Turkey is the star of Thanksgiving, and it’s pretty important to get it right – I have you covered with this simple, failproof, and mouthwatering Roast Turkey Recipe. This has a crisp, salty skin with a flavor-packed, juicy center. You’ll love my trick for a tender turkey breast every time.
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Helpful Reader Review
“I have been making your turkey recipe for a couple of years now every Thanksgiving and Christmas. My family has gone from not looking forward to turkey to RAVING about how flavourful, delicious and moist this Turkey is!” – Jennifer ★★★★★
Juicy Roast Turkey Video
This turkey recipe is well-loved with hundreds of 5-star reviews over the years. It’s fantastic! You can even make this turkey recipe a day in advance (see make-ahead tips below) if it makes your life easier, and it will taste even better! Plus, Turkey Brine is optional here, saving you a day of prep.
In this video, I’ll show you how to make this turkey, step-by-step so you can feel confident making “the year’s most important dish.”
Turkey Recipe
I was so excited about this juicy roast turkey recipe every step of the way, and I think you’ll feel the same way when you try it. The first turkey I ever made was such a flop that I was discouraged for a few years to revisit it. When I set out to make this turkey recipe, I was determined to ensure you had success the first time and every time you made this recipe.
I spent days researching the best turkey recipes online and in cookbooks, with trusted advice from my Mom and you, my readers. This Turkey recipe has been gracing your holiday tables since 2014! I’ve also been perfecting it over the years, and I can confidently say this tender and delicious turkey will impress your dinner guests.
The turkey breast is so juicy and flavorful, and the skin is crisp and roasts to a beautiful golden brown. I invited all of my family over to help eat this turkey and received rave reviews from 10 adults and quite a few kiddos. I was so giddy and excited when I tasted the juicy bird. Keep the turkey drippings to make the best Turkey Gravy; it’s super delicious and will be the talk of your Thanksgiving dinner!
Roast Turkey Ingredients
- Turkey – this recipe is written for an 11-15 lb turkey. A larger turkey will work, but bake time will vary (see chart below). You’ll also need salt and pepper to season the turkey inside and out.
- Flavored Butter – unsalted butter, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper
- For the Turkey Stuffing – You can use my stuffing recipe, but I stuff the turkey cavity with onion, garlic, parsley, and a quartered lemon. I prefer to cook turkey stuffing separately from the turkey, so I stuff my turkey with aromatics instead (which makes the gravy taste awesome), but if you do stuff the turkey with traditional stuffing, make sure the stuffing reaches 165˚F in the center.
Don’t Forget to Thaw Your Turkey
Make sure you give yourself enough time to thaw and roast your turkey. A larger bird will take longer to thaw and roast, so plan according to the chart below.
Per the USDA guidelines, thaw your frozen turkey in the refrigerator 1 day for every 4 to 5 lbs of turkey. My 12 lb turkey took 3 days to thaw, while a 16 lb turkey would take 4 days. For a quick-thaw method, see my Spatchcock Turkey Recipe (you can defrost a 12 lb turkey in 6 hours).
How to Prepare Your Turkey for Roasting
- Defrost the Turkey – You should never cook a frozen or partially frozen turkey or it will cook unevenly. Follow the turkey thawing guide above, depending on the size of your turkey.
- Optional Brine Step – once the turkey is thawed, you can Brine your Turkey if you prefer (it requires 1 hour per pound), although it’s not necessary for this recipe. Also, check the turkey packaging since some turkeys are pre-brined, so you don’t need to brine again if that is the case.
- Remove turkey from fridge about 30 minutes before you start working with it. If the turkey is closer to room temperature, it will bake more evenly. *Remove the neck and bag of giblets from the turkey and set it on a roasting pan.
- Pat dry turkey with paper towels. Let turkey sit in over paper towels to soak up any excess water from the turkey.
- Fold the wings behind the turkey; if you don’t they are the quickest to scorch and dry out.
Seasoning, Stuffing, and Tying up a Turkey
- Season inside of turkey cavity generously with about 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.
