We have an Easy Oven Roasted Turkey recipe to make for Thanksgiving. Our herb butter turkey is flavorful, juicy, and perfect for all to enjoy. It's great for beginners and can help reduce stress on Thanksgiving day.
For specifics on the recipe use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- It's easy to make and great for novices.
- It's juicy and flavorful and turns out perfectly every time.
- The perfect dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
Ingredient List
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Herbed Butter:
- unsalted butter
- olive oil
- chopped fresh herbs: thyme, rosemary, sage,
- Kosher salt
- black pepper
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- paprika
Turkey Cavity:
- 10-12 pound bone-in turkey
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- onion powder
- yellow onion
- celery stalk
- carrot
- garlic
Roasting pan:
- yellow onion
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- knife
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Pastry Brush
- 10" x 7" Roasting Pan with Rack
- Instant Read Thermometer
Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Preheat oven to 425°F/218°C. Have a roasting pan with a rack ready for the turkey. Set aside.
How to make Herb Butter:
- Combine softened butter with olive oil, chopped herbs, and spices. over medium heat, add the butter, and stir in olive oil, herbs, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir and melt the butter, for about 2-3 minutes. ( this can also be done in a microwave-safe bowl). Remove from heat, and set aside.
Prepare the turkey:
- Fill the seasoned turkey cavity with onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and fresh herbs.
How to Roast Herb Turkey:
- Cover the turkey with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 325°F/163°C. Keep the foil on the turkey but baste the turkey every 20 minutes to ensure a nicely browned turkey.
- After hour 2 of cooking, remove the aluminum foil and continue cooking the turkey for at least one more hour also baste every 20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C. Use an instant-read thermometer to get an accurate temperature of the turkey.
- Once the turkey has reached 165°F, remove the roasting pan from the oven. Let the turkey cool for about 10 minutes before removing it from the roasting pan and let it cool on a cutting board for another 20 minutes before slicing.
Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage - The roasted turkey can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: The leftover turkey meat can be frozen in freezer-safe storage bags or containers for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and use in your favorite recipes.
Use instead of chicken in any favorite recipe that uses rotisserie chicken.
Eileen's Tips for Success
- When roasting the turkey, be aware of the internal temperature of the turkey so that it cooks until 165°F.
- Let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving to ensure the juices settle in the turkey
- Leftover turkey is perfect for Turkey Cranberry Sliders.
Frequently Asked Questions
I prefer to cook my turkey at 325°F/163°C. This ensures a more moist and juicy bird.
An unstuffed turkey should be cooked at 13 minutes per pound. You should cook a stuffed turkey at 15 minutes per pound.
There are so many things you can add to the cavity of a turkey, but I like to add aromatics like carrots, celery, onions, and herbs to my easy roast turkey.
Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways to change the flavor of this dish.
- Sage Butter Roasted Turkey: Substitute sage for the thyme in the herb butter.
- Rosemary Garlic Roasted Turkey: Substitute rosemary for the thyme in the herb butter and add 4 cloves of minced garlic to the pan.
- Lemon Pepper Roasted Turkey: Add the zest of 1 lemon to the herb.
- Cajun Seasonings is another great alternative for a spice rub.
Serving Suggestions
- Southern Cornbread Dressing
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Cranberry Sauce
- Homemade Mashed Potatoes
- Oven-roasted green bean recipe
- Make Ahead Gravy
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Thanksgiving Sweets:
Similar recipes
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Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.
Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
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Easy Roasted Turkey Recipe
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
- 11-12 pound whole turkey
Herbed Butter
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons fresh herbs chopped, Note 1
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt Note 2
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Turkey Cavity
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 large yellow onions peeled and sliced in half, divided
- 2 stalks celery chopped into thirds
- 1 large carrot peeled and chopped into thirds
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3-4 sprigs fresh parsley
Roasting Pan
- 1 medium yellow onion peeled and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F/218°C. Have a roasting pan with rack ready for the turkey.
How to make Herb Butter
- Ina small bowl, mix 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 2 Tablespoons chopped herbs, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon paprika to combine the ingredients into a paste.
- Set aside while preparing the turkey
Prepare the turkey
- Prepare the turkey by removing the giblets. ( Note 3) Use a paper towel to pat dry the turkey both inside and out.
- Set the turkey on the rack in the roasting pan. Rub the herb butter on the entire turkey, under the skin and on top of the skin.
Cavity of the turkey
- In a small bowl combine ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon onion powder. Sprinkle the mixture inside the cavity of the turkey.
- To the seasoned cavity of the turkey, add halved yellow onions, chopped celery, chopped carrots, 3 cloves garlic, fresh thyme sprigs, and fresh parsley sprigs.
How to roast the turkey
- Place the turkey in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 325°F/163°C.
- After hour 2 of cooking, check the turkey and if it has browned to your liking, cover with foil so the turkey does not burn. Turkey roasts an average of 13 minutes per pound. When the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165°F/74°C the turkey is fully cooked.
- Once the turkey has reached 165°F, remove the roasting pan from the oven. Let the turkey cool for about 10 minutes before removing it from the roasting pan and let it finish cooling on a cutting board for another 15-20 minutes before slicing.
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