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    Home » Recipes » Seasonal Recipes » Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

    Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

    Published: Nov 13, 2022 Modified: Apr 20, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    Jump to Recipe

    Tender, juicy, and intensely flavorful, this is the easiest and Best Thanksgiving Turkey recipe you will ever make! Citrus, herbs, and a hearty slathering of garlic butter make this the best no-brine recipe around.

    A whole garlic butter turkey on a white platter surrounded by fresh citrus and herbs
    Jump to:
    • Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
    • Best Turkey Recipe Ingredients
    • How to Cook a Turkey
    • The Best Turkey Recipe Tips
    • Turkey Stuffing Recipes
    • Turkey Temperature Chart
    • Turkey Recipes FAQs
    • How to Make Turkey Gravy
    • How to Carve a Thanksgiving Turkey
    • How to Thaw a Turkey
    • Best Turkey Recipe
    • Best Turkey Recipes
    • What to Do with Leftover Turkey
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

    Every time I make this roasted garlic butter turkey, I get asked for the recipe. And every time, I am happy to admit how easy it is! It’s the easiest oven-roasted turkey but is absolutely packed with flavor from herby garlic butter sauce.

    What I love most about this dish is that it’s a no-brine recipe. Roasting the perfect bird may seem intimidating, but following my easy step-by-step instructions on how to cook a turkey, you’re guaranteed to serve the best dinner on the block.

    Tried this today and it turned out great! This is my go to turkey recipe from now on.

    Melanie on Pinterest

    Best Turkey Recipe Ingredients

    • 12-15 lb turkey
    • Garlic butter
    • Orange halved
    • Lemon halved
    • Onion halved
    • Several sprigs of fresh herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme
    • Baking twine
    • chicken broth
    • milk
    • flour

    How to Cook a Turkey

    1. Preheat your oven to 425°F with the rack in the lower third of the oven. Rinse and pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
    2. Remove neck and giblets, gravy packets, or any packages inside the cavities of the bird. Check the large cavity as well as the neck cavity.
    3. For the turkey seasoning, you will need to make our Garlic Butter Sauce. It’s just 3 ingredients and takes only a few minutes to mix together!
    4. Carefully lift up the skin, separating it from the breast as much as you can. The back of a spoon works well for this. Season underneath with garlic butter. Rub the outer skin all over with more garlic butter.
      Rubbing garlic butter on and under skin of turkey for Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
    5. Stuff the cavity with the orange, lemon, onion, and herbs.
      Up close turkey with the legs tied with twine
    6. Tie the legs with cooking twine and transfer to a rack set inside a roasting pan. Tuck the wings underneath so they don’t burn â€“ this is important! Pour 2 cups of chicken broth into the roasting pan and transfer to the oven.
      Turkey prepped and ready for over for Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
    7. Roast the turkey for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
    8. After the first hour of roasting the turkey, baste it every 30 minutes. Tent the turkey with foil if the skin becomes deep golden brown before the turkey is cooked through. 
      Basting a turkey as it cooks on a roasting pan
    9. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh joint registers 160°F.
      Thanksgiving turkey roasted on a pan with a rack
    10. Remove the turkey from the oven and transfer to a carving board. The turkey will continue cooking and should reach 165°F.
    11. Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.

    The Best Turkey Recipe Tips

    • You Don’t Need to Wash Turkey. Everyone thinks you need to wash your turkey but that is not correct. Any bacteria on the turkey will get killed while baking.
    • Do Not Cook the Stuffing in the Bird. I always recommend cooking the stuffing separately. You do not want to risk serving undercooked stuffing. Stuffing the bird also slows down the cooking process making it harder to cook it to the perfect temperature.

    Turkey Stuffing Recipes

    • Chorizo Stuffing all I can say is this stuff is amazing!
    • Gluten free Stuffing
    • Instant Pot Stuffing

    Turkey Temperature Chart

    Turkey WeightPeople FedRoasting Time
    10-18 poundsfeeds less than 10 peopleroast for 3-3.5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed)
    18-22 poundsfeeds 10 to 15 peopleroast for 3.5-4 hours at 350°F (unstuffed)
    22-24 poundsfeeds 16 to 20 peopleroast for 4-4.5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed)
    24-29 poundsfeeds more than 20 peopleroast for 4.5-5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed)

    I always recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Always insert it in both the breast and the thigh area. It should be inserted close to, but not touching, the thigh bone.

    The perfect temperature will read 180°F on the thigh and 170°F on the breast. You can follow my guide to the perfect turkey temperature.

    chart showing cook times and serving size for different turkeys by pound

    Turkey Recipes FAQs

    How many pounds of turkey should I buy?

