This is a no-tears, no-fuss Easy Garlic and Herb Oven Roasted Turkey recipe that’s perfect for beginners and pro-turkey makers alike. I’ll walk you through each and every step of the process, so you can make a fabulous, flavorful turkey on your very first try! If you’re looking for an easy and stress free turkey recipe to make this Thanksgiving, this oven roasted turkey is for you!
Table of Contents
The Hunt for an Easy Roasted Turkey Recipe
About five years ago, I made my very first turkey… ever. Before that, I had never even watched someone cook a turkey. I was clueless.
So, I started hunting the Internet for easy oven roasted turkey recipes, and it took me about 5 minutes to become totally overwhelmed and confused. People have STRONG opinions about turkey, and the frustrating thing is they’re all different.
Depending on what you read, your technique (brining, basting, or tenting your turkey with foil) is either THE BEST THING to ever happen to poultry, or will completely RUIN your turkey and your life.
Many agree that deep frying is the best way to cook a turkey, but you should NEVER do it because it’s too dangerous and could explode and burn your house down. What?! Even the cooking temperature is a hotly debated topic! Pun intended.
A Stress Free Garlic and Herb Turkey Anyone Can Make
Paralyzed by all of these different opinions, I decided it was time to rise above the noise and just cook. Sometimes you have to shut out the Internet and try something yourself.
So that’s what I did. I made a turkey as simply as I could, using common ingredients. It had a golden crispy skin and tender, flavorful meat. There was no brining, no basting, and (most importantly) no panic attacks.
I’m no turkey aficionado, and I’m not a professional chef. I’m a normal person just like you, who makes a turkey dinner once a year for Thanksgiving. And that’s exactly why I wanted to share this recipe here. If I can make an oven roasted turkey that turns out this good, then you can too!
I want everyone to know that turkey doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need 20+ attempts to get it right, and it does not require 3 days of preparation. You can make your very first turkey today, and it can taste great!
Key Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Turkey– This recipe is written for a 12-15 lb turkey, but you can use any size turkey. Just be sure to increase the baking time to accommodate larger turkeys. You can use fresh or frozen, organic or conventional turkeys.
- Butter– Unsalted butter infuses the skin of the turkey with flavor and helps with browning.
- Herbs– I use fresh herbs, usually a combination of basil, rosemary, and parsley. Sage and thyme are also great herbs for turkey. If you use dried herbs, reduce the amount by half.
- Lemons– Lemon zest adds a hint of bright flavor to the turkey rub.
- Onions, celery, and garlic– We stuff the bird with large hunks of these three ingredients to infuse the turkey and drippings with additional flavor, from the inside out.
- Salt and pepper– Coarse Kosher or sea salt will yield the best flavor! We put enough on the bird to make it look like a light snow has fallen all over it.
Prepping for Your Easy Oven Roasted Turkey
Buy (and Defrost) Your Turkey
Many Internet voices yelled at me told me I needed to buy a fresh, organic, local turkey. Normally I would be all for that. But here’s the thing. Some people can’t afford to buy a turkey like that, or they don’t even have access to one. And I believe everyone should be able to enjoy amazing turkey on Thanksgiving, whether it was butchered 2 days ago at a local farm or it was frozen and on sale at the local Save-A-Lot.
So I started with a frozen turkey I bought on sale. The Internet is in agreement on one count: thawing your turkey beforehand really pays off. So give yourself at least three days (four for a 20 pounder!) to let the turkey thaw out in your refrigerator and your life will be much more enjoyable.
Prepare the Turkey Rub and Ingredients
I recommend prepping all your ingredients before handling the turkey. This helps avoid getting nasty meat hands all over your spice jars, cabinets/drawers, and refrigerator door handle.
- Mix the butter and oil with lemon zest and fresh herbs.
- Then, put your salt and pepper in bowls.
- Finally, quarter an onion and some celery sticks, and cut a head of unpeeled garlic in half.
Prep The Bird for Roasting
- Wash your hands, remove any jewelry, roll up your sleeves, and mentally prepare yourself to get all up in that bird’s business.
- Take your (now defrosted) bird out of the bag and remove the giblets from in the cavity.
- Place the bird on your roasting rack and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Then scoop the butter mixture into your hands, and rub it all over (and inside) the bird. You’ll also want to gently pry back the skin and spread some butter under the skin. So we’re getting ver the skin, under the skin, in all the nook and crannies, AND in the cavity.