- Make the Flavored butter – In a medium bowl (it’s even easier in the bowl of a food processor), combine 2 sticks of softened butter, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest, 4 Tbsp lemon juice, and 3 pressed garlic cloves, 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1/2 Tbsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper. Mash/stir with a fork or process until well combined (the lemon juice doesn’t easily stir into butter, but keep mixing and it will happen after a few minutes). This mixture was adapted from Gordon Ramsay’s Christmas Turkey video and it’s wonderful. Take a whiff of it; you’ll fall in love with how fresh it smells!
- Separate the skin from the turkey breast by pushing your fingers under the skin. Do this from the front and the back of the turkey, being careful not to tear the skin.
- Stuff 2/3 of the butter mixture under skin, then spread the butter around by massaging over the top of the skin. This butter keeps the turkey breast tender and juicy and provides rich flavor.
- Pat dry the skin and rub the remaining butter over the outside of the turkey (breast, legs, wings). Drizzle all over the top of the turkey with olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper; I just love a crisp, salty skin.
- Stuff the turkey cavity with a quartered onion, 4 halved garlic cloves, 1/2 bunch parsley and quartered lemon. Use kitchen string to tie the turkey base and legs together; crossing the legs to better close up the turkey cavity, plus it looks extra fancy on the table.
How to Roast a Turkey
- Prep: Pre-heat the oven to 430˚F on the bake mode. Place oven rack in the lower part of your oven (mine was on the second level from the very bottom) – this ensures that your large turkey roasts in the middle of the oven and keeps the turkey breast further from the top heating element.
- Here is a fantastic tip I picked up from Alton Brown to protect the turkey breast and keep it juicy: Fold a large square sheet of foil into a triangle. Rub one side of your triangle with olive oil and shape the foil (oil-side-down) over the turkey breast, then remove foil; it will shield your turkey breast and keep it from getting dry. You’ll apply this shield later in the roasting process.
- Insert Thermometer – Place an oven-safe meat thermometer into the bird; beneath the drumstick; deep into the dark meat. It’s ready for the oven. Start roasting uncovered at 430˚F for 20 min.
- Baste Turkey – Remove from oven; quickly baste with butter from the bottom of the dish. You can use a baster or tilt one side of the pan and collect drippings with a large spoon. Now apply prepared foil triangle to turkey breast area.
- Reduce oven to 350˚F and bake for another 2 hours 30 min for a 12 lb bird. (Once you have reduced the oven to 350˚F, you will bake about 13 min for every pound of turkey). The turkey thigh should register 170-180˚F on the temperature probe and the turkey breast at 165˚F to make sure it’s fully cooked through then remove from the oven (keep in mind the turkey temp continues to rise slightly after it’s out of the oven).
- Rest the Turkey – Transfer turkey to a serving platter and cover loosely but fully with foil. Let turkey rest for at least 1 hour. It will become more tender and easier to carve, the longer it sits. Keep drippings from roasting pan for a most delicious turkey gravy. Decorate around your turkey and make it festive. I used kale for my greens, then added small apples, sliced oranges and quartered lemons.
Make-Ahead
- To Refrigerate: You can fully prepare your turkey a day ahead – stuff, butter it up, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the refrigerator one hour before baking the next day.
- To Freeze leftover turkey: Shred the meat and transfer it to freezer-safe zip-top bags or use a food saver to squeeze out as much air as possible, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
- To Reheat Leftovers: My secret to the best-tasting reheated turkey is our Leftover Turkey in Gravy. We make this every year on the day after Thanksgiving.
So many of you have made this roast turkey over the years, and it gives me so much joy to hear your success stories and see this turkey in photos from your Thanksgiving feasts. Also, I love this sweet photo from 2014 when we filmed this video recipe. It’s hard to believe my son is a teenager now!
I’d love to hear what is on your Thanksgiving menu this year (scroll down to see my personal menu). And I’m so curious – do you make Turkey on Thanksgiving AND Christmas? My Mom sure does and I love it! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Juicy Roast Turkey
Ingredients
For the Turkey
- 12 lb turkey, (Anything from 11-15 lbs will work, but bake time will vary), thawed*
- Salt & Pepper, for the inside and outside of the bird
For the Flavored Butter
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened, (2 sticks)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, not extra virgin, plus more to drizzle top
- 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, from 1 large lemon, plus 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest
- 3 large garlic cloves, pressed
- 1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
- 1/2 Tbsp salt, I used sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
For the Stuffing
- 1 large onion, peeled and quartered
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
- 1/2 bunch parsley
- 1 lemon, quartered
Instructions
Prepping your Turkey
- Remove thawed turkey* from the fridge about 30 minutes before you start working with it. If the turkey is closer to room temperature, it will bake more evenly. Remove the neck and bag of giblets and pat dry turkey with paper towels. Let it sit in a roasting pan lined with paper towels to soak up any excess water then discard the paper towels. Fold the wings behind the turkey so they don't scorch in the oven.
