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    Home » Main Course » Herb Roasted Turkey

    Published: Nov 17, 2014 · Modified: Oct 29, 2021 by Lisa Johnson

    Herb Roasted Turkey

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

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    This is seriously the Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe ever! I have perfected this recipe over the past 30 years to create a flavorful, juicy Garlic Herb Roasted Turkey that is perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. There is no brining needed in this easy, no-fuss turkey recipe! 

    Herb Roasted Turkey on a serving platter

    How to thaw a turkey

    If you are using a frozen turkey you need to place your frozen turkey in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days BEFORE Thanksgiving to defrost. General rule of thumb is 1 hour per 4 pounds. So my 16 pound turkey took 4 days to thaw.

    How to prep a turkey

    • remove the neck and giblets from the turkey.
    • decided wether or not to stuff your turkey.
    • tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
    • fold the ends of the wings under the turkey.

    To stuff or not to stuff, that is the question? The decision is yours. Personally, I prefer my turkey stuffed. Fear not, I have included directions for both.

    The backside of a stuffed Thanksgiving turkey
    Free guide opt-in with image of turkeys.

    How to make Herb Roasted Turkey:

    Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place sliced onions, carrots, and celery in the bottom of roasting pan.

    Herb Roasted Turkey veggies cookingwithcurls.com

    This will keep the turkey somewhat raised up above the pan juices. As you can see, I did not have a fancy roasting pan this year so I used a disposible pan.

    Place the turkey in the roasting pan and fill both cavities with Bacon Pecan Stuffing {if using}.

    Herb Roasted Turkey stuffed cookingwithcurls.com

    If not stuffing the turkey, then fill cavity with onion halves, lemon halves, a few garlic cloves, and a handful of fresh herbs.

    Herb Roasted Turkey herbs cookingwithcurls.com

    Mix butter, oil, and chopped herbs together in a small bowl.

    Herb Roasted Turkey herb butter cookingwithcurls.com

    Gently slide your hand between the turkey breast and skin to loosen.

    Herb Roasted Turkey skin cookingwithcurls.com

    Grab some of the herb butter and rub it under the skin being careful to not rip the skin with your finger nails ;).

    Herb Roasted Turkey skin cookingwithcurls.com

    Rub the remaining herb butter on the outside of turkey and massage into the skin.

    Herb Roasted Turkey butter cookingwithcurls.com

    Place in the oven and roast, basting every 30 minutes, until button pops up or meat thermometer reaches 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the thigh or breast. Assuming that your turkey was completely thawed when you started, it will take approximaely 15 minutes per pound.

    Herb Roasted Turkey | cookingwithcurls.com

    Allow turkey to rest 20 to 25 minutes before carving.

     Turkey carve cookingwithcurls.com

    Just look at all of that delicious flavor hiding under the skin!! The skin is perfectly cripsy, the meat is full of herb flavor, and this recipe is simple enough for a beginner. No messy brines, just some basic, fresh ingredients and a little basting.

    More Holiday recipes:

    Thanksgiving Meal | cookingwithcurls.com
    • Dinner Rolls   
    • Butter Herb Roasted Turkey  
    • Bacon Pecan Stuffing
    • Mashed Potatoes 
    • Turkey Gravy 
    • French Green Beans
    • Candied Sweet Potatoes 
    • Dairy-free Pumpkin Pie with Maple Leaf Crust
    • Candied Sweet Potato Stacks - not shown
    • Sweet Yam Casserole
    • Cranberry Sauce with Pineapple
    • Bourbon-Pear Pie
    • Mini Dutch Apple Pies - for 4
    • Sausage Apple and Cranberry Stuffing

    If you love this recipe, please rate it five stars and help me share on facebook and to help other readers in our community!

    Enjoy!!

    Herb Roasted Turkey on a serving platter

    Herb Roasted Turkey

    A flavorful, juicy Garlic Herb Roasted Turkey that is perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. There is no brining needed for this turkey recipe!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: easy herb roasted turkey recipe
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
    Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
    Servings: 16 Servings
    Calories: 531kcal
    Author: Lisa Johnson

    Equipment

    • Oven

    Ingredients

    • 16 pound fresh turkey 16 to 18, defrosted
    • 2 large onions thick sliced
    • 4 large carrots thick sliced
    • 4 stalks celery thick sliced

    For a Stuffed Turkey

    • 1 Recipe Bacon Pecan Stuffing

    Herb Butter

    • 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 large cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh sage*
    • 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh thyme*
    • 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh rosemary
    • sea salt and ground pepper to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
    • Place chopped onions, carrots, and celery in roasting pan.
    • Remove giblets and neck from defrosted turkey and set aside, or discard. Pat turkey dry with paper towels and place in roasting pan.

    Roasting a Stuffed Turkey

    • Fill both cavities with stuffing.

    Roasting an Unstuffed Turkey

    • Place 1 halved onion, 2 halved lemons, and a handful of fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary into the cavity of the turkey.
    • Mix butter with garlic, chopped thyme, sage, and rosemary in a small bowl.
    • Carefully run hand between turkey breast and skin to loosen. Rub butter mixture under skin, reaching as far down as possible.
    • Rub butter mixture on outside of turkey and massage into skin. Tie legs together with kitchen twine, and place tip of wings under the turkey.
    • Place turkey in oven, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices until button pops up, or meat thermometer reaches 165 degrees when placed in the thickest part of the thigh or breast, approximately 4 to 4.5 hours.
    • Remove from oven and allow to rest for 20 to 25 minutes before carving.
    • Remove pan juices from pan and set aside for the gravy.

    Notes

    *Substitute 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for fresh herbs.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 70g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 247mg | Sodium: 383mg | Potassium: 835mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3434IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 3mg
    « Breakfast Pizza with Hash Brown Crust
    Turkey Gravy »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says

      November 18, 2014 at 4:16 pm

      That was with a new camera?? The pics turned out wonderfully!! This turkey looks fantastic!

      Reply
    2. Julie @ Tastes of Lizzy T says

      November 24, 2014 at 8:49 am

      I can't get over how gorgeous this turkey is, Lisa! Great job on the pics. Shared!

      Reply
    3. Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says

      November 24, 2014 at 3:35 pm

      This is quite possibly the most gorgeous turkey I've ever seen, Lisa!!!

      Reply
    4. Mary Beth says

      November 11, 2016 at 10:49 am

      Everything looks absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    5. Nici says

      November 15, 2016 at 11:04 pm

      Oh, Lisa! This is one magnificent bird! The color is amazing and I'm sure the taste is out of this world! You are so gifted! Thanks so much for sharing this at my Creative Ways Link Party last week! You'll be one of the features at tomorrow night's party! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

      Reply

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