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–+ servings
An autumn themed platter holding a perfectly roast turkey. It's being carved and we can see how juicy it is. Divine!

Easy Roast Turkey

Here’s a super simple roast turkey recipe for beginners that takes the stress out of cooking your first bird.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes
Course Dinner, Holidays and Entertaining
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 32 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 12-14 pounds whole turkey   thawed if frozen
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter·      
  • 1 tablespoon salt      
  • ½ tablespoon pepper  
  • Optional aromatics: 1 lemon (quartered), 1 onion(quartered), a few sprigs of fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, or parsley)

Instructions
 

Preheat the Oven:

  • Set your oven to 325°F (163°C). Place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven to make room for the turkey.

Prepare the Turkey:

  • Remove the turkey from its packaging. Take out the neck and giblet bag (check both the large cavity and the neck cavity). Save these for gravy or discard them.
  • Pat the turkey dry with paper towels to help it roast evenly.

Season the Turkey:

  • Sprinkle salt and pepper all over the turkey, including inside the cavity.
  • If using aromatics, stuff the cavity with the lemon, onion, and herbs.
  • Rub olive oil or melted butter over the entire turkey. This helps it brown beautifully

Set Up for Roasting:

  • Place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack inside a large roasting pan. If you don’t have a rack, you can lay a few carrots or celery stalks in the pan to lift the turkey slightly.

Roast the Turkey:

  • Place the turkey in the preheated oven and roast it uncovered. Plan for about15 minutes per pound of turkey. For a 12-14 pound bird, this is about 3-3.5 hours.
  • Halfway through, check the turkey. If the breast is browning too quickly, loosely cover it with foil to prevent over-browning.

Check for Doneness:

  • The turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (but not touching the bone) reads 165°F (74°C).

Rest the Turkey:

  • Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes. This helps the juices redistribute, making the meat moist and flavorful.

Carve and Serve:

  • Transfer the turkey to a platter and carve it. Enjoy your delicious homemade turkey!

Nutrition

Calories: 32kcalCarbohydrates: 0.2gProtein: 0.1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0.1mgSodium: 872mgPotassium: 5mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.003gVitamin A: 2IUCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword Autumn, Frugal, How To, Low Carb, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Winter
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!