This easy Roast Turkey Recipe is a classic that is moist, tender and packed full of flavor from a variety of herbs and seasonings and super easy to make for your Thanksgiving feast!
There’s nothing more enjoyable on Thanksgiving than a delicious Roast Turkey. It’s what makes the holiday more special along with the desserts and side dishes such as pumpkin pie and sweet glazed carrots.
The secret to getting the perfect, most moist turkey is by following the preparations beforehand and the step by step tutorial. When done you will have the best tasting turkey for all to enjoy at Thanksgiving!
How to Prepare a Turkey for Roasting
Before you roast your turkey you need to make sure it is prepped properly to ensure a good turnout. Follow these steps before roasting.
- Thaw Out –The thawing out process will depend on how many pounds your turkey is. Make sure to give enough days to do so. Check the label on the turkey to see how many pounds it is. Then place the turkey still wrapped on a baking sheet in the fridge and thaw out 24 hours for every 5 pounds of frozen turkey. For example if your turkey was 15 pounds that would be about 3 days of thawing. You may need to add an extra day if it is not completely thawed. Be sure to check the baking pan often while it’s thawing to drain any excess water from thawing.
- Remove Giblets – After the turkey is thawed out you want to make sure to remove the plastic wrapping first and then the giblets and neck from the cavity. Set aside for cooking or toss them if you’re not going to use them.
- Season the Turkey – For the turkey you will want to make sure it is seasoned to get the best tasting flavor for your turkey. I used simple herbs and seasoning for this recipe and it gave it lots of flavor. Get the full list of ingredients below and instructions.
Roast Turkey Ingredients
10lb turkey
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
3 Tablespoons olive oil, optional
3 Tablespoons poultry seasoning
2 lemons
Small bunch rosemary, optional
Small bunch thyme, optional
2 small yellow onions, quartered
2 heads garlic
2 cups water
How to Make The Best Roast Turkey
Preheat oven to 375F.
Remove any giblets from the turkey.
Use a large spoon to carefully separate the skin from the breast of the turkey, as shown. Rub 1/4 cup of butter under the turkey skin, directly on the turkey breast. Rub remaining butter all over the turkey.
Place a halved lemon and a small amount of rosemary and thyme inside the turkey cavity. Make a small cut 4″ down from the turkey opening and push the turkey legs through. Alternatively, you can use kitchen string to tie the turkey legs together. Sprinkle turkey liberally with poultry seasoning.
Place water and quartered onions in the bottom of a roasting pan. Quarter the remaining lemon and add to the roasting pan. Cut the top off of one head of garlic, add it to the roasting pan, and then peel and crush each clove of the remaining garlic. Add to roasting pan, then place the turkey overtop. (You can use a roasting pan if desired.)
Bake for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Cover with the top of the roasting pan or tinfoil for the first half of the baking time.
Once you remove the cover, baste the turkey with the turkey juices every 20-30 minutes.
At the 3 hour mark, pour the olive oil over the turkey in any spots that are not browning as deeply as other spots. Cook until turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
Cover and let turkey rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before carving. (This is a great time to make gravy or finish up other side dishes.)
Recipe
Easy Roast Turkey Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 lb turkey
- 1/2 cup butter 1 stick
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil optional
- 3 Tablespoons poultry seasoning
- 2 lemons
- Small bunch rosemary optional
- Small bunch thyme optional
- 2 small yellow onions quartered
- 2 heads garlic
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Remove any giblets from the turkey.
- Use a large spoon to carefully separate the skin from the breast of the turkey, as shown. Rub 1/4 cup of butter under the turkey skin, directly on the turkey breast. Rub remaining butter all over the turkey.
- Place a halved lemon and a small amount of rosemary and thyme inside the turkey cavity. Make a small cut 4" down from the turkey opening and push the turkey legs through. Alternatively, you can use kitchen string to tie the turkey legs together. Sprinkle turkey liberally with poultry seasoning.
- Place water and quartered onions in the bottom of a roasting pan. Quarter the remaining lemon and add to the roasting pan. Cut the top off of one head of garlic, add it to the roasting pan, and then peel and crush each clove of the remaining garlic. Add to roasting pan, then place the turkey overtop. (You can use a roasting pan if desired.)
- Bake for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Cover with the top of the roasting pan or tinfoil for the first half of the baking time.
- Once you remove the cover, baste the turkey with the turkey juices every 20-30 minutes. At the 3 hour mark, pour the olive oil over the turkey in any spots that are not browning as deeply as other spots. Cook until turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- Cover and let turkey rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before carving. (This is a great time to make gravy or finish up other side dishes.)
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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