How to Cook a Turkey - The Best Roasted Turkey

How to cook a turkey in the oven. A tender and flavorful roasted turkey that always gets rave reviews!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 3

Total Time 3 10

Servings

Calories 335kcal

Brine the turkey as directed for 18-24 hours. This is an optional step but I recommend it if you have the time. if you do choose to brine your turkey, cut the salt in this recipe to 1/2 teaspoon and you will not need to baste your turkey with broth.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Tuck the wings of the turkey under the body.
Stuff the cavity of the turkey with the lemon, onion, thyme sprigs and garlic.
Tie the turkey drumsticks together with kitchen twine, Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
Place the butter, salt and pepper in a bowl and stir until well combined.
Spread the butter all over the turkey, both on top of and underneath the skin. Season the outside of the turkey with more salt and pepper to taste if desired.
Cook for 30-40 minutes or until turkey has started to turn golden brown.
Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. Baste the turkey with 1/2 cup chicken broth. If you've brined your turkey, there's no need to baste it.
Bake for another 2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with the chicken broth, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F. I also check the thickest part of the breast to make sure that it's the correct temperature. If your turkey is getting too dark, you can cover it with foil.
Transfer the turkey to a serving platter and garnish with herbs and fruit if desired. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes before slicing.

Leftovers will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftover turkey for 2 months.
You can switch up some of the ingredients in this recipe to suit your tastes. For example, use orange or rosemary in the cavity instead of lemon and thyme. You can also add extra herbs and spices to the butter mixture.