- Sprinkle the salt and pepper all over and inside the turkey as well.
- Finally, stuff the cavity with the onions, garlic cloves, celery, and lemon, and tie up the turkey drumsticks.
How To Oven Roast a Turkey
Alright, your bird is ready to roast! Now, remove all but one of the racks in your oven and place the main rack at the bottom or second to bottom level. You want to make sure you have plenty of room for the turkey to slide in! Then, preheat the oven.
Roast the turkey, uncovered at 425 degrees for 30 minutes, then remove it from the oven, and lower the heat to 350 degrees. Tent the turkey with foil then return it to the oven for the remainder of the roasting time, removing the foil again for the last 15 minutes or so.
Let your Turkey Rest
Once you take out your gorgeous, crispy, golden bird, tent it with foil and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before carving. I know you want to dive right in, but that 30 minutes allows the juices to soak back into the meat, keeping your turkey nice and juicy.
Follow this post on how to carve a turkey, or just grab a sharp chef’s knife and go for it.
FAQS
What oven temperature is best for roasting a turkey?
I have had the best results starting my oven roasted turkey at a higher temperature of 425 degrees for 30 minutes, then lowering it to 350 degrees for the remaining roast time.
Should I cook turkey covered or uncovered?
The answer is both! Leaving the turkey uncovered for part of the roasting time is important for getting a nice golden brown color and crispy exterior. I prefer to leave the bird uncovered at the beginning, tent with foil for the majority of the roasting time, then remove the foil again for the last 15-20 minutes.
How long does it take to roast a turkey?
A turkey can take anywhere from 3-5 hours to cook, depending on the size of your turkey.
- A 12-16 pound turkey cooks in 3-3 1/2 hours.
- A 17-22 lb. turkey will take about 3 1/2-4 hours.
- Turkeys in the 22+ lb. range can take anywhere from 4-5 hours.
- Stuffed turkeys will take longer than unstuffed turkeys to cook through.
That said, I ALWAYS recommend depending on your meat thermometer (I use this one), not the time. Turkeys should be cooked to 165 degrees in the thickest part of the meat, usually tested at the drumstick.
Recipe Tips from Courtney
- If you have trouble tucking the wings under (I always seem to), you can make a little foil cap just for the tips to keep them from getting too brown.
- If you prefer, you can cook the turkey in an oven bag rather than covering it with foil. You’ll still want to remove it for the last twenty minutes so the skin browns.
- You can throw away the little plastic popper doodad that comes with the turkey. It’s not a good gauge for doneness. Instead, use a meat thermometer to make sure your turkey is fully cooked.
- My biggest tip is to THAW YOUR TURKEY well in advance. The worst turkey is a frozen one.
What to Serve with Thanksgiving Turkey
First off, don’t even think about tossing all those juicy, herby, buttery drippings. They make the best gravy ever! I used this easy Homemade Gravy Recipe from my friend Lori.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes (without a ricer!) are the quintessential side dish for turkey. I also have a Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes version that is excellent!
For something a little different, try these Cheesy Potatoes or these fancy Herbed Potatoes Anna. Of course, it never hurts to add in a Gluten Free Sweet Potato Casserole as well!
Our other favorite Thanksgiving sides are Creamy Mac and Cheese, Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms, Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips, Cranberry Pear Sauce, Homemade Crock Pot Applesauce, and Overnight Butterhorns.
For dessert, try these amazing Pecan Pie Bars (they’re even better than pie!) and my Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll! Or get even more inspiration from my 15 Drool-Worthy Thanksgiving Desserts.
More FAQS + Storage and Make Ahead Tips
Can I prep and season the turkey in advance?
Yes! I actually recommend buttering and stuffing the turkey the day or evening before you plan to cook it. Cover it with saran wrap in the fridge, then allow it to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour before cooking.
How long does leftover turkey last in the fridge?
Once you and your guests have eaten as much garlic and herb oven roasted turkey as humanly possible, package up the leftovers and store them in the fridge. It’s important to get leftover turkey in the fridge within about 2 hours to prevent bacteria growth.
Cooked turkey will last 3-4 days in the fridge, which gives you plenty of time to make Waffled Cranberry Turkey Sandwiches, Turkey Avocado Sandwiches, or Creamy Turkey Soup.
