffing, set it aside to cook separately.

2. Tie the Legs Together

Your turkey may already include a plastic fastener that holds the legs together. If not, use a piece of twine to tie the turkey legs together. Wash your hands.

3. Melt the Butter

Place the butter in a small saucepan. Turn the burner on medium-low. Turn off the stove when the butter is melted. Use a basting brush to brush the turkey with melted butter.

4. Roast the Turkey

Place the roasting pan in the oven. Cook the turkey for 45 minutes. Turn the temperature down to 350°F for the remainder of the cook time. Be sure to baste the turkey every 20 minutes.

Remove the turkey from the oven when it's done and turn off the oven. Transfer the turkey to a serving platter and let it rest for 20 minutes. While the turkey is resting, move on to the next step.

5. Make the Gravy

Use the wooden spoon to loosen the browned bits on the bottom of the roasting pan. Pour the drippings into a glass measuring cup. Wait for the fat to rise to the top. Skim ½ cup of fat from the top and put it in a large pot or pan. Save the rest of the drippings but discard the remaining fat.

Add the flour to the pot and stir over medium-high heat until it is smooth. Once the flour has browned, add the remaining drippings and the browned bits. You may need to add water to get the right consistency. Let it simmer. It will thicken up while it cooks.

At this point, Miss Lewis wants you to strain your gravy into a double boiler and add salt and pepper. You can keep it warm for 20 minutes or more, until you've carved your turkey and are ready to serve. I'll tell you I skipped the double boiler part, seasoned with salt and pepper, and gently poured it over a slotted spoon onto my sliced turkey. But you do you.

Free Roast Stuffed Turkey Recipe for Pre-Readers & Up

Grab your free printable recipe cards above. Kids can gather ingredients using the ingredient list, gather their equipment with the tools list, and prepare the meal using the step-by-step recipe cards, with assistance as needed.

The cards are easy to use, include pictures, and encourage confidence and independence in the kitchen. They also make an excellent addition to your Montessori continent box for North America.