I love honey baked ham, but this honey baked turkey might just be my new favorite recipe for Easter. This deliciously sweet and savory honey baked turkey recipe uses simple ingredients and includes easy step-by-step instructions to make the best turkey that your whole family will love!
When it comes to holiday centerpieces, few compare to a golden roasted turkey glistening with sweet honey glaze. But with so many honey baked turkey options now available, how do you discern which offers the sweetest flavor? Understanding the subtle differences helps find the ideal turkey to delight family and friends.
Tracing the Tantalizing Taste of Honey Baked Turkey
Honey baked turkey emerged in the 1950s when Harry J. Hoenselaar pioneered cooking turkey coated with a signature blend of honey spices and sugar. The tender poultry enveloped in a crispy savory-sweet exterior became an instant classic.
Today, honey baked turkey still reigns supreme for special gatherings and remains a favorite choice for its balance of flavors The honey adds a touch of sweetness, while the herbs, spices and smoky undertones complement the natural turkey taste.
When prepared properly, each forkful of honey baked turkey offers a perfect marriage of savory and sweet in every moist, succulent bite. But subtle variations in ingredients and technique can make some versions sweeter than others.
Determining the Sweet Spot Among Honey Baked Turkey Varieties
Not all honey baked turkeys are created equal when it comes to sweet appeal. Here’s how the sweetness levels break down among the major options:
Traditional Honey Baked – The original style, often sold fully cooked for convenience. It offers a balanced sweetness from the glaze.
Honey Cured – Curing the raw turkey in a honey mixture before roasting amps up the sweetness.
Double Glazed – Adding extra honey glaze provides a boost in sugary flavor.
Smoked – Smoking gives a deeper, smokier flavor that downplays the sweet glaze.
Spiral Sliced – Even distribution of glaze on sliced meat means well-incorporated sweetness in each bite.
Rotisserie – Rotisserie cooking allows the glaze to thoroughly coat the turkey for a greater sweet impact.
Deep Fried – Frying locks in moisture and showcases the glaze’s sweetness on the crispy exterior.
Considering preparation methods gives insight into just how sweet the final turkey will taste.
Key Factors That Influence Honey Baked Turkey Sweetness
Several key factors affect that sought-after sweet sensation in honey baked turkey:
- Glaze ingredients – More honey or sugar in the recipe makes it sweeter.
- Glaze application – Evenly coating the turkey with glaze maximizes sweetness.
- Cooking process – Methods allowing glaze to penetrate deep into meat increase sweetness.
- Finishing touches – Extra glaze applications after cooking adds sweet bursts.
- Resting time – Allowing the turkey to rest and absorb glaze boosts flavor.
Mastering these factors results in a turkey that fully delivers on its sweet promise with each bite.
Testing Turkey Sweetness With Your Own Taste Buds
In the end, finding the sweet spot comes down to your individual taste preferences. The best way to determine the sweetest honey baked turkey is to conduct your own side-by-side sampling.
Here are some tips for putting turkey sweetness to the test:
- Sample small slices of different turkey varieties to directly compare sweetness.
- Focus on the glaze coating and meat near the surface which interacts most directly with glaze.
- Pay attention to the impact of preparation methods on the flavor profile.
- Try turkeys from different providers to experience the range of sweetness.
- Mix up the glazes and cook times to customize sweetness to your liking.
With a few taste tests, you can zero in on your personal preference for ideal honey baked turkey sweetness.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with the Sweetest Honey Baked Turkey
This holiday season, skip the guesswork and enjoy honey baked turkey at its sweetest best. Look for turkeys labeled double glazed, honey cured or spiral sliced for extra sweetness, or get creative and experiment with custom glazes and coatings. With the right techniques and ingredients, you can create a honey baked turkey that perfectly satisfies your craving for a sweet and savory centerpiece.
Honey Baked Turkey Recipe
- ▢ 3 pounds boneless turkey breast
- ▢ 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning store-bought or homemade
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- ▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter ¼ stick
- ▢ ⅓ cup honey
- ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter ¼ stick
- ▢ 2 tablespoons white wine
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.3 pounds boneless turkey breast
- In a small dish, combine the salt, poultry seasoning, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the turkey breast.1½ teaspoons kosher salt, ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Wrap the turkey breast in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (at least 8 hours).
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Place the turkey breast in a baking dish.
- Melt the butter and rub it over the turkey.2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Place the turkey in the oven and roast for 30 minutes.
- While the turkey is roasting, make the glaze. In a saucepan, combine the honey, butter, white wine, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.⅓ cup honey, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons white wine, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Turn heat to medium-high until it starts to bubble. Then, reduce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- When 30 minutes has passed, remove the turkey from the oven and spread ⅓ of the glaze over the turkey. If the skin is becoming too brown, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
- Roast for another 30 minutes. Remove the turkey from the oven and spread with ⅓ of the glaze.
- Continue roasting for the remaining 15 minutes.
- Check the temperature at the meatiest part to ensure it has reached 165°F.
- Spread the remaining glaze over the turkey.
- Loosely cover the turkey with foil and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
- Don’t skip the overnight chill in the refrigerator; it enhances the flavor immensely!
- Grab the chart to find out how long it takes to roast turkey breast. Estimate 15-20 minutes per pound.
- Make sure the turkey is fully cooked to 165°F internally at the thickest point.
- Be sure to let the turkey breast rest covered with foil for 15 minutes to lock in the juices.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
Want to make a whole turkey? This seasoning and glaze will work! Depending on the size of your turkey, you may need to double or triple the glaze ingredients. You’ll also need to increase the cooking time accordingly. After the first 45 minutes, continue basting the turkey every 30 minutes until 165°F at the thickest point.
Meet The Ham Fam: Honey Baked Turkey Breast
FAQ
Which Honey Baked Ham turkey is sweet?
Is honey turkey sweet?
Is roasted or smoked HoneyBaked turkey better?
Does honey roasted turkey have sugar?
What goes well with a honey roasted turkey?
Add a wheel of our smooth and creamy Swiss cheese and some HoneyBaked mustard and you’ll have a feast the whole family will enjoy. Just pack up in your cooler and go. Portability never tasted so good. The HoneyBaked Ham Company features a great selection of delicious side dishes that will accompany your honey roasted turkey beautifully.
Is honey healthier than sugar?
Yes definitely. Sugar only has simple carbohydrates, and does not provide any vitamins or minerals, honey is a highly nutritious food, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antibacterial and antifungal potential.
Can you eat a honey roasted turkey?
Try our honey roasted turkey and take your taste to new heights. At HoneyBaked, we are much more than a Thanksgiving dinner option. Available oven roasted or smoked, our fully cooked, boneless turkey breasts are great as the main dish for any meal or in a buffet. They’re also great when paired as a combo with one of our famous HoneyBaked hams.
Are honey roasted turkey breasts good?
It’s guaranteed. Both our oven honey roasted turkey breasts and our smoked boneless turkey breasts are great to take on a picnic or enjoy on a special day like Memorial Day, Labor Day or the Fourth of July. Add a wheel of our smooth and creamy Swiss cheese and some HoneyBaked mustard and you’ll have a feast the whole family will enjoy.