How to Cook a Turkey

How to Cook a Turkey
  • PREP TIME
    20 mins
  • COOK TIME
    3 hrs 5 mins
  • TOTAL TIME
    3 hrs 35 mins
  • SERVING
    24 People
  • VIEWS
    544

Conquer the Thanksgiving centerpiece with this foolproof recipe for a succulent and flavorful turkey. Banish dry, disappointing birds forever and learn the secrets to a perfectly roasted turkey that will impress your guests and leave them craving more.

Ingridients

Adjust Servings

Nutrition

  • Carbohydrate
    2 g
  • Cholesterol
    136 mg
  • Fiber
    0 g
  • Protein
    46 g
  • Saturated Fat
    6 g
  • Sodium
    604 mg
  • Sugar
    1 g
  • Fat
    17 g
  • Unsaturated Fat
    0 g

DIRECTIONS

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Image Step 01
01 Step

Recipe View Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). (5 minutes)

Image Step 02
02 Step

Recipe View Place onion, celery, and carrot in a large, shallow roasting pan.

Image Step 03
03 Step

Recipe View Place turkey, breast-side up, on top of vegetables in the roasting pan. Pat outside and inside of turkey dry with paper towels.

Image Step 04
04 Step

Recipe View Combine salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Season inside of turkey with about 1/3 of the salt mixture. Fold wing tips under bird.

Image Step 05
05 Step

Recipe View Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until edges turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add rosemary and sage; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Image Step 06
06 Step

Recipe View Place rosemary and sage inside cavity of turkey; reserve melted butter. Tie turkey legs together with twine.

Image Step 07
07 Step

Recipe View Brush melted butter over turkey. Season with the remaining salt mixture.

Image Step 08
08 Step

Recipe View Bake turkey, uncovered, in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and juices run clear, about 3 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).

Image Step 09
09 Step

Recipe View Remove turkey from the oven and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

For an even more flavorful turkey, consider brining it overnight before roasting.
Don't skip the resting period! This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and moist bird.
If the turkey skin starts to get too dark during roasting, tent it with aluminum foil.

Dina Stiedemann

Written by

Our recipe authors are passionate food lovers who share thousands of diverse dishes from around the world. They bring daily cooking inspiration with delicious, easy-to-make recipes for every occasion.

RECIPE REVIEWS

Avarage Rating: 4.8/ 5 ( 181 Ratings)
Total Reviews: (9)
  • Marquis Grant

    This recipe saved my Thanksgiving! The turkey was perfectly cooked and so flavorful. I'll never use another recipe again!

  • Devyn Vandervort

    I was so nervous about cooking a turkey for the first time, but this recipe made it easy. The instructions were clear, and the turkey turned out great!

  • Murl Donnelly

    The timing was spot on, and the turkey was cooked perfectly!

  • Caitlyn Armstrongblick

    Resting the turkey is key! It made all the difference in the tenderness.

  • Omari Harberjacobi

    My family said it was the best turkey I've ever made!

  • Royal Wiza

    The cayenne pepper adds a nice little kick! Everyone loved it.

  • Sebastian Paucek

    I added some orange slices and thyme to the cavity, and it was incredible! Thanks for the great recipe.

  • Dejon Brown

    The herb butter is amazing! I will definitely be making this again next year.

  • Deshaun Schumm

    So easy to follow, even for a beginner like me!

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