Easy Thanksgiving Turkey

The only recipe you will ever need! It’s the world’s simplest, no-fail, no-fuss turkey! Perfectly golden brown, juicy and tender!

I have never been the go-to person to make the Thanksgiving turkey.

Nope, I’d do all the sides though – from the ham to the best creamed corn to the sausage stuffing. All of it. But I always steered clear of the turkey…until now.

I know, it’s super daunting if you have never made a turkey before. If it’s the giblets and stuff that freak you out, there are a few grocery stores that remove them for you like Whole Foods. So there, problem solved.

If you’re just worried and nervous you might mess it up, don’t worry.  Just be sure to use up all the butter, and baste as noted. The pan drippings are EVERYTHING. From there, the turkey comes out perfectly golden brown.

This recipe is 100% fool-proof. PROMISE!

If not, you guys can all come over to my house and spend Thanksgiving with me and Butters.

TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE

• Shallow roasting pan

WHAT IF I BOUGHT A FROZEN TURKEY? HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO THAW?

To defrost a turkey in the refrigerator, it is best to allow 24 hours for every 5 pounds.

CAN THIS BE DONE WITH A TURKEY BREAST ONLY?

For a small-scale turkey, you can try this roasted turkey breast recipe instead!

DO I NEED A ROASTING RACK?

Not at all! You can place the turkey directly on the vegetables (carrots, celery, onion). No roasting rack needed here.

DO YOU HAVE A GRAVY RECIPE?

Yes! This is simply the most perfect gravy using the pan drippings!

I AM VERY NERVOUS TO DO A TURKEY FOR THE FIRST TIME. DO YOU HAVE A STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO FOR THIS?

Here is a foolproof step-by-step video guide for a stress-free Thanksgiving turkey!

Easy Thanksgiving Turkey

Yield: 12 servings

Prep: 30 minutes minutes

Cook: 3 hours hours

Total: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

The only recipe you will ever need! It's the world's simplest, no-fail, no-fuss turkey! Perfectly golden brown, juicy and tender!

4.9 stars (27 ratings)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review

Ingredients

• 1 (12-14 pound) fresh whole turkey
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, peeled
• 3 celery ribs
• 1 sweet onion, cut into wedges
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 1 ½ cups turkey or chicken stock

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove giblets from the turkey cavity. Dry turkey thoroughly with paper towels. Season turkey cavity with salt and pepper, to taste.
• In a small bowl, combine butter, shallot, lemon juice, sage, thyme, lemon zest and garlic; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, or more, to taste.
• Using your fingers, carefully loosen the skin from the breast meat, spreading half of the butter mixture under the skin. Secure skin over the butter with wooden picks.
• Place carrots, celery and onion in a shallow roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, on top of the vegetables; tie drumsticks together with kitchen twine, tucking the wingtips under.
• Spread remaining half of the butter mixture over the turkey; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add wine and chicken stock to the roasting pan.
• Place into oven and roast for 30 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Continue roasting until the turkey is completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the thigh, about 2 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes more; baste every 30 minutes with pan drippings. When turkey begins to brown, cover lightly with aluminum foil.
• Let stand 20 minutes before carving; reserve pan dripping for gravy.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @damn_delicious on Instagram and hashtag it #damndelicious!

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Share by Email