How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey

This guide on How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey will show you everything you need to know on how to make a delicious turkey. Learn the best method on roasting a turkey that will result in a flavorful, tender and juicy turkey everyone will love. Plus, follow my tips on how to decorate your turkey platter for a vibrant and elegant presentation.

How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey

Ok guys so I really can’t believe we are a few weeks away from Thanksgiving. I mean where did this year go? Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner it is time to start preparing for our Thanksgiving menus. I wanted to share this guide on How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey. This recipe and guide is bulletproof and will give you the most tender and juicy turkey ever!

Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays we celebrate and the star of the night is the turkey. Making your own Thanksgiving turkey may sound a bit intimidating at first. Especially if you have never cooked a whole bird. I promise there’s nothing to be sacred of. It does require a lot of work and a lot of time. However, it is not an impossible task.

My guide and recipe to make the Perfectly Roasted Turkey never fails. You get delicious and flavorful turkey that is tender and juicy. Just how you want your turkey to turnout. Plus, read my tips on how to decorate your turkey platter for an elegant and beautiful display. Your family and guests are sure to be wowed with presentation and flavor!

Pre-seasoning your Turkey Overnight:

My first step on How to  Perfectly Roast a Turkey is to pre-season it the previous night so that it can marinade. This way all the flavors set in making a flavorful,  juicy, and tender turkey. To season my turkey I use all fresh herbs and spices. I also like to use onions, garlic, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is great for minimizing that potent turkey smell.

Do I need to make a turkey brine?

You do not need to make a turkey brine. This recipe consists of using fresh herbs, seasonings and oils to make a delicious rub for your turkey. They will give your turkey a delicious and rich flavor. While also making it tender and juicy. No need for any other form of seasoning or marinade.

What you need to prepare a Perfectly Roasted Turkey:

*(Note I usually make a 12-15 lb turkey).

Ingredients:

For outside rub:

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme 
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary 
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp fresh sage
• 1 tsp salt 

Fresh herbs to stuff:

• 1 white onion rough chopped
• 5-6 garlic cloves rough chopped
• handful fresh parsley
• 2 sage sprigs
• 1-2 rosemary sprigs
• 2-3 thyme sprigs
• 1 lemon halved

Equipment:

• Roaster
• Kitchen Twine
• Turkey Baster
• Silicone Oven Mittens
• Aluminum Foil
• Serving Platter

How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey:

Preparing Turkey:

1. Remove wrapping from turkey, reach inside the turkey and remove packet filled with giblets. You can discard this packet or use if desired. Pluck out any extra feathers that may still be sticking out of your bird. Dab turkey dry and place in an extra large mixing bowl or platter. Drizzle turkey with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar making sure you get the turkey well coated with both. Including the inside. Set turkey aside. 
2. Next, prep you ingredients for the outside rub; mince garlic, chop and measure out fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage. In a small bowl combine softened butter, herbs, olive oil, and spices. Mix them together making sure the butter is well combined with the rest of ingredients. 
3. Rub mixture all over the turkey. Make sure you really get in there including under wings, legs, and back of turkey. Use your fingers to gently separate the skin from the breast. Get some of the rub in there too. Be careful not to tear the skin. 
4. Stuff the inside of turkey with ingredients for stuffing; yellow onion, garlic, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and lemon. Use cooking twine to tightly tie the turkey’s legs together. Holding all of the stuffing in. 
5. Place turkey on a roasting pan and cover with aluminum foil. Refrigerate overnight.

Roasting Turkey:

1. The next morning, take turkey out of the fridge and allow it to sit for 30 minutes on kitchen counter. This will give the turkey a chance to get to room temperature, which will allow turkey to roast evenly in the set time, resulting in tender and juicy turkey. (see note below).
2. Preheat oven at 325 degrees F. (read note below)
3. Place turkey in preheated oven and roast for the first 45 minutes.
4. Remove turkey from the oven and baste. Flip turkey upside down and baste that side too. (see notes below). Place turkey back in the oven and roast for 1 hour. 
5. Remove turkey from oven and baste. Flip turkey again and baste again. Place turkey back in the oven for 1 hour again. 
6. Remove turkey from the oven and baste again (lots of basting). By now there should be a lot of drippings in the roaster so make sure you get a lot of juice all over that turkey. Flip again and baste with a lot of those drippings. Place back in the oven for 45 minutes this time. 
7. Remove the turkey from the oven and baste. Flip and baste again. At this point, your turkey should be right side up. Cover with aluminum foil. Roasting the turkey covered in aluminum foil will give it that nice gold shade. Place turkey back in the oven for the last time and roast for another 30 minutes. 
8. Remove turkey from oven and remove foil. You can give turkey a few minutes to cool down a bit before handling it if you wish. Place turkey on a serving platter and decorate with fresh greens, fruits, herbs, etc. Serve turkey and enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!

