By: Chef Shahir Massoud

Fall is in the air, the kids are back to school, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner! This is the time of year where we all crave comfort food, tradition, and those holiday memories that can only happen while gathered around an overflowing table of classics. As always, I’ve got you covered when it comes to preparing the best Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you’re taking on chef duties for the first time, have some experience but still try to keep things easy peasy, or are a seasoned pro, here are my top tips for ensuring your meal is cooked to perfection!

Level 1: The Basics!
If you’re tackling Thanksgiving for the very first time, don’t panic! Butterball Turkeys are pre-brined, super easy to prepare, affordable, and accessible. Make sure to read the label of your Butterball Turkey (some are meant to be cooked from frozen, while others are to be thawed in advance). Simply coat your turkey in a neutral oil (canola or vegetable oil for example) and place on a wire rack inside of a roasting pan. Place in a pre-heated 325°F/162°C oven and use the Turkey Calculator to figure out how long to cook, based on its size. Make sure you cook your turkey to an internal temperature of 165°/74°C (a thermometer is the best tool you can have this time of year!) and your turkey will be tender and juicy! The Butterball Turkey Roasts are perfect for smaller gatherings too, and you prepare them the same way and cook right from frozen.

As a first timer, don’t complicate things. Look out for the Butterball Stuffing as well (just throw it in the oven or microwave) and stick to seasonal recipe favourites: roasted veggies, buttery mashed potatoes, and of course, cranberry sauce. And when you need a helping hand, look to your kids! My little ones love little jobs like mashing the potatoes, stirring the gravy, etc. The sooner you get them involved in the prep, the faster they will learn valuable cooking skills and develop a passion for being in the kitchen.

Level 2: Let’s Level Up!
Maybe you have roasted a turkey before and you’re looking to spice things up a bit (literally). Try our Butterball Easy Fresh cuts when looking to take your cooking up a notch. This year, I dry-brined my Butterball Bone-In Turkey Breast and Thighs in a mixture of salt, sugar, herbs and orange zest overnight. The next day, I rubbed off the excess salt and roasted everything on a wire-rack lined sheet pan. It’s a great way to get your turkey cooked in about an hour! To get the kids involved, there’s a job for them too: elevate the sides! I taught my son Kairo how to make pommes aligot (he was delighted to add mounds of grated Gruyere and Emmenthal to the mashed potatoes) and he even helped with the Brussels sprout slaw. Turkey dinner can still follow a traditional framework, but with some gourmet twists—you’ll want the full recipe for this one.

Level 3: Pro Level Thanksgiving!
Last but not least, let’s say you want to flex your chef muscles on the most important culinary event of the year. Sure, you can sous-vide, fry, and even barbeque your turkey—but I suggest spatchcocking. You’ll need to remove the turkey back bone, thus flattening your bird for the grill or even oversized cast-iron griddle. While this is a “pro” way to maximize flavour and speed, kids can help with mixing spices and brushing on oil. And you can even make your sides exciting (my favourite—fondant potatoes!) serve with a sour cherry jam (sorry, cranberry sauce)!

No matter what level your Thanksgiving meal will be this year, remember to get the next generation involved. It’s amazing how a little prep help really gets young ones invested in the meal and magic that comes with tradition. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!