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Photograph of golden brown roasted turkey served on a white platter with fresh herbs.
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5 from 5 votes

Easy Roast Turkey Recipe

This Easy Roast Turkey recipe makes a juicy, delicious, and beautiful roast turkey! With a step-by-step plan for a no-stress, perfect turkey!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 30 minutes
Resting Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Author: Robyn Stone

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 (12-pound) turkey
  • 8 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325º F. Mix softened butter, salt and pepper together until well combined. Set aside.

Prepare the turkey for roasting

  • Remove neck and any other items from the inside cavity of the fully thawed turkey. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels and arrange the turkey on rack in roasting pan, breast side up. Carefully separate the skin at the breast of the turkey away from the meat, taking care not to tear the skin.
  • Spoon one tablespoon of the butter mixture under the skin at each breast. Carefully massage the butter to completely cover the breast of the turkey and make sure that the skin covers the breast completely. Spread the remaining butter mixture onto the outside of the turkey.
  • Tie the legs of the turkey to help the turkey roast more evenly.

Roast Turkey

  • Bake the turkey until juices run clear when pricked between the leg and breast of the turkey and the internal temperature reaches 165º F when checked at the thickest part of the breast, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
  • Remove from the oven. Cover turkey with foil and allow to rest for 20 - 30 minutes.
  • Slice and serve.

Notes

How Long to Cook a Turkey:
(UNSTUFFED at 325º F)
  • 4 - 6 pound turkey breast for 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 hours
  • 6 - 8 pound turkey breast for 2 1/4 - 3 1/4 hours
  • 8 - 12 pounds for 2 1/2 - 3 hours
  • 12 - 14 pounds for 3 - 3 3/4 hours
  • 14 - 18 pounds for 3 3/4 - 4 1/4 hours
  • 18 - 20 pounds for 4 1/4 - 4 1/2 hours
  • 20 - 24 pounds for 4 1/2 - 5 hours
Recipe Tip:
I like to include an additional hour as I plan to provide for the resting time of the turkey and any additional roasting time that may be needed.
Storage Tips:
To store. Place the turkey leftovers in airtight containers or plastic storage bags and refrigerate for up to 3 or 4 days. If the breast meat isn't already sliced, leave the breast as whole as possible to refrigerate to retain the juices in the larger cut of meat.
To freeze. If you will not eat or cook with the leftover turkey within 3 or 4 days, it's best to freeze it. Cut the meat away from the turkey carcass, leaving sections of meat as whole as possible, and seal in airtight containers or airtight bags and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 782kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 105g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 378mg | Sodium: 1513mg | Potassium: 1082mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 620IU | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 4mg

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