Succulent Oven-Roasted Herb Turkey

Ingredients

- 1 whole turkey (12 lbs)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 2 lemons, halved
- 1 head garlic, halved
- 3 onions, quartered
- 4 carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
- 4 celery stalks, cut into large pieces

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).

2. Prepare the Turkey: Rinse the turkey inside and out under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Remove any giblets and set aside for another use or discard.

3. Season the Turkey: In a small bowl, combine the butter, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, paprika, rosemary, and sage. Mix until well combined. Rub the seasoned butter mixture evenly over the entire turkey, making sure to cover both under and over the skin for maximum flavor.

4. Stuff the Cavity: Stuff the turkey cavity with lemon halves, halved garlic head, a few quarters of onion, and any extra herbs you may have on hand for enhanced flavor and moisture.

5. Prepare the Roasting Pan: Place the quartered onions, carrots, and celery pieces in the bottom of a large roasting pan to create a bed for the turkey. This will also enhance the flavor of the drippings for gravy.

6. Roast the Turkey: Place the turkey breast-side up on the bed of vegetables. Tent the turkey loosely with aluminum foil. Roast in the preheated oven.

7. Basting: Baste the turkey every 45 minutes with the pan juices to keep it moist. Remove the foil during the last 45 minutes of roasting to allow the skin to brown and crisp up.

8. Check for Doneness: Turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (not touching bone) reads 165°F (74°C). An approximate roasting time is 3 to 4 hours.

9. Rest the Turkey: Once the turkey is cooked, transfer it to a serving platter. Allow it to rest, tented with foil, for at least 30 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute.

10. Prepare to Serve: Carve the turkey and serve with the roasted vegetables from the pan.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- PT30M
30 minutes (Preparation Time)

- PT3H30M
3 hours 30 minutes (Cooking Time)

Total Time

- PT4H
4 hours

Type of Dish

- Dinner

Recipe Yield

- Serves 8 adults

Calories

- Total: 5,800 calories

Keywords

- Oven-roasted turkey
- Herb turkey
- Thanksgiving turkey
- Dinner recipe
- Holiday meal
- Roasted vegetables
- Turkey dinner
- Crispy skin turkey
- Juicy turkey
- Easy turkey recipe

#turkey #roasted #Thanksgiving #dinner #herbturkey