Description
This Unforgettable Roast Turkey Recipe delivers a golden, crispy skin with juicy, herb-infused meat—perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any celebratory feast. With a buttery herb rub and aromatic stuffing, this turkey roasts to perfection every time.
Ingredients
1 whole turkey (12 to 16 lbs)
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 lemon, quartered
1 apple, quartered
1 onion, halved
4 garlic cloves, smashed (for cavity)
2 carrots, cut in chunks (optional)
2 celery stalks, cut in chunks (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chicken broth or water
Instructions
1. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Season it inside and out with kosher salt and black pepper. Place it on a rack in a baking pan and refrigerate uncovered for 24 to 48 hours to dry brine.
2. In a bowl, mix softened butter with chopped rosemary, thyme, sage, and minced garlic.
3. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
4. Gently loosen the skin over the turkey breast and rub some of the herb butter underneath the skin. Rub remaining butter all over the outside of the turkey.
5. Stuff the cavity with onion, lemon, apple, and smashed garlic cloves.
6. Place carrots and celery at the bottom of a roasting pan. Pour in chicken broth or water. Set a roasting rack on top and place the turkey on it.
7. Drizzle olive oil over the turkey skin. Roast for about 13-15 minutes per pound. Baste every 45 minutes. Tent with foil if browning too quickly.
8. Roast until the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F (74°C) on a meat thermometer.
9. Remove from oven and let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving.
Notes
For best results, dry brine your turkey for a full 48 hours for deeper flavor and crispier skin.
Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
Letting the turkey rest before carving is essential—it locks in all the juices.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/14 of turkey
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 39
- Cholesterol: 155