Get step-by-step directions and tips for How to Roast a Thanksgiving Turkey for the most flavorful and juicy roast turkey you've ever tasted! Be sure to grab my Simple Turkey Brine Recipe too! Pin this juicy turkey recipe, then go check out our awesome Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes or Honey Glazed Baby Carrots.
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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it's all about food, family and giving thanks... perhaps in that order, perhaps not!
My parents have become masters of the best Thanksgiving juicy turkey recipe - in fact, many years they serve two smaller birds instead of one giant one. (Since they have two ovens, they can accomplish this feat with relative ease).
The variations that they come up with for the flavors is amazing. Hands down, the last few years their turkeys have been the most moist and flavorful that I've ever tasted.
The secret? A brine. Don't be put off by what seems like a lot of steps - trust me, it's so worth it!
The brine helps the turkey to retain moisture and infuses great big flavor into the meat. You'll be so glad you did, and your guests will be singing your praises when they taste this juicy roast turkey!
(And if you need to keep the kids busy while you cook, check out our Thanksgiving Bingo.)
We used our delicious and simple turkey brine recipe prior to roasting. For best results, and to build this amazing flavor profile, we recommend you start with the brine too.
🧂 Ingredients
- turkey
- canola oil
- apple, pear and orange
- onion
- fresh thyme, or other fresh herbs
- black pepper
- sea salt
This is meant to be a brief overview of our best Thanksgiving turkey recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below or Jump to Recipe.
🔪Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 500-degrees while you prepare the turkey to roast. Remove the top racks if needed before the oven is hot.
- Move the turkey to a roasting pan.
- In a large measuring cup, combine the water, apple, pear onion, and orange. Microwave for 5 minutes on high to steep the aromatics.
- Taking care not to burn yourself, add the mixture to the cavity along with the fresh thyme. Be sure to alternate so you’ll have variation in flavor.
- Now tuck the wings under the bird and rub the canola oil all over the skin. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Slide the turkey into the oven on the lowest rack.
- Cook for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350-degrees. Cooking time will depend on the size of your turkey, ours 14+ pound turkey took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. (SEE TIPS FOR MORE INFO ON COOKING TIME).
- Remove the turkey from the oven and let the turkey rest, covered with tinfoil, for 15 minutes before carving.
Equipment
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- Roasting Pan
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Tinfoil
- Santoku Knife
- Cutting Board
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⭐ Tips
For the very best juicy Thanksgiving turkey, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Cooking time will depend on the size of your turkey, ours 14+ pound turkey took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Find your cooking time here.
- Dark meat lovers typically enjoy that meat cooked to 170 degrees where as white meat should be cooked to 165 degrees.
- Remember that your turkey will continue cooking a bit when you remove it from the oven.
- Check the temperature using a meat thermometer - be sure to stick it in the thickest part of the meat, and not next to a bone.
- If your turkey is browning too much on top, slide a piece of tinfoil over the top.
Serving Suggestions
Oven Roasted Acorn Squash makes a delicious side dish and it looks gorgeous, too! I love doing these Make Ahead Mashed Sweet Potatoes a day or two before. Cornbread Sausage Stuffing is always a big hit with the whole family.
📖 Variations
We recommend that you try our juicy roast turkey recipe for the first time just as it is written for the best results, because that is how the recipe has been tested.
However, the next time you make it, you might consider one of these different ways of making this great recipe.
- For golden brown crispy skin, rub butter over the top of the skin and beneath the skin. I love using a compound butter like our Cowboy Butter or Cowboy Butter for adding tons of flavor.
More Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas
🦃 More Thanksgiving Ideas
Round out your Thanksgiving dinner with our best side dishes:
- Cast Iron Skillet Cranberry Stuffing
- Thanksgiving BINGO Printable
- Cinnamon Butternut Squash
- Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
How to Use Turkey Leftovers
Transform those leftovers by making our tasty Turkey Pot Pies for a comfort food classic that the whole family will love! You can even make these up and freeze them for later in the holiday season when you need a yummy dinner and are short on time!
Here are a few other Thanksgiving leftover recipes that you are going to love:
📋 Juicy Roast Turkey
Not ready to make your perfect Thanksgiving turkey yet? Don’t forget to pin the recipe for later! When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
How to Roast a Turkey
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Equipment
- Roasting Pan
- Tinfoil
Ingredients
- 14 lb turkey
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 cup of water
- 1 large apple quartered
- 1 large pear quartered
- 1 large onion quartered
- 1 large orange quartered
- large bunch of fresh thyme
- sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 500-degrees while you prepare the turkey to roast. Remove the top racks if needed before the oven is hot. Move the turkey to a roasting pan.
- In a large measuring cup, combine the water, apple, pear onion, and orange. Microwave for 5 minutes on high to steep the aromatics. Taking care not to burn yourself, add the mixture to the cavity along with the fresh thyme. Be sure to alternate so you’ll have variation in flavor. Now tuck the wings under the bird and rub the canola oil all over the skin. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Slide the turkey into the oven on the lowest rack. Cook for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350-degrees. Cooking time will depend on the size of your turkey, ours 14+ pound turkey took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Check for your cooking time http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/turkeyroastingchart.html. Dark meat lovers typically enjoy that meat cooked to 170 degrees where as white meat should be cooked to 165 degrees. Remember that your turkey will continue cooking a bit when you remove it from the oven. You can check the temperature using a meat thermometer - be sure to stick it in the thickest part of the meat, and not next to a bone. If your turkey is browning too much on top, slide a piece of tinfoil over the top.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and let the turkey rest, covered with tinfoil, for 15 minutes before carving.
Notes
For best results, be sure to check our Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help your delicious recipe come out perfectly.
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Kyla — HouseOfHipsters.com says
I must live under a rock. I've never heard of brining a turkey! I might have to try this! Also wanted to let you know about a new linky party starting this Saturday at 8pm called “Found & Foraged” Can’t wait to party with you at http://www.houseofhipsters.com
Ang Paris says
WHAT?!? That's crazy 🙂 It's our favorite way to cook a turkey - I hope you try and enjoy! 🙂
Kathleen says
This sounds really great. I think I will give it a try. I'm not a huge turkey fan. Maybe this will change my mind.