The best roast turkey - Christmas or any time

Name: The best roast turkey - Christmas or any time
Cook time: 3 h 40 min
Total time: 3 h 40 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: a sprig of fresh sage, leaves picked; 12 strips of pancetta or thinly sliced streaky bacon; 1 bulb of garlic, broken into cloves; 4 medium red onions, peeled; 2 sticks of celery, trimmed and chopped; a big handful of breadcrumbs; a handful of dried apricots; 300g/10½ oz minced pork; zest of 1 lemon; a pinch of grated nutmeg; 1 large free-range or organic egg; sea salt and freshly ground black pepper; 12 small fresh rosemary sprigs, plus a few extra; 4–4.5kg/9–10lb turkey, preferably free-range or organic, at room temperature; 2 carrots, peeled; 1 large orange; olive oil; 2 tablespoons plain flour; 1.1litres/2 pints chicken or vegetable stock

Instructions

Cook:3h 40min

This really is the best Christmas turkey recipe; the pork and apricot stuffing is delicious and your turkey will be perfectly succulent and delicious.

Updated at: Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:37:43 GMT