Seasoning, Stuffing, and Tying up a Turkey
- Season inside of turkey cavity generously with about 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.
- Make Flavored Butter – In a medium bowl or in a food processor*, combine: 2 sticks softened butter, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest, 4 Tbsp lemon juice, 3 pressed garlic cloves, 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1/2 Tbsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper. Mash /stir with a fork until well combined (the lemon juice doesn't easily stir into butter but keep mixing and it will happen after a few minutes).
- Separate the skin from the turkey breast by pushing your fingers under the skin. Do this from the front and the back of the turkey; being careful not to tear the skin.
- Stuff 2/3 of the butter mixture under skin then spread the butter around by massaging over the top of the skin. This butter keeps the turkey breast tender, juicy and provides rich flavor.
- Pat skin dry and rub remaining butter over the outside of the turkey (breast, legs, wings). Drizzle all over the top of the turkey with olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper; I just love a crisp, salty skin.
- Stuff turkey cavity with quartered onion, 4 halved garlic cloves, 1/2 bunch parsley and quartered lemon. Use kitchen string to tie turkey base and legs together; crossing the legs to better close up the turkey cavity, plus it looks extra fancy on the table.
How to Roast a Turkey
- Prep – Pre-heat the oven to 430˚F on the bake mode. Place oven rack in the lower part of your oven (mine was on the second level from the very bottom).
- Make Foil Shield – to protect the turkey breast and keep it juicy: Fold a large square sheet of foil into a triangle. Rub one side of your triangle with olive oil and shape the foil (oil-side-down) over the turkey breast, then remove foil; it will shield your turkey breast and keep it from getting dry. You'll apply this shield later in the roasting process.
- Place an oven-safe meat thermometer into the bird; beneath the drum stick; deep into the dark meat. Start roasting uncovered at 430˚F for 20 min.
- Baste – Remove from oven; quickly baste with butter from the bottom of the dish. You can use a baster or tilt one side of the pan and collect drippings with a large spoon. Now apply prepared foil triangle to turkey breast area.
- Reduce oven to 350˚F and bake for another 2 hours 30 min for a 12 lb bird. (Once you have reduced the oven to 350˚F, you will bake about 13 min for every pound of turkey). The turkey thigh should register at 170˚F on the temperature probe and the breast at 160˚F to make sure it's fully cooked through then remove from the oven (keep in mind the turkey temp continues to rise slightly after it's out of the oven*).
- Rest Turkey – Transfer turkey to serving platter and cover loosely but fully with foil. Let turkey rest for at least 1 hour. It will become more tender and easier to carve, the longer it sits. Keep the drippings from roasting pan for turkey gravy. Now you can decorate around your turkey and make it festive. I used kale for my greens, then added small apples, sliced oranges and quartered lemons.
Notes
*A food processor makes it much easier to blend the lemon juice into t he flavored butter, saving time and effort.
*Final Temperature – As the turkey rests, it will continue to rise to a final temperature of 165˚F at the breast and 175-180˚F at the thigh.
*Nutrition label is a rough estimate – remember that most of the butter and oil will remain in the pan when the turkey is done roasting.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
To Cook a Larger Turkey:
Many of you have asked about using a larger turkey. One of my readers, Shannon, shares her experience with a 23-pound turkey (Thanks Shannon!):
“Used this recipe last night with a 23 lb turkey and it was superb!! I used 3 sticks of butter, 1 cup of parsley, kept the zest and juice of 2 lemons and quartered them for the stuffing. Kept 1 large onion peeled & largely sliced, used about 8 cloves of garlic peeled and sliced in half. Cooked at 430 for 20 min and then 350 for about 5 1/2 hours, basting occasionally. I used the tin foil hat and had to made a couple other tin foil accessories for the legs that started to scorch. Took the tin foil hat off when it had 10 min of cook time left to ensure a nice browned top. Had tons of drippings to make a delicious gravy with. Will use this recipe every year! So flavorful and yummy. Thank you”
Natasha’s Thanksgiving Menu
These are the classic Thanksgiving recipes that we can’t go without for our annual Thanksgiving feast. Only the best for the biggest cooking day of the year!
