Description
This Easy Roast Turkey recipe will help you prepare a juicy and flavorful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving feast with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (14-16 pound) whole turkey
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) softened
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage chopped finely
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped finely
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped finely
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 1 lemon halved
- A few sprigs each fresh sage
- thyme
- and rosemary
- 1 head garlic break into cloves and peel them
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine softened butter, chopped sage, thyme, rosemary, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to make the herb butter.
- Pat the turkey dry with paper towels and season it generously with salt and pepper inside and out.
- Gently loosen the skin of the turkey and spread half of the herb butter under the skin. Rub the rest of the butter all over the outside of the turkey.
- Stuff the cavity of the turkey with halved lemon, fresh herbs, and garlic cloves.
- Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a roasting pan and cover loosely with foil.
- Roast in the preheated oven for about 13-15 minutes per pound, removing the foil during the last hour to allow the skin to brown.
- Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) before removing the turkey from the oven.
- Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes before carving and serving.
Notes
For best results, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Allowing the turkey to rest helps retain its juices.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Holiday
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 61 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg
Keywords: Easy Roast Turkey, Thanksgiving turkey, roast turkey recipe, holiday cooking, family dinner