If you love moist, juicy turkey meat and perfectly crunchy skin, you’ll love this no-fuss Easy Roast Turkey recipe.
A simple high-to-low temperature method and a flip of the turkey mid cooking ensure a perfect holiday turkey every time!
This tried-and-tested turkey is the hero of Thanksgiving recipes!
Juicy Turkey Recipe Without Brining
Historically we've been turkey briners. We discovered the method years ago and typically a version of brining is what we do for our Thanksgiving bird.
If you aren't familiar with brining, it is a method of combining salt, sugar and other herbs or liquids in which the turkey is immersed for an extended period of time before roasting.
The intention is to increase the moisture saturation of the turkey leaving extra moist meat.
My recipe for White Wine Ginger Thyme Brined Roast Turkey is an example of this (and a delicious one).
Brining is not the only way to have a juicy roast turkey!
This easy roast turkey recipe is perfect for any occasion. It’s especially good on Thanksgiving if…
- you have not mapped out the timing of thawing your turkey
- don’t have time for brining
- don't have space in your refrigerator for a 5 gallon food-grade bucket, making brining a 'no go'.
Easy Roast Turkey – The Secret to (easy) Success
The method I'm sharing today is a no brine recipe but does include a trick; flipping the turkey part way through.
One of my favorite roasted chicken recipes does something similar and by flipping the bird and changing the temperature it always is perfectly moist and juicy.
Today's recipe starts with the breast down on high heat.
This allows the juices to migrate into the breast, the meat that is notorious for drying out, before it's flipped to cook breast side up to ensure that crackling skin we all love!
The cavity is stuffed with celery, onions, apples and some herbs for aromatic flavor in the meat.
Otherwise it's very straight forward leaving a tasty turkey without a big fuss.
What Temperature to Cook a Turkey?
This recipes starts the turkey at 425 degrees for 45 minutes.
The high heat seals the turkey for a juicy bird in the end.
The remainder of the cooking time is done at 325 degrees. Low and slow for the win!
Turkey Roasting Time – How Long to Cook the Turkey
Relying on an instant read temperature to determine when the turkey is done will make it perfectly every time.
If cooking a smaller or larger turkey, the general rule of thumb if cooking a turkey on 325 degrees the entire time is to allow 15 minutes per pound of the turkey.
The initial 45 minutes at 425 degrees in this Easy Roast Turkey recipe accelerates this rate but this gives you a general guide to calculate the cooking duration.
Refer to the Instant Read Thermometer section below for more tips and guidelines.
How Long Does It Take to Thaw A Turkey?
I was listening to NPR and they said the most common question asked of the Butterball Turkey Help Line for turkey support on Thanksgiving is 'how long does it take to thaw a turkey?'.
I have that answer for you: plan 24 hours per 5 pounds of the turkey.
An Easy Turkey Thawing Method
An easier way is thawing it in water, changing the water about every 30 minutes (of course keeping it cold).
That's what I did with the 15-pound turkey I cooked today and it was thawed within 24 hours.
This Easy Roast Turkey recipe must start with a thawed turkey!
Easy Roast Turkey – Pro Tips
Tip for The Best Crunchy Skin
For this recipe, the turkey is rinsed with cold water and patted dry with paper towels the night before cooking, and it is placed on a baking sheet in the refrigerator uncovered.
This allows the skin to dry out a bit which helps create that crunchy cooked skin.
The turkey also needs to be removed from the refrigerator to warm up the morning of cooking.
I recommend allowing a few hours at room temperature before roasting.
Use the Right Roasting Pan
Using a roasting pan that is no deeper than 2 inches prevents the turkey from beginning to steam in any rendered juices.
We cover our V-roasting rack with heavy foil (dull side facing the turkey), punctured with holes so the juices can drain into the pan.
Use an Instant Read Thermometer
Lastly using an instant read thermometer ensures perfect cooking time for your turkey.
Since all turkeys weigh different amounts the best way to test the doneness of the turkey is when the thigh (don't touch the bone with the thermometer) meat reads 165 degrees.
Based on the size of the turkey checking for doneness can begin around 2 hours of cooking.
The 15 pound turkey I cooked for this post took 2 hours and 33 minutes.
Cooking time can vary slightly due to differences in oven temperature accuracy, differing turkey weights, and the temperature of the turkey when it's placed in the oven.
If using an instant read thermometer, you can always cook a turkey to be perfectly juicy with beautiful golden, crisp skin every time!
EQUIPMENT – WHERE TO BUY
There are a few items that are key for this recipe and you’ll find you will use them in many recipes.
Butcher twine to truss the turkey legs.
There are many varieties of all 0f these available online and in stores.
What to Serve with this Roast Turkey recipe
- Au Gratin Potatoes with Green Chilies
- Chipotle Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Garlic
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
- Spicy Chorizo Sage Cornbread Dressing
- Fresh Green Beans with Bacon and Sliced Almonds
- Spicy Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
- Ginger Pear Pie
- Sour Cream Raisin Pie
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Roast Duck with Chinese Five Spice
- Lemon Herb Roasted Cornish Game Hens
- Cherry Chipotle Glazed Ham
- Orange-Bourbon Glazed Bone-In Spiral Cut Ham
- Easy Salmon Recipes
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Recipe
Easy Roast Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 15- pound Turkey* , thawed; rinsed and patted dry with paper towels (giblets and neck removed; can reserve for gravy)
- 1 small Apple , rinsed, cored cut into wedges
- 2 small Celery Stalks (with leaves), rinsed and cut into 2-inch segments
- 1 small Onion , peeled and cut into wedges
- 3 medium