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Mashed Potatoes
- Turkey Gravy
- Cranberry Sauce
- Apple Pie
- Pumpkin Pie (or Pumpkin Cheesecake)
- Cheesecake
- Sweet Potato Salad
- Au Gratin Potatoes
- Stuffing
Awesome recipe! I made this tonight for some friends…my cousin made HAM for Thanksgiving, and while it was delicious, I wanted TURKEY. So I decided to make a turkey. I’ve cooked a lot but this was my first time roasting a whole turkey. Your recipe was delicious and everyone loved it. My first turkey was perfect thanks to you!
That’s so great Tina! I’m so happy you loved this recipe! Sounds like you made the right call!
Uses this recipe for thanksgiving and the turkey was absolutely phenomenal! Not a single bit of it was dry, and the drippings made a wonderful gravy. Will definitely be using this recipe from here on out. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your great review, Rachel!
This turkey was very tasty! We had a 22 lb turkey and it cooked in about a half hour less than the original calculation. We used leftover butter for rolls and sauteing the green beans. (leave it at room temp for easy spreading or warm it a bit to “lather” the bird) We did have trouble with the gravy though. The “drippings” were mostly oil from the butter, so the gravy was very oily. We added milk and flour and got a better texture, but next time it needs less butter drippings and more flour, and perhaps a bit of stock. Great recipe though, because we made it again over the weekend! 🙂 Again, our turkey was done in a shorter amount of time by about 30 minutes. (2 different ovens, one bird 22 lbs and one 10 lbs)
I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe, Matt!! Thank you for your feedback!
Pour the juices in a gravy separator and place it in the fridge while the turkey is resting. The oil will separate and you use the rest of the broth to make a delicious gravy.
I was so excited to try this recipe this year for thanksgiving. 100% the best turkey I have ever eaten. Thank you Natasha!! Most flavorful moist turkey 💛 insanely delicious!
I’m so inspired reading your review. Thank you!
This was delicious! Although it took considerably longer than expected. I had a nearly 16-pound turkey and had calculated 3 hours 15 minutes at 350 degrees. It was closer to 5 hours. Really moist and good. Thank you!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe, Cameron!
Natasha,
This was our first time making turkey! Your recipe stuck out to us the most! I do have a question: when do we remove the “shield?” I notice in your video your turkey already had the foil shield removed when you took it out. Please advise for next time!
Jen, keep that foil triangle on the remainder of the time in the oven.
I made this recipe yesterday for Thanksgiving 2018. It got rave reviews! My family said that they want me to make the turkey every year now; I have never tasted a turkey breast as moist and the flavor of the bird was incredible! Thank you for a wonderful recipe.
Wow! I’m so inspired reading your review. Thank you for sharing that with me! 🙂
Dear Natasha, your turkey was a complete success! The one thing I had truoble with was rubbing the butter mixture under the skin…. I could not find a way to put my hand under the skin…. I just rubbed all the surface of the turkey very well. I guess it did the trick. It was really good! I have saved the recipe for our next Thanksgiving, and the the next, and the next…. xx
Some turkeys are more stubborn than others. It can take some time and you have to be careful not to tear the skin. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed that recipe!
This recipe makes turkey is so juicy and moist, it almost tastes like tender chicken! Not dry at all! The consensus at Thanksgiving was this is the best turkey I’ve ever had! From absolutely everyone!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
This was my first time cooking a turkey and this recipe was so easy. My bird was seasoned and cooked to perfection. Moist, flavorful and balanced. The drippings made the most wonderful gravy Even though I forgot to use Natasha’s gravy recipe. My entire family raved about it all day long.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Hi Natasha. I tried your recipe and added some mustard outside and inside of the turkey. IT came out so good. Thanks for sharing simple and easier ways of cooking. we had a great thanksgiving dinner. I tried to make the grave but it was hard for me because there was no video of it. it still came out good and also tried your mash potatoes recipe. everything was yummy
I’m so happy you enjoyed all of that! Thank you for the great review!
