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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Easy Thanksgiving Turkey

    Published: Nov 19, 2021 · Modified: Oct 30, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This easy Thanksgiving turkey uses a simple herb butter mixture and a fail-proof cooking method that always makes crispy, browned skin. It's the easiest way to make an impressive and perfectly-cooked turkey of any size. This is a no-fuss recipe with no brining and no basting.

    easy thanksgiving turkey
    Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links to cooking items we love & use. If you purchase through one of these links we may earn a small commission.

    Ingredients

    The full recipe is at the bottom of this page, but here's a quick overview of what you'll need and how to make this Thanksgiving turkey:

    • ¾ cup unsalted butter
    • 3 teaspoons dried sage
    • 3 teaspoons dried thyme
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 (12 - 22 pound) turkey
    • 3 large yellow onions
    • 1 lemon

    Equipment

    • String or twine to tie the legs of the turkey 
    • Roasting pan (metal or aluminum)
    • Instant read thermometer
    easy thanksgiving turkey

    How to Cook Thanksgiving Turkey

    1. Prepare the oven

    Move an oven rack to the lowest position possible. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

    2. Make the herb butter

    In a small bowl, mix together butter, sage, thyme, salt and pepper.  

    3. Prepare the turkey

    Remove the turkey from its packaging and remove the neck & giblets from inside its cavity. Pat dry with paper towels. 

    4. Stuff the turkey

    Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Add the onion and lemon into the cavity of the turkey. If not all of the onion fits, add it into the pan around the turkey. Tie the legs of the turkey together with string or twine.

    5. Add the herb butter under the turkey skin

    Loosen the skin on top of the turkey by placing a hand under the skin at the neck of the turkey. Move your hand along the turkey breast until the skin is separated from the meat. Add half of the herb butter under the skin. 

    6. Add remaining herb butter

    Add the remaining half of the butter on top of the turkey, rubbing it on the whole turkey (including the wings & legs). 

    easy thanksgiving turkey

    7. Roast & add foil

    Roast the turkey in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Loosely tent foil over the turkey, covering it completely but not tightly. The turkey should be lightly browned before this step, let it roast longer before adding foil for a more browned turkey. 8

    8. Finish roasting

    For turkeys 15 - 18 pounds roast for 2 ¾ - 3 ½ more hours; for turkeys 18 - 20 pounds roast for 3 ½ - 4 more hours; for turkeys 21 - 22 pounds, roast for 4 ¼ - 4 ½ more hours. Take the temperature of your turkey in the thickest part of the breast meat (not touching bone) to know when it’s done. It should be cooked through to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

    easy thanksgiving turkey

    9. Rest & serve

    Remove turkey from the oven and allow to rest for 20 - 30 minutes before carving. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long should I cook a stuffed Thanksgiving turkey?

    For a stuffed turkey, cook it at 15 minutes per pound at 350°F.

    How many people will my turkey feed?

    A 15 - 18 pound turkey will feed about 12 - 15 people, a 18 - 20 pound turkey will feed about 15 - 18 people, and a 20 - 22 pound turkey will feed about 18 - 20 people.

    Should I cover my Thanksgiving turkey when I cook it?

    Yes, most recipes will recommend that you cover your turkey to prevent it from over-browning. Cook your turkey for 1 hour (until lightly browned) and then loosely tent it with foil for the remaining cooking time.

    How do I know when my Thanksgiving turkey is cooked?

    Your turkey is cooked when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast (white meat) reads 165°F and the thickest part of the thigh (dark meat) reads 180°F.

    easy thanksgiving turkey

    Need more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our top easy side dishes: Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts and Garlic Butter Mushrooms.

    Print
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    easy thanksgiving turkey

    Easy Thanksgiving Turkey


    • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
    • Yield: 15 people* 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This easy Thanksgiving turkey uses a simple herb butter mixture and a cooking method that always makes crispy, browned skin. It's the easiest way to make an impressive and perfectly-cooked turkey of any size. This is a no-fuss recipe with no brining and no basting.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • ¾ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
    • 3 teaspoons dried sage
    • 3 teaspoons dried thyme
    • ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 (15 - 22 pound) turkey
    • 3 large yellow onions (cut into quarters)
    • 1 lemon (cut into quarters )

    Equipment

    • String or twine (for tying the legs of the turkey)
    • Large roasting pan (aluminum or stainless steel)
    • Meat thermometer

    Instructions

    1. Prepare the oven: move an oven rack to the lowest position possible. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Make the herb butter: In a small bowl, mix together butter, sage, thyme, salt and pepper.
    3. Prepare the turkey: remove the turkey from its packaging and remove the neck & giblets from inside its cavity. Pat dry with paper towels.
    4. Stuff the turkey: place the turkey in a roasting pan. Add the onion and lemon into the cavity of the turkey. If not all of the onion fits, add it into the pan around the turkey. Tie the legs of the turkey together with string or twine.
    5. Add the herb butter under the turkey skin: loosen the skin on top of the turkey by placing a hand under the skin at the neck of the turkey. Move your hand along the turkey breast until the skin is separated from the meat. Add half of the herb butter under the skin, covering the turkey breast.
    6. Add remaining herb butter: Add the remaining half of the butter on top of the skin of the turkey, rubbing it on the whole turkey (including the wings & legs).
    7. Roast & add foil: Roast the turkey in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Then loosely tent foil over the turkey, covering it completely but not tightly. The turkey should be lightly browned before adding the foil, let it roast longer before adding foil for a more browned turkey.
    8. Finish roasting: for turkeys 15 - 18 pounds roast for 2 ¾ - 3 ½ more hours; for turkeys 18 - 20 pounds roast for 3 ½ - 4 more hours; for turkeys 21 - 22 pounds, roast for 4 ¼ - 4 ½ more hours. Take the temperature of your turkey in the thickest part of the breast meat (not touching bone) to know when it’s done. It should be cooked through to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    9. Rest & serve: remove turkey from the oven and allow to rest for 20 - 30 minutes before carving.

    Notes

    *Turkey serving size: 

    • 15 - 18 pounds: 12 - 15 people 
    • 18 - 20 pounds: 15 - 18 people
    • 20 - 22 pounds: 18 - 20 people
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 4 hours
    • Category: Main Course
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Calories: 205
    • Sugar: 1.4
    • Sodium: 258
    • Fat: 13.6
    • Saturated Fat: 7.1
    • Carbohydrates: 3.4
    • Fiber: 0.9
    • Protein: 17.1
    • Cholesterol: 67

    Keywords: herb butter, thanksgiving, turkey

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    Hi, I'm Megan! I'm a health coach & I love to create salad recipes that are simple and delicious.

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