Tips to perfectly roast a turkey:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar and lemon juice are great on turkey- The acid in them helps make the turkey meat tender and also minimizes that potent turkey after taste and smell.
2. Take turkey out of the fridge and allow it to sit for 30 minutes on kitchen counter- This will give the turkey a chance to get to room temperature. Once you place room temperature turkey in the oven it will start to cook immediately. Which will allow turkey to roast evenly in the set time, resulting in tender and juicy turkey. If you put the turkey in the oven directly from the fridge, it will spend the first 30 minutes or so warming up rather than cooking. This will result in it needing additional cooking time in the end and risking your turkey getting dry.
3. Follow roasting instructions on turkey package as to how long to roast turkey for- It depends on how big your turkey is. Times also may vary depending on Turkey brand and whether it is organic or not. This is what I have noticed from personal experience. Once you have your bird in the oven and know how long you need to cook it for follow the next steps to achieve a juicy and tender turkey.
4. Flipping the turkey upside down every hour makes the juices drip down from the bottom to the top and vice versa- This maximizes the flavor of the turkey, makes it juicy and a lot more tender. 
5. BE CAREFUL WHEN FLIPPING THE BIRD- The turkey will be very hot when you take the turkey out of the oven. If you don’t have thick silicone oven mittens, you can also use a bunch of paper towels rolled up to your hands. 

Tips on how to decorate a Turkey Platter for Thanksgiving:

Decorating your turkey platter when serving your turkey is just as important as seasoning it and carefully cooking it. Presentation is a huge part of preparing a successful Thanksgiving turkey. We eat with our eyes and a beautifully decorated platter will immediately draw all of your guest’s attention to your deliciously and perfectly roasted turkey.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. When you pick out a platter for your turkey make sure that it is big enough for the size of your bird– and to fit some other decorations around it. Personally, I prefer to use white platters, plates, and serving plates and bowls. It makes the colors and foods stick out more. However, you can use any color you would like.
2. Use any leafy greens to form a bed to place your turkey on– I personally like to use curly kale. It makes the turkey really pop.
3. Use a variety of fruits to decorate around your roasted turkey- Use bright and vibrant fruits like pomegranate, oranges, lemons, cranberries, apples and pears. These make your platter look beautiful and inviting. Slice some of the fruit and place it around the turkey. Leave others whole and place around those too. 
4. Use fresh herbs to finish off– Place some fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary and sage around your turkey. This will also add more detail to your platter and make it pop out even more.

Did you like this How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey recipe? Check out these side dishes to complete your Thanksgiving feast:

• Homemade Cranberry Sauce
• Honey-Ginger Roasted Carrots
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Homemade Gluten-Free Gravy
• Maple Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Gluten-Free Homemade Cornbread
• Garlic Butter Sautéed Mushrooms
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
• Pear-Pomegranate Salad with Pecans and Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Easy Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Don’t forget some appetizers for your Thanksgiving Dinner:

• Making the Perfect Crudités Platters 
• How to Make a Charcuterie Board
• Vegan Cranberry Almond Cheese Ball 

What to make with leftover roasted turkey:

• Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Soup

5 from 2 votes

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How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey

This guide on How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey will show you everything you need to know on how to make a delicious turkey. Learn the best method on roasting a turkey that will result in a flavorful, tender and juicy turkey everyone will love. Plus, follow my tips on how to decorate your turkey platter for a vibrant and elegant presentation. 

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Roasted Turkey, Thanksgiving Turkey

Prep Time 25 minutes

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 172 kcal

Author Angelica Arias

Ingredients

• 1 12-15 lbs Turkey
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (see note below)

For Outside Rub:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
• 1 tbsp fresh sage
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp pink salt

For Stuffing:

• 1 yellow onion (roughly chopped)
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 2 sage sprigs
• 2 rosemary sprigs
• 3 thyme sprigs
• 1 lemon halved

Instructions

Preparing Turkey:

1. Remove wrapping from turkey, reach inside the turkey and remove packet filled with giblets. You can discard this packet or use if desired. Pluck out any extra feathers that may still be sticking out of your bird. Dab turkey dry and place in an extra large mixing bowl or platter. Drizzle turkey with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar making sure you get the turkey well coated with both. Including the inside. Set turkey aside.

