Description
Make your holiday unforgettable with this Best Thanksgiving Turkey! With golden, crispy skin, juicy meat, and classic herby flavor, this easy recipe is perfect for both Thanksgiving and any special gathering. Whether you need quick holiday ideas, a reliable dinner centerpiece, or a healthy meal that yields delicious leftovers, this turkey delivers every time. Great for easy dinner, family food ideas, or a festive main dish. Your search for the best holiday turkey recipe ends here!
Ingredients
1 whole turkey (12 to 14 pounds), thawed if frozen
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, quartered
1 lemon, quartered
1 orange, quartered
1 head garlic, halved horizontally
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 sprigs fresh thyme
4 sprigs fresh sage
4 sprigs fresh parsley
2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Remove giblets from the turkey and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Loosen skin over the breasts and rub 4 tablespoons of softened butter underneath the skin. Rub the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter all over the outside of the turkey.
3. Season the inside and outside of the turkey generously with kosher salt and pepper.
4. Fill the cavity with onion, lemon, orange, garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley.
5. Tuck the turkey wings under and place breast-side up on a rack in a large roasting pan.
6. Brush the turkey skin with olive oil. Pour chicken broth into the bottom of the pan.
7. Roast the turkey, basting with pan juices every 45 minutes, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F (about 3 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird).
8. If the turkey browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
9. Remove the turkey from the oven and let rest uncovered for 20-30 minutes before carving.
10. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
Always let the turkey rest after roasting so the juices redistribute—don’t skip this step!
You can use a dry or wet brine the day before for extra juicy results.
For crispier skin, start roasting uncovered, then tent with foil if browning too fast.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 turkey (about 8 oz cooked meat)
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
Keywords: thanksgiving turkey, easy turkey recipe, holiday turkey, dinner ideas, food ideas, best turkey, roast turkey, classic turkey