Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey
The ULTIMATE Thanksgiving Turkey recipe that delivers all the rich flavor and tenderness you crave, without the stress! This roasted turkey recipe is not only foolproof and simple to prepare, but it will be the star of your Thanksgiving feast!
Ingredients
- 1 whole turkey (I used a 15-pound turkey, brined if preferred)
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 whole orange
- 2 fresh rosemary sprigs leaves stripped and minced
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- If you've brined your turkey, rinse it thoroughly under cold water. Fill the sink with fresh cold water and let the turkey soak for 15 to 20 minutes to remove excess salt. Pat dry the turkey with paper towels and place it on a roasting rack, breast side up. Cross the legs and secure them with kitchen twine. Cover the entire pan with heavy aluminum foil, tucking it underneath. Initially, roast for about 13-15 minutes per pound.
- Combine orange zest, butter, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- After the initial stage of cooking, take the turkey out of the oven and remove the foil. Note: The turkey will still be pale. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the turkey’s skin, making sure to coat all the crevices. Insert a meat thermometer into the thigh, raise the oven temperature to 350°F, and return the turkey back to the oven, basting every 30 minutes.
- Keep roasting the turkey until the thermometer reads 165°F to 168°F, then remove it from the oven. Loosely cover with a clean aluminum foil until ready to carve!
Notes
Tip: Don’t forget to save the delicious pan juices to make gravy!
Here is the recipe to brine turkey: Turkey Brine Recipe
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey
Amount per Serving
Calories
282
% Daily Value*
Fat
15
g
23
%
Saturated Fat
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
0.3
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
4
g
Cholesterol
131
mg
44
%
Sodium
465
mg
20
%
Potassium
378
mg
11
%
Carbohydrates
1
g
0
%
Fiber
0.2
g
1
%
Sugar
1
g
1
%
Protein
35
g
70
%
Vitamin A
290
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
23
mg
2
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
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