Description
A reliable recipe for roasting a whole turkey that results in moist meat and crispy skin using an herb butter compound.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole turkey (12-14 lbs), thawed
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 bunch fresh parsley
- 2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Remove the turkey from its packaging. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavities. Pat the entire turkey surface dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix the softened butter, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper to create the herb butter.
- Gently separate the skin from the breast meat using your fingers, being careful not to tear the skin.
- Rub about two-thirds of the herb butter mixture directly onto the breast meat under the skin. Rub the remaining butter mixture all over the outside of the turkey skin.
- Place the onion quarters, lemon halves, and parsley inside the main cavity of the turkey.
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the turkey on a roasting rack set inside a large roasting pan. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the roasting pan.
- Roast the turkey for approximately 3 to 3.5 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Baste the turkey with pan juices every 45 minutes.
- If the skin begins to brown too quickly, loosely tent the turkey with aluminum foil.
- Once the turkey reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, remove it from the oven. Tent it loosely with foil and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before carving.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, place the turkey in the refrigerator uncovered overnight after seasoning but before roasting.
- If you prefer a stuffed turkey, cook the stuffing separately to ensure the turkey cooks evenly and safely.
- Use the pan drippings to make gravy immediately after removing the turkey from the pan.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 210 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 oz cooked meat
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 9
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 0
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 45
- Cholesterol: 150