Print

Perfect Roast Turkey Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 3 reviews

This Perfect Roast Turkey recipe delivers a beautifully golden, juicy, and flavorful turkey, enhanced with a fragrant herb butter and a classic lemon and onion stuffing. Ideal for holiday celebrations or special family dinners, this method ensures tender meat with crispy skin.

Ingredients

Turkey and Herb Butter

  • 1 whole turkey (12-14 lbs), thawed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Stuffing

  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 1 onion, quartered

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Turkey: Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Remove giblets from turkey and pat the turkey dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure crispy skin.
  2. Make Herb Butter: In a bowl, combine softened butter with fresh parsley, rosemary, thyme, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until well mixed.
  3. Apply Herb Butter: Gently loosen the skin over the turkey breast using your fingers, being careful not to tear it. Spread half of the herb butter evenly under the skin, then rub the remaining butter all over the outside of the turkey for full flavor and crispiness.
  4. Stuff Turkey: Place lemon halves and quartered onion inside the turkey cavity to infuse flavor during roasting. Tie the turkey legs together securely with kitchen twine to maintain shape and even cooking.
  5. Roast Turkey: Position the turkey breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast in the preheated oven for 3 to 3.5 hours, periodically basting with pan juices. Check doneness by ensuring a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F (74°C).
  6. Rest and Serve: Remove turkey from oven and let it rest covered loosely with foil for at least 20 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Carve and serve warm.

Notes

  • Ensure the turkey is fully thawed before cooking for even roasting.
  • Using a meat thermometer is crucial for perfect doneness and food safety.
  • Resting the turkey before carving helps retain moisture.
  • For extra crispy skin, you can increase oven temperature to 425°F during the last 30 minutes of roasting.
  • Leftover turkey can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.

Find it online: https://sweetworldcooks.com/perfect-roast-turkey-recipe/