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Easy Traditional Turkey Recipe

This foolproof traditional Thanksgiving Turkey recipe is always a crowd pleaser. Its an easy recipe that comes out moist and loaded with flavor every time! The garlic herb butter really makes this recipe stand out. My family looks forward to the holidays every year because of this meal. Now you can share it with your family too!
Turkey recipe
5 from 54 votes
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Prep 30 minutes
Cook 3 hours 30 minutes
Total 4 hours
Calories 367
Servings 12 servings
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients

  • 1 15-20 lb turkey
  • 6 yellow onions 3 peeled and quartered, 3 halved
  • 2 lemons quartered
  • 1 oz fresh rosemary
  • 1 oz fresh sage
  • 1 oz fresh thyme
  • 5-6 carrots peeled, chopped
  • 10-12 baby red potatoes halved
  • 1/2 tbsp olive oil
Herb Butter
  • 1 1/2 cups butter unsalted
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 black pepper
  • 10-12 garlic cloves crushed
  • 2 1/2 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary, sage, thyme

Method

  1. Remove your thawed turkey from the fridge and allow to sit for 1 hour and reach room temperature. Preheat your oven to 325F.
    Ingredients for roasted baked turkey
  2. In a large roasting pan, place a layer of carrots, baby red potatoes, and onions on the bottom. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with the olive oil. In the meantime, make your herb butter by combining butter, garlic, salt, pepper, and freshly chopped herbs.
    Easy turkey recipe
  3. Once you’ve made the herb butter, remove the turkey from the packaging and take out the neck and giblets. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Place the turkey on a wire rack in the roasting dish and then season the entire turkey including the thighs and cavity with salt and pepper.
    How to make baked turkey
  4. Place the lemon, onion and herbs inside the cavity of the turkey. Using your fingers, loosen the skin on the breasts of the turkey until you are able to place several tablespoons of the herb butter underneath. Baste the entire turkey with the remaining herb butter mixture, then roast at 325F at about 15 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
    How do I keep my turkey moist
  5. Allow the turkey to rest for at least 20 minutes before carving

Nutrition

Calories367kcalCarbohydrates49gProtein11gFat17gSaturated Fat2gCholesterol1mgSodium345mgPotassium1062mgFiber6gSugar6gVitamin A4469IUVitamin C36mgCalcium112mgIron4mg

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