2. Next, prep you ingredients for the outside rub; mince garlic, chop and measure out fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage. In a small bowl combine softened butter, herbs, olive oil, and spices. Mix them together making sure the butter is well combined with the rest of ingredients.

3. Rub mixture all over the turkey. Make sure you really get in there including under wings, legs, and back of turkey. Use your fingers to gently separate the skin from the breast. Get some of the rub in there too. Be careful not to tear the skin.

4. Stuff the inside of turkey with ingredients for stuffing; yellow onion, garlic, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and lemon. Use cooking twine to tightly tie the turkey’s legs together. Holding all of the stuffing in. 

5. Place turkey on a roasting pan and cover with aluminum foil. Refrigerate overnight.

Roasting Turkey:

1. The next morning, take turkey out of the fridge and allow it to sit for 30 minutes on kitchen counter. This will give the turkey a chance to get to room temperature, which will allow turkey to roast evenly in the set time, resulting in tender and juicy turkey. (see note below).

2. Preheat oven at 325 degrees F. (read note below)

3. Place turkey in preheated oven and roast for the first 45 minutes.

4. Remove turkey from the oven and baste. Flip turkey upside down and baste that side too. (see notes below). Place turkey back in the oven and roast for 1 hour.

5. Remove turkey from oven and baste. Flip turkey again and baste again. Place turkey back in the oven for 1 hour again.

6. Remove turkey from the oven and baste again (lots of basting). By now there should be a lot of drippings in the roaster so make sure you get a lot of juice all over that turkey. Flip again and baste with a lot of those drippings. Place back in the oven for 45 minutes this time.

7. Remove the turkey from the oven and baste. Flip and baste again. At this point, your turkey should be right side up. Cover with aluminum foil. Roasting the turkey covered in aluminum foil will give it that nice gold shade. Place turkey back in the oven for the last time and roast for another 30 minutes.

8. Remove turkey from oven and remove foil. You can give turkey a few minutes to cool down a bit before handling it if you wish. Place turkey on a serving platter and decorate with fresh greens, fruits, herbs, etc. Serve turkey and enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!

Recipe Notes

Tips for roasting a turkey:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar and lemon juice are great on turkey- The acid in them helps make the turkey meat tender and also minimizes that potent turkey after taste and smell.
2. Take turkey out of the fridge and allow it to sit for 30 minutes on kitchen counter- This will give the turkey a chance to get to room temperature. Once you place room temperature turkey in the oven it will start to cook immediately. Which will allow turkey to roast evenly in the set time, resulting in tender and juicy turkey. If you put the turkey in the oven directly from the fridge, it will spend the first 30 minutes or so warming up rather than cooking. This will result in it needing additional cooking time in the end and risking your turkey getting dry.
3. Follow roasting instructions on turkey package as to how long to roast turkey for- It depends on how big your turkey is. Times also may vary depending on Turkey brand and whether it is organic or not. This is what I have noticed from personal experience. Once you have your bird in the oven and know how long you need to cook it for follow the next steps to achieve a juicy and tender turkey.
4. Flipping the turkey upside down every hour makes the juices drip down from the bottom to the top and vice versa- This maximizes the flavor of the turkey, makes it juicy and a lot more tender. 
5. BE CAREFUL WHEN FLIPPING THE BIRD- The turkey will be very hot when you take the turkey out of the oven. If you don’t have thick silicone oven mittens, you can also use a bunch of paper towels rolled up to your hands. 

 

Nutrition Facts

How to Perfectly Roast a Turkey

Amount per Serving

Calories

172

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

17

g

26

%

Saturated Fat

 

8

g

50

%

Trans Fat

 

0.5

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

7

g

Cholesterol

 

31

mg

10

%

Sodium

 

587

mg

26

%

Potassium

 

117

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

6

g

2

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

1

g

1

%

Protein

 

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

 

873

IU

17

%

Vitamin C

 

22

mg

27

%

Calcium

 

36

mg

4

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used. 

**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family. 

*Post updated as pf 4/4/2020

**Photos updated as of 11/27/2020