Description
This easy Thanksgiving Turkey recipe guarantees a perfectly golden, juicy bird every time! Using simple ingredients like onion, lemon, rosemary, and thyme, it delivers flavor-packed results without the stress. Perfect for a festive family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 to 18-pound turkey (fully thawed, see notes for larger turkeys)
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 1–2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1–2 sprigs fresh thyme
- Olive oil, butter, or preferred seasoning rub
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Turkey: Remove the turkey giblets and pat the turkey dry inside and out with paper towels. Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Stuff the Turkey: Place the quartered onion, lemon, rosemary, and thyme inside the turkey cavity.
- Position on Roasting Rack: Place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack inside a roasting pan. Tuck the wings under the bird and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
- Season the Turkey: Rub the outside of the turkey with olive oil, butter, or your preferred seasoning rub. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
- Roast the Turkey: Insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast (not touching the bone). Roast the turkey at 325°F, calculating about 15 minutes per pound.
- Check Temperature: When the thermometer reads 165°F in the breast and 175°F in the thigh, the turkey is done.
- Rest the Turkey: Remove the turkey from the oven, cover loosely with foil, and let it rest for at least 20 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist turkey.
Notes
- For turkeys larger than 18 pounds, increase the cooking time by about 12 minutes per pound.
- Always check the turkey’s internal temperature with a probe thermometer to ensure it is fully cooked.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours (depending on size)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of turkey
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 100mg