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    Home » Entertaining » Holidays » Thanksgiving » Sweet And Spicy Roasted Turkey

    Sweet And Spicy Roasted Turkey

    Published: Nov 23, 2014 Modified: Dec 28, 2021 by GG

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    A brown sugar chili butter infuses our Sweet and Spicy Roasted Turkey as it roasts. Buttery notes and a hint of spice balanced with a touch of sweetness make every forkful a delight.

    Sweet 'n Spicy Turkey in roasting pan

    Spicy Turkey

    There’s no denying that your roasted turkey is the belle of the ball on Thanksgiving. The crowning glory on your table that all the sides adorn is actually good for you!

    Rich in protein, just 4 ounces of turkey provides about 35 grams of protein with less than 1 gram of total fat, providing a whopping 65 percent of your recommended daily intake of protein! 

    Also considered a very good source of essential amino acids, turkey contains trace minerals thought to aid in cancer prevention, as well as selenium, which is essential for the healthy function of the thyroid and immune system.

    Then there’s that essential amino acid in turkey called L-tryptophan that creates a feeling of relaxation and causes snoring after the feast!

    Oh and don’t forget that turkey is also a good source of vitamins B3 and B6, providing 36 percent of the daily allowance of B3 and 27 percent of your recommended intake of B6.

    Yes, turkey isn’t just the belle of the ball, it’s also the king of nutrition!

    A brown sugar chili powder butter infuses our turkey under the skin as it roasts. Sweet and spicy notes flavor the turkey and butter helps give it a crispy flavorful skin.

    So carve up some turkey, enjoy a Sweet ‘N Spicy slice and then take your L-tryptophan-induced nap! Happy Thanksgiving!

    Round out your turkey dinner with our homemade cranberry sauce, apple stuffing, mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts!

    And if you happen to have any leftover turkey, be sure to make our Turkey Enchiladas recipe. You'll be happy you did!

    Be sure to visit the Swirls of Flavor Amazon Storefront for GG's kitchen recommendations!

    sliced turkey with stuffing on a white plate

    Photo courtesy of Canva

    Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips

    • Use a meat thermometer to check when your turkey is done
    • Always let your turkey rest after roasting and before carving
    • Be sure your turkey is completely thawed before roasting
    • Cook your turkey 15-20  minutes per pound when roasting
    • Roast turkey until juices run clear and meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 180F and inserted in breast reads 170F
    • Baste your turkey occasionally with pan drippings as it's roasting

    Substitutions

    • Light brown sugar will work well in place of the darl brown sugar
    • Substitute ancho chili pepper for the chili powder for a smoky flavor
    cut up turkey on a platter

    Photo courtesy of Canva

    How to roast a turkey

    Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below 

    1. Preheat oven to 350F. Arrange metal rack in roasting pan.
    2. In a bowl combine brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, kosher salt and butter until blended.
    3. Spread butter mixture under and over the turkey skin. This step can be done ahead. Then refrigerate turkey until ready to roast.
    4. Roast the turkey until juices run clear and meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 180F and inserted in breast reads 170F, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Allow 15-20 minutes of roasting time per pound.
    5. Let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving.

    Ingredients for roasted turkey

    • dark brown sugar
    • chili powder
    • garlic powder
    • kosher salt
    • butter
    • turkey

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    roast turkey in pan
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    Sweet and Spicy Roast Turkey

    A brown sugar chili powder butter infuses our turkey under the skin as it roasts. Sweet and spicy notes flavor the turkey and butter helps give it a crispy flavorful skin.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Keyword roast turkey, spicy turkey
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 3 hours
    Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
    Servings 8
    Calories 550kcal
    Author Gwynn Galvin

    Ingredients

    • 2 Tbs. packed dark brown sugar
    • 2 Tbs. chili powder
    • 2 tsp. garlic powder
    • 2 tsp. kosher salt
    • 6 Tbs. butter , at room temperature
    • 1 (12 lb.) turkey

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350F. Arrange metal rack in roasting pan.
    • In bowl combine brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, kosher salt and butter until blended.
    • Spread butter mixture under and over the turkey skin. This step can be done ahead. Then refrigerate turkey until ready to roast.
    • Roast turkey until juices run clear and meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 180F and inserted in breast reads 170F, basting occasionally with pan drippings.
    • Allow 15-20 minutes of roasting time per pound. Let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving.

    Notes

    A 12 lb. turkey will serve about 8 adults.
    Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips
    • Use a meat thermometer to check when your turkey is done
    • Always let your turkey rest after roasting and before carving
    • Be sure your turkey is completely thawed before roasting
    • Cook your turkey 15-20  minutes per pound when roasting
    • Roast turkey until juices run clear and meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 180F and inserted in breast reads 170F
    • Baste your turkey occasionally with pan drippings as it's roasting
    Substitutions
    • Light brown sugar will work well in place of the darl brown sugar
    • Substitute ancho chili pepper for the chili powder for a smoky flavor

    Nutrition

    Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 70g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 254mg | Sodium: 948mg | Potassium: 782mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1036IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 3mg
    First Published: November 23, 2014... Last Updated: December 28, 2021 for better user experience and readability

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    About GG

    Gwynn Galvin, known to many as GG, is the creative and talented chef and nutritionist behind Swirls of Flavor. Gwynn is an award-winning culinary professional with over twenty five years of recipe development, food styling, test kitchen management and culinary innovation experience. Gwynn's passion is gathering people around the table with her simple real food recipes to savor the moments together.

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    GG, owner and creator of Swirls of flavor website

    Hi there, I'm Gwynn, the creator of Swirls of Flavor. Welcome to my kitchen where delicious memories are made. My passion is bringing people together through food. I create easy, family friendly recipes made with fresh, simple ingredients. So come on in and gather round the table. Let's Cook, Share and Savor the Moments together.

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