Description
A juicy, herb-butter roasted Thanksgiving turkey recipe with crispy skin, tender meat, and bright citrus flavor. The best Thanksgiving turkey for your holiday dinner table, perfect for beginners and pros alike. Includes tips, storage, and serving ideas.
Ingredients
12–14 lbs whole turkey
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 orange, halved
1 lemon, halved
1 onion, quartered
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove giblets and pat the turkey dry. Let it sit at room temp for 30 minutes.
2. Mix softened butter with garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
3. Rub herb butter under and over the turkey skin. Stuff the cavity with orange, lemon, and onion. Tuck wings under the body.
4. Place turkey on a roasting rack. Drizzle with olive oil. Pour chicken broth into the roasting pan.
5. Roast uncovered for 3 to 3.5 hours or until internal temp reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the thigh.
6. Remove from oven and let rest for 30 minutes before carving.
7. Slice and serve with sides and pan drippings gravy.
Notes
Let the turkey rest before carving to retain moisture.
Use a meat thermometer for accuracy—don’t rely on pop-up timers.
Baste once or twice during roasting if you prefer extra crispy skin.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3.5 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (approx. 6 oz cooked turkey)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 135mg