How to Make the Juiciest Roast Turkey Recipe - no lengthy marinating required, and the turkey brine is optional. You'll love the crisp, salty skin and the foil tip produces the juiciest turkey breast. An easy and failproof method for Thanksgiving turkey.
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Servings: 12people
Calories: 556
Cook Time: 2 hourshrs50 minutesmins
Total Time: 2 hourshrs50 minutesmins
Ingredients
For the Turkey
12lbturkey, (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
1cupunsalted butter, softened, (2 sticks)
2Tbspolive oil, not extra virgin, plus more to drizzle top
4Tbspfresh lemon juice, from 1 large lemon, plus 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest
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. 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 thermometerinto 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
*To Thaw Turkey - If using a frozen turkey, defrost it in its plastic bag in the refrigerator 1 day for every 4-5 lbs (thaw a 12lb turkey for 3 days before roasting). *A food processor makes it much easier to blend the lemon juice into t he flavored butter, saving time and effort. *FinalTemperature - 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 Facts
Juicy Roast Turkey Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
556
% Daily Value*
Fat
13
g
20
%
Saturated Fat
4
g
25
%
Trans Fat
0.2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
4
g
Cholesterol
312
mg
104
%
Sodium
828
mg
36
%
Potassium
1113
mg
32
%
Carbohydrates
3
g
1
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
1
g
1
%
Protein
103
g
206
%
Vitamin A
343
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
10
mg
12
%
Calcium
61
mg
6
%
Iron
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.