Recipes / Thanksgiving Roast Turkey

Make Thanksgiving Roast Turkey

Recipe Name: Thanksgiving Roast Turkey

Ingredients:
- 1 whole turkey (12-14 pounds)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 onion, quartered
- 1 lemon, halved
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- Fresh herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, and sage)

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. Remove the turkey from the packaging and pat it dry with paper towels.
3. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with olive oil, salt, and pepper to create a seasoned butter mixture.
4. Gently loosen the skin of the turkey from the breast and rub half of the seasoned butter mixture under the skin.
5. Rub the remaining seasoned butter mixture all over the outside of the turkey.
6. Stuff the cavity of the turkey with quartered onion, halved lemon, smashed garlic cloves, and fresh herbs.
7. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.
8. Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a roasting pan.
9. Roast the turkey in the preheated oven, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°F (74°C). This will take about 3 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the turkey.
10. Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 20-30 minutes before carving.
11. Carve the turkey and serve with your favorite sides and gravy.

Enjoy your delicious Thanksgiving roast turkey!