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Easy Roast Turkey Recipe (Best Juicy Thanksgiving Turkey) Recipe

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4.3 from 34 reviews

This Easy Roast Turkey Recipe ensures a perfectly juicy and flavorful Thanksgiving turkey. Featuring a simple seasoning of olive oil or butter, salt, and pepper, enhanced with fresh herbs and aromatic apple and cinnamon, this method delivers a tender, golden-brown bird ideal for holiday celebrations.

  • Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

Turkey and Seasonings

  • 1 (14 – 16 pound) whole turkey
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil or ½ cup (1 stick / 115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)

Flavorings

  • 1 apple, sliced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary and/or thyme
  • 6 leaves fresh sage

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) to ensure even cooking throughout the turkey.
  2. Prepare the turkey: Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey cavity. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels to achieve crisp skin.
  3. Season the turkey: Rub the entire turkey, inside and out, with olive oil or softened butter. Sprinkle salt and ground black pepper evenly over the skin and inside the cavity.
  4. Stuff the cavity: Place the sliced apple, cinnamon stick, fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs, and sage leaves inside the turkey cavity to infuse aromatic flavors during roasting.
  5. Truss and place the turkey: Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wing tips under the body. Place the turkey breast-side up on a rack inside a roasting pan.
  6. Roast the turkey: Roast the turkey in the preheated oven. Estimate about 13 to 15 minutes per pound. For a 14-16 pound turkey, roast approximately 3 to 4 hours, occasionally basting with pan juices to maintain moisture.
  7. Check doneness: Use a meat thermometer to verify the internal temperature. The thickest part of the thigh should reach 165°F (74°C).
  8. Rest the turkey: Remove the turkey from the oven and tent with aluminum foil. Let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute for a moist turkey.

Notes

  • For extra crisp skin, broil the turkey for the last 5 minutes of roasting, watching carefully to avoid burning.
  • Use the pan drippings to make a flavorful gravy.
  • Adjust salt based on personal or dietary preferences.
  • Resting the turkey is crucial to keep the meat juicy.
  • If using butter, ensure it is softened for easy rubbing.
  • Author: Madelynn
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 to 4 hours
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://allyumcooks.com/easy-roast-turkey-recipe-best-juicy-thanksgiving-turkey-recipe/