    You will need approximately 1½ lbs. per person. I like to add up how many people and tack on a few extra pounds to account for the bones. This will give you your weight with leftovers to spare.

    What temperature do you cook a turkey?

    The perfect temperature to cook a turkey is 350° F. Although, I am a bit of a rebel and I like super crispy skin. So I always start off my turkey at 425° F and then lower the temp to 350° F.

    How long can I keep leftover turkey?

    You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days.Go ahead and put your leftovers in the fridge as soon as possible once you’re finished with your meal to keep them fresh!

    Thanksgiving turkey recipe on a white platter with herbs and citrus next to a gravy boat filled with turkey gravy

    How to Make Turkey Gravy

    1. To make gravy from drippings, place the roasting pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat (or transfer juices to the saucepan if you prefer).
    2. Add 2 cups of the remaining broth to the pan drippings and bring to a simmer. Skim off all but 1-2 tablespoons of the fat, depending on the size of your bird.
    3. Combine milk and flour in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously to combine.
    4. Whisk the milk mixture into the gravy and simmer, stirring continuously until the gravy thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.

    At this point, you can carve the bird and serve it with the gravy. Or, make it the star of the show by placing it in the middle of your table on a platter.

    Garnish the platter with citrus fruits, sliced, whole halved, and sprigs of fresh herbs. You can follow my step-by-step instructions on how to make the perfect turkey gravy recipe.

    How to Carve a Thanksgiving Turkey

    1. Place on a cutting board. Remove the twine around the legs using your knife.
    2. Remove the legs by cutting through the area that connects the breast and the drumstick. Use your knife to slice down until you reach the joint. Then, using a paper towel, grab the leg and push down. This will separate the leg and thigh from the bird. Use your knife to slice through the joint.
    3. Remove the drumstick by separating the drumstick and the thigh by cutting through the joint area connecting them. Place the drumstick on a platter. Set aside the thigh meat to slice later.
    4. Find the wishbone at the front center of the breast. Use your fingers to pull it out. Removing the wishbone makes it easier to carve the breast meat, so don’t skip this step.
    5. Find the breastbone and place your knife on one side of it, and slice down close to the bone. As you are slicing, use your other hand to pull the meat from the breastbone. This will help you take the breast in one piece. Set aside the whole breast to slice later.
    6. Using your knife, slice through the joint to remove a wing. Place the wings on the platter.
    7. Hold the thigh bone with tongs or a paper towel, and remove the meat from the bone with your knife. Place the meat on the platter.
    8. Use tongs to hold the breast in place, then place the meat on the cutting board so you can cut it at a shorter length. Slice the breast against the grain. Trust us, this will make a huge difference. Make sure to keep the skin attached. Place the slices on a platter.
    Closeup of the completed thanksgiving turkey recipe with citrus and fresh herbs

    How to Thaw a Turkey

    For three different methods and tips on thawing the turkey in time for Thanksgiving, take a look at my guide on How to Thaw Turkey!

    Turkey WeightDays to Thaw in RefrigeratorTime to Thaw in Cold Water
    6-11 pounds2 days3 to 5½ hours
    12-15 pounds3 days6 to 7½ hours
    16-20 pounds4 days8 to 10 hours
    21-24 pounds5 days10½ to 12 hours

    For a turkey less than 6 pounds, thaw for 1 day.

    Note: it is extremely important to thaw your turkey safely. Never, ever thaw your turkey on the counter.

    Best Turkey Recipe

    The secret to making this the best recipe ever is our garlic compound butter. It’s so easy to make – just mix herbs, garlic, and butter following our instructions – but the flavor is amazing.

    You will want to put this garlic herb butter recipe on everything. I know I do! I also recommend giving my Butter Injection for Turkey a try!

    Best Turkey Recipes

    • Boneless Turkey Roast
    • Air Fryer Turkey Breast
    • Sous Vide Turkey Breast
    • Grilled Turkey Recipe with the Best Turkey Rub
    • Instant Pot Turkey Breast
    • Smoked Turkey Recipe with Turkey Butter Injection
    • Spatchcock Turkey
    • Deep Fried Turkey

    Give my Popular Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes a try for even more ideas!

    What to Do with Leftover Turkey

    • Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Turkey Sliders
    • Turkey Carcass Soup is the best turkey noodle soup!
    • Turkey Stock

    See my Leftover Turkey Recipes and Thanksgiving Dinner Tips for more ideas!

    Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below to let us know what you think! We love to hear from you!

