Roast Turkey: compare the 3 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Fastest Oven-Roasted BreastReady in 2 hr 15 min; the others take 4 hr 20 min to 6 hr.
- Easiest Slow-Cooker BreastEasy, where the others are medium.
- Lightest Oven-Roasted BreastAbout 450 calories a serving, against 570 calories or more for the others (an estimate).
- Make it ahead Whole Bird, Herb ButterMake the herb butter up to 3 days ahead.
Side by side
| Whole Bird, Herb Butter | Oven-Roasted Breast | Slow-Cooker Breast | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total time | 4 hr 20 min | 2 hr 15 min | 6 hr |
| Prep | 30 min | 15 min | 15 min |
| Level | Medium | Medium | Easy |
| Steps | 12 | 10 | 10 |
| Serves | One 12- to 14-lb turkey | 8 | 6 |
| Key ingredients | whole turkey, chicken broth and unsalted butter | bone-in turkey breast, onion and chicken broth | bone-in turkey breast, carrots and chicken broth |
| Only in this one | whole turkey, lemon and fresh rosemary | None | garlic powder, dried thyme, dried sage and paprika |
| Dietary | |||
| Calories | 570 | 450 | 680 |
| Protein | 75 g | 55 g | 87 g |
| Carbs | 2 g | 2 g | 5 g |
| Fat | 27 g | 24 g | 35 g |
| Cleanup | 4/5 2 things to wash | 4/5 2 things to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash |
| Kid helper | No | No | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.