Description
This Easy Thanksgiving Turkey is a golden, juicy holiday centerpiece made with herb butter, garlic, lemon, onion, and fresh herbs for classic roasted flavor. It is a simple Thanksgiving dinner idea, an easy recipe for holiday gatherings, and one of the best food ideas when you want tender turkey, crisp skin, and rich pan drippings for gravy.
Ingredients
12 to 14 pound whole turkey, thawed, neck and giblets removed
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1 lemon, zested and halved
1 large yellow onion, quartered
2 large carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 cups turkey or chicken broth
4 fresh herb sprigs, for the cavity
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and place chopped carrots, celery, and onion in the bottom of a large roasting pan.
2. Pat the turkey very dry with paper towels, including the skin and cavity.
3. Mix softened butter, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
4. Gently loosen the skin over the turkey breast and rub some herb butter under the skin.
5. Spread the remaining herb butter over the outside of the turkey.
6. Place lemon halves, onion pieces, and fresh herb sprigs loosely inside the cavity.
7. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wing tips under the turkey.
8. Pour broth into the roasting pan and place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack.
9. Roast for about 3 to 3 1/2 hours, basting every 45 minutes and tenting the breast with foil if it browns too quickly.
10. Check doneness with a thermometer; the breast should reach 165°F and the thigh should reach at least 175°F.
11. Rest the turkey for 30 to 45 minutes before carving.
12. Carve and serve warm with gravy and your favorite Thanksgiving sides.
Notes
For the juiciest turkey, let it rest fully before carving so the juices can settle back into the meat.
Use a thermometer instead of guessing by time, because turkey size and oven temperature can vary.
If the roasting pan looks dry during cooking, add more broth so the drippings do not burn.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 62 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg
Keywords: Easy Thanksgiving Turkey, Thanksgiving dinner, holiday turkey, roasted turkey, easy dinner, dinner ideas, food ideas