    📋 Recipe

    A whole garlic butter turkey on a white platter surrounded by fresh citrus and herbs

    Best Turkey Recipe

    Isabel Laessig
    Tender and juicy, with herby citrus flavors and covered in garlic butter, this is truly the Best Turkey Recipe!
    4.82 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 3 hours hrs
    Resting Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, Main, Thanksgiving
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 (Depending on size of your turkey)
    Calories 586 kcal

    Equipment

    • Roasting Pan with Rack (large enough for your turkey)
    • Baking Twine
    • Turkey Baster (optional)

    Ingredients
      

    • 12-15 lb turkey If using a larger turkey, use our cooking chart
    • Garlic butter
    • 1 Orange halved
    • 1 Lemon halved
    • 1 Onion halved
    • Several sprigs of fresh herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme
    • Baking twine
    • 4 cups chicken broth
    • ½ cup milk
    • 2 tablespoon flour
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 425°F with the rack in the lower third of the oven. Rinse and pat turkey dry with paper towels.
      Remove neck and giblets, gravy packet, or any packages inside the cavities of the bird. Check the large cavity as well as the neck cavity.
      For the turkey seasoning, you will need to make our Herb Butter Rub. It’s just 3 ingredients and takes only a few minutes to mix together!
      Garlic Butter in a white bowl
    • Carefully lift up the skin, separating it from the breast as much as you can. The back of a spoon works well for this. Season underneath with garlic butter.
      Rub the outer skin all over with more garlic butter. You don’t have to use it all: the leftover butter is perfect for buttering rolls, or on vegetables, or potatoes! You can also freeze the extra.
      Rubbing garlic butter on and under skin of turkey for Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
    • Stuff the cavity with the orange, lemon, onion, and herbs.
      Turkey prepped and ready for over for Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
    • Tie the legs with cooking twine and transfer to a rack set inside a roasting pan. Tuck the wings underneath so they don’t burn – this is important!
      Pour 2 cups chicken broth into the roasting pan and transfer to the oven.
      Up close turkey with the legs tied with twine
    • Roast the turkey for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
      After the first hour of roasting the turkey, baste it every 30 minutes. Tent the turkey with foil if the skin becomes deep golden brown before the turkey is cooked through. You can also cover just the parts that are browning too quickly.
      Basting a turkey as it cooks on a roasting pan
    • Roast until a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh joint registers 160°F.
      Remove the turkey from the oven and transfer to a carving board. The turkey will continue cooking and should reach 170°F. Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.
      Thanksgiving turkey roasted on a pan with a rack
    • To make gravy from drippings, place the roasting pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat (or transfer juices to the saucepan if you prefer). Add 2 cups of the remaining broth to the pan drippings and bring to a simmer. Skim off all but 1-2 tablespoons of the fat, depending on the size of your bird. Combine milk and flour in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously to combine. Whisk the milk mixture into the gravy and simmer, stirring continuously until the gravy thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
      Thanksgiving turkey recipe on a white platter with herbs and citrus next to a gravy boat filled with turkey gravy

    Notes

    1. Turkey Breast: You can use a turkey breast in place of a whole turkey for this recipe.
    2. Garlic Butter: Trust us, once you try this garlic butter spread on your turkey, you will never go back to traditional roasting. It makes the juiciest turkey you will ever try. 
    3. Carving Turkey: When carving the turkey, find the wishbone at the front center of the breast. Use your fingers to pull it out.
    4. Slicing Turkey: Slice the turkey breast against the grain. Trust us, this will make a huge difference.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 586kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 85gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 282mgSodium: 793mgPotassium: 1012mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 305IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword best thansgiving turkey recipe, best turkey recipe, thanksgiving turkey recipe, turkey recipes
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Audrey says

      November 25, 2021 at 12:01 pm

      Would like to know if I’m roasting the turkey covered or uncovered?

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        November 30, 2021 at 11:57 am

        Hi Audrey! You do not cover the turkey unless you have to. You should tent the turkey with foil if the skin becomes deep golden brown before the turkey is cooked through. You can also cover just the parts that are browning too quickly. Thank you for asking!

        Reply
    2. zoe says

      November 26, 2021 at 8:54 am

      5 stars
      when i got a turkey from my workplace, i had no idea what i was going to do with it. i’m not a huge fan of turkey and every time someone has served it for me in thanksgiving it’s been painfully dry. not this turkey, though! easily the best turkey i’ve ever had! it was juicy and flavorful and smelled incredible the whole time we cooked it. i ended up quartering the lemon, orange, and onion so they’d release more flavor and it definitely paid off!

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        November 26, 2021 at 2:00 pm

        Zoe, that is awesome! Thank you so much for trying our recipe and for leaving a review. We’re very glad you had a different, enjoyable experience with your turkey this time around! Thank you so much!

        Reply

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