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5 from 8 votes

Roast Turkey Recipe

Directions for a perfectly roasted and seasoned turkey every time. Herb-glazed roast turkey is a juicy, moist show-stopper.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Author: Lil' Luna

Equipment

Ingredients

Turkey

  • 1 (14-16 pound) turkey thawed
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 Granny Smith apples cored and sliced
  • 2-3 carrots peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 onion cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 5-6 stalks celery cut into 1-inch pieces

Glaze

  • 1 cup honey
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 2 teaspoons dried sage leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ground thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Set an elevated rack into the bottom of a roasting pan.
  • Brush olive oil all over turkey and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place about two-thirds of the vegetables and apples on the rack in the prepared roasting pan.
  • Place turkey on the rack and stuff remaining third of the vegetables and apples inside the turkey. If turkey’s legs are not already tied together, tie them with kitchen twine.
  • Roast turkey uncovered in the oven for 30 minutes, then cover loosely with foil and reduce the heat to 375 degrees F. Roast for another 2–2 ½ hours, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F.
  • To finish the turkey, whisk together all glaze ingredients in a medium bowl.
  • Brush glaze over turkey and return it to the oven, uncovered, for 15–20 minutes, until golden. Remove from the oven, discard the vegetables, and let turkey rest for 20 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

What Size Turkey Should I Buy? Take a headcount and plan to serve each person 1–1½ pounds of turkey—so for ten people, you’ll need a 10–15-pound turkey. If you are hosting a large crowd, consider cooking two smaller turkeys to cut down on cooking time.
Thawing Turkey: How long you’ll need to thaw your turkey in the refrigerator depends on its size. Use the guide below and plan ahead!
o 4 pounds: 1 day
o 8 pounds: 2 days
o 12 pounds: 3 days
o 16 pounds: 4 days
o 20 pounds: 5 days

Nutrition

Serving: 1pound | Calories: 221kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 411mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 2033IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.5mg