Description
This no-fail herb roast turkey recipe ensures a juicy and flavorful Thanksgiving classic every time. It’s designed to be easy and reliable, bringing warm family traditions to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (12-15 pound) whole turkey, thawed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 2 carrots, cut into chunks
- 2 celery stalks, cut into chunks
- 4 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Remove the turkey from its packaging and take out the giblets from the cavities. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cool water and pat it dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, chopped rosemary, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper.
- Gently loosen the skin over the turkey breast and thighs. Spread about half of the herb butter evenly under the skin. Rub the remaining herb butter all over the outside of the turkey.
- Place the quartered onion, carrots, and celery inside the main cavity of the turkey.
- Tuck the wings under the body and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
- Place the turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the pan.
- Cover the turkey loosely with aluminum foil.
- Roast for 3 to 4 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching the bone) registers 165°F (74°C). Baste the turkey with the pan juices every hour.
- Remove the foil during the last 30-45 minutes of cooking to allow the skin to brown.
- Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for at least 20 minutes before carving and serving.
Notes
- For an even juicier turkey, you can brine it overnight before roasting.
- If you don’t have fresh herbs, you can use 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary, 2 teaspoons of dried thyme, and 1 teaspoon of dried sage.
- The vegetables in the cavity can be removed before serving or used to make gravy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 150mg