Despite CDC guidelines for family Thanksgiving gatherings, I still believe heading to the lake for the day and turning your Thanksgiving dinner into an outdoor event is a great idea. If you take me up on it, try one of these turkey preparation methods while enjoying your day at Lake LBJ.

Deep-Fried Turkey Recipes

Everyone has their favorite method of frying. Whether it’s deep-fry, air-fry, or chicken-fry, fried turkey is a great way to enjoy your day with family and friends.

Rachael Ray says you can have a 12-pound turkey in and out of the deep fryer in 45 minutes. For extra flavor, and to keep it moist, she recommends brining it first. Of course, you can always smoke it, then deep fry it.

For extra credit, try Alton Brown’s delicious deep-fried turkey recipe.

Try a Baked Turkey Recipe

While your neighbors are roasting their turkeys, go the extra mile and bake yours. Baking is versatile and works whether you stuff your turkey with dressing first, baste it in your favorite wine or sauce, or get creative. Here’s a delicious-looking recipe for a baked butter herb turkey.

What better way is there to try a new recipe than while enjoying a day at the lake with family and friends?

Smoke Your Turkey for Extra Flavor

Smoking techniques are a dime a dozen, but they almost always produce an excellent taste. While not a quick way to prepare turkey as a meal, smoking does pack in the flavors. To keep from drying the meat in the process, brine it first to keep it moist.

You can also flavor the turkey with the choice of wood used to create the heat. Hickory is a favorite in Texas. For a sweeter taste, smoke it with honey. 

Grilled Turkey

Another popular way to prepare any meat in Texas is grilling. Plus, it’s great for any type of outdoor event. So lighten up your day with your favorite grilled turkey recipe. Pack up and head to the lake this Thanksgiving Day while the weather is still not too cold.

Grilled turkey isn’t the first way most families would think to prepare a holiday bird, but I can vouch for it being one of the best. 

Improve Your Turkey With a Bacon Wrap

If you really want a flavorful feast, wrap your turkey in bacon and stick it in the oven. If you’re one of those people who believes anything can be improved with bacon, then bacon-wrapped turkey is sure to be a treat. Guy Fieri fans will love his bacon-wrapped turkey recipe.

Cap off 2020 by celebrating Thanksgiving Day with a non-traditional turkey treat and rent a cabin at Lake LBJ for the day.