Can leftover turkey be frozen?
Absolutely! Place it in a freezer safe container or ziplock bag and stash it for a busy weeknight. Turkey will keep in the freezer for up to three months.
Easy Garlic and Herb Oven Roasted Turkey Recipe Reviews
It has been several years now that I’ve been making this exact oven roast turkey, and it holds up as one of the best turkey recipes I’ve ever made. It’s also been made from hundreds of other readers! You can check out all turkey recipe reviews on Pinterest here or read the comment section below to hear about other people successfully making their very first (or 20th) turkey!
Here are a few of my favorites:
“This was by far the best turkey I have ever had!!! I cooked it in an oven bag rather than tenting it with foil. But oh man my whole family couldn’t believe how tender it turned out to be! This will be my go to recipe every year.”
“SOO good! My brother told me it was the best turkey he’d ever had, right in front of our mom 👀 it was also the first turkey I’d ever made! Super easy to make.”
“This is the BEST and juiciest turkey recipe I’ve ever tasted (and I even used a frozen bird this year!) I added the zest of an orange and stuffed the orange inside the bird as well, but no other changes. This was an easy to follow recipe, and the herbs add delicious flavor you don’t want to miss out on! My kids and husband couldn’t stop talking about the turkey all day!!”
If you try this turkey this year, please take a minute to let me know how it went by rating it or leaving a comment below!
That’s it folks! You’ve totally got this. I believe in you! Now, go forth and roast!
Note: I did find this BuzzFeed article on 17 Thanksgiving Turkey Mistakes Everyone Makes helpful. It’s worth a read. But do yourself a favor and ignore everything else. I promise you’ll do just fine!
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Easy Garlic and Herb Oven Roasted Turkey Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 12 – 15 lb. turkey
- 1 stick unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons assorted fresh chopped herbs (I used basil, rosemary, and parsley)
- Zest of 1 lemon (plus the lemon itself)
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 1 stalk celery (chopped in long strips)
- 1 head garlic
- 1/4 cup Kosher salt (about)
- 2 Tablespoons black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Take the turkey out of the fridge and let it rest for 30-60 minutes at room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Prep your ingredients. In a medium sized bowl, stir together softened butter, olive oil, herbs, and lemon zest. Place the salt and pepper in a bowl and lay out all the other ingredients so they’re ready to go.
- You’ll probably want to remove any rings and roll up your sleeves at this point because you’re about to get up close and personal with this turkey. Ready?
- Remove any gravy packets and the giblets from the turkey cavity. Place the turkey on a roasting pan and pat dry with paper towels. Make sure to dry the top, inside the cavity, and the underside of the turkey.
- Grab a hunk of the butter mixture and rub it all over the turkey, over the wings and breast, underneath, and in the cavity. Then take your fingers and gently work them under the skin (I told you we were going to get up close and personal, right?), and rub some butter under the skin of the breast as well.
- Sprinkle the salt and pepper evenly all over the bird and inside the cavity. You may not need the full 1/4 cup, but the bird should look like a light snow has fallen all over it.
- Halve the garlic crosswise so the centers are exposed then stuff it in the cavity along with the onion, celery, and halved lemon. Tie the legs together with twine, tuck the wings under, and place the bird in the oven.
- Bake the turkey at 450 for 30 minutes then turn the heat down to 350, tent with foil, and continue to cook for 2 hours. Take the bird out after 2 hours and insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. If you're way off, set the timer for another 45 minutes and check again. If it's at 150 or higher, you know you're getting close–check every 10-15 minutes from there. Remove the foil for the last 30 minutes of baking, unless it's getting too browned.
- Once the thigh registers 165 degrees, remove the turkey from the oven, and allow to stand for 30 minutes before carving.
Notes
- For larger turkeys: This recipe can be used to make larger turkeys, just make sure to increase the roasting time as well. A 20+ pound turkey will take 4-4 1/2 hours total to roast.
- Swap the herbs: Sage and thyme are also great choices for turkey. If you’re using dried herbs, reduce the amount by half.
- Make ahead: You can butter and season the turkey up to 24 hours in advance. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge until you’re ready to cook, then allow it to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting.
- Leftovers: Keep turkey leftovers in the fridge in a covered container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- See the post above for all the tips on thawing, prep, roasting, and resting.
Equipment
Nutrition
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