This recipe for Thanksgiving turkey is amazing, Natasha!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that June!!
I was wondering if you baste during the cooking aside from the baste wgrn you change the temp?
Hi Karie, I don’t usually but it wouldn’t hurt if you wanted to just keep in mind, every time you open the oven, you lose heat so it will take a little longer in the oven.
Made this recipe for Thanksgiving using a 22 lb turkey for a group of 13. EVERYONE raved about the turkey. Lots of comments like, “this is the best turkey I’ve ever had”. It was absolutely fabulous. I’ve never been able to master cooking a turkey until now. Thank you!
I’m so inspired reading your review. Thank you!
I’am 80 yrs.old and have cooked a turkey on Thanksgiving and Xmas, my family has always said I make the best turkey, Well, I did until I tried this recipe yesterday. I used this recipe–boy what a great turkey this was-never before have I had such a moist, juicy and great tasting bird!! , I even tasted it this morning (day after ) and it is just as good. I cooked a 24 lb put it in a bag, then put it in the frig. overnight. Hope to cook many more like this. THANK YOU
Wow! You’re so welcome! & Thank you for sharing your great review! Sounds like you may have found a new favorite!
Do you have a great recipe for baking a ham. One that is awesome like your turkey recipe
Hi Barbara! Not yet but thank you for that suggestion! I’ll have to get my hands on a good recipe!
I made your turkey, the gravy and the mashed potatoes. All came out wonderful!! It was my first turkey and our directions were easy and covered everything. The potatoes were the creamiest I ever made and all gone!! Gravy also was delicious! Thank you so much I will definitely be making this next year! Best to You and your family this holiday season!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Two days before Thanksgiving, my in-law went to a friend’s party and posted a photo of a beautiful turkey with the heading “The best and juiciest turkey I have ever had!”
Since I had no prior experience of making one and today being the day I was going attempt to cook one for dinner at my in-laws, the pressure was on ~ lots of pressure.
Fortunately, for my sake and for the sake of all the guests tonight, I found your recipe!! It was so easy to follow and the turkey turned out beautiful and flavorful and the juiciness of the turkey became the talk of the night!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!! Your recipe saved the day and it is definitely a keeper!!
I love that! Thank you for sharing that with me!!
The turkey recipe is wonderful, really! The meat is juicy and tasty. Everyone was happy to eat that thanksgiving turkey.
Btw, I didn’t know initially that you’re from Ukraine. So, Спасибо большое, было очень вкусно! 😉
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Juicy Roast Turkey Recipe
This was only the 2nd time I’ve attempted to make turkey after a disastrous try over a decade ago. I have to say, I was blown away by how good it turned out! The flavor needed nothing, not even gravy. It was moist, tender, and very juicy—even and especially the breast meat. It was simply the best turkey I’ve ever tried! Far exceeding my expectations and I made it😌. My whole family was impressed as well. I am not exaggerating when I mention that the children were coming up to me and complimenting the turkey. Even some of the vegetarians in the crowd tried—and liked it! What a huge success. My Thanksgiving is complete. I now have a go-to full proof turkey recipe😎 The only thing I regret is there were absolutely no leftovers!!!
I’m so inspired reading your review. Thank you for sharing this with me Shari! Sounds like you found your new go-to Turkey recipe!
This was a bomb! Thank you Natasha for the recipe and tips! It was gone in a second! I used a 15lb turkey and cooked it about 3hrs and 30mins on 350 plus the 20mins on 430 and it was really juicy and tasty. I stuffed it the night before but put the butter mixture 2hrs before i cooked it. I added thyme and oregano in the butter mixture and lemon grass for the stuffing. Thank you so much! It’s my first time and will never be the last!
You’re so welcome! That truly sounds like the perfect turkey!! I’m so happy you enjoyed our recipe!
Best turkey I ever made I have messed up several this recipe is easy and delicious as of today I was loaded from now on to cook the turkey for my family !
I’m so inspired reading your review. Thank you!