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2024 Thanksgiving Menu and Meal Prep Timeline

* image These past few months have been busy for our family, especially since our oldest joined a local swim team. Between juggling our work schedules and balancing school with practices... we're all pretty wiped out. Although it's a lot of work, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. Preparing the holiday meal for our family fills my heart with joy, and I can't wait to get started. To make things easier for me, I don't deviate much from  our first Thanksgiving  as a family. The dishes I make are familiar ones, and the recipes for them live at my fingertips. Keeping the same menu year after year means I don't have to spend time researching recipes or planning a new one. Here are my tried-and-true Thanksgiving recipes, as well as my prep timeline for the big day!

Turkey Burgers with Arugula, Jack Cheese, and Homemade Bacon Jam

Start with Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers and top with peppery arugula, buttery jack cheese, and a slathering of homemade bacon jam for a decadent burger that's perfect for lunch or dinner! 

Start with Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers and top with peppery arugula, buttery jack cheese, and a slathering of homemade bacon jam for a decadent treat meal!

This post is sponsored by Applegate. 

Applegate provided me with samples of their Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers to try at no cost to me. Applegate will also be providing the prizes for this giveaway and will be shipping them directly to the winners. I did not accept monetary compensation for this post; however, this post contains affiliate product links. Clicking on these links may result in my being paid a small commission based on product sales. Regardless of commission, all opinions expressed in this post are my own. For more information, please review our site policies.

I realize that my last few posts have taken on a somewhat negative tone. It's no surprise, of course, as I've been trying to rise up from some low points... But I want to put those dips in my attitude behind me.

It's time to change the trajectory of this story and focus on something positive.

Remember when I told you guys that I started working brands again? Remember when I told you that some of that work involved recipe testing? It's time to reveal the latest brand I've been working with and share the recipe I developed for them.

Plus, I encourage you to read this whole post... Because there might just be a fun giveaway opportunity at the end of it!


Let's start with the brand.

Applegate is the nation's leading natural and organic meat company that's focused on changing the meat we eat.

Applegate's products come from humanely-raised animals and are:
  • free of GMOs
  • free of antibiotics
  • free of artificial ingredients
  • free of chemical nitrites

Applegate's portfolio also includes a large range of products that are Whole30-approved, gluten-free, and sugar-free.

Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers | Taste As You Go

I've been a fan of Applegate's products for a long time, so I was really excited when the brand reached out about working together on the creation of a recipe featuring their organic turkey burgers.

Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers:
  • contain less fat than traditional beef burgers
  • are not made with antibiotics
  • are raised humanely
  • do not contain chemical nitrates or nitrites
  • do not contain artificial ingredients or preservatives
  • do not contain fillers or GMO ingredients

These turkey burgers only have two ingredients -- organic turkey and organic rosemary extract. Because of this, I didn't want to use a lot of overwhelming flavors. Instead, I wanted to highlight the quality ingredients with layers of flavor.

Applegate Organics® Turkey Burger | Taste As You Go

Applegate Organics® Turkey Burger | Taste As You Go

Start by cooking your turkey burger according to the package instructions. This time, I used my cast iron skillet and cooked the burger for about four minutes per side. Since the pan started a little hotter than I wanted, the burger came to temperature (165°F) more quickly than I anticipated!

Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers with Arugula, Jack Cheese, and Homemade Bacon Jam | Taste As You Go

I used brioche buns for these turkey burgers, but feel free to use your favorite type of bun here. Or, skip the bun entirely and add some more arugula to your plate.

There really aren't any rules when it comes to assembling these turkey burgers. Which is why I used so many slices of cheese on mine with a generous slathering of homemade bacon jam. 😉

Homemade Bacon Jam | Taste As You Go

Now... let's talk about this bacon jam for a second. The batch pictured here was not made with Applegate bacon. I made this batch with bacon that I already had in the freezer thanks to an amazing sale.

But that's not to say you couldn't make the bacon jam with Applegate bacon. I'm sure it would taste fantastic and make a really special turkey burger!

Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers with Arugula, Jack Cheese, and Homemade Bacon Jam | Taste As You Go

Who wants to dig in??

Turkey Burgers with Arugula, Jack Cheese, and Homemade Bacon Jam

Turkey Burgers with Arugula, Jack Cheese, and Homemade Bacon Jam

Recipe by Taste As You Go | Printable Recipe

Start with Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers and top with peppery arugula, buttery jack cheese, and a slathering of homemade bacon jam for a decadent burger that's perfect for lunch or dinner!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8-12 minutes
Total Time: Less than 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS
  • Vegetable oil
  • 1 package Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers
  • 4 brioche buns, halved
  • Baby arugula, washed and dried
  • Jack cheese, sliced
  • Homemade bacon jam

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. When hot, brush or spray a light layer of vegetable oil onto the skillet.
  2. Cook the frozen turkey burgers in a single layer until well browned on each side and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 4-6 minutes per side.
  3. When browned, remove the turkey burgers from the skillet and place onto a plate.
  4. To assemble each burger, lay open the brioche buns on a cutting board.
  5. Top the bottom of each bun with a handful of arugula and then nestle one burger on top of each bun.
  6. Layer on slices of jack cheese based on personal preference.
  7. Spread a generous amount of homemade bacon jam onto the top buns and the top onto each of the burgers. Serve warm.

Applegate Organics® Turkey Burgers Giveaway


Do these Turkey Burgers with Arugula, Jack Cheese, and Homemade Bacon Jam sound good? Do you want to try making them in your own home? Or are you inspired to create your own ultimate turkey burgers?

You're in luck!

Applegate will be providing each of three (3) winners with a one-month supply -- five (5) boxes -- of turkey burgers!

This giveaway will end at 12:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 13, 2020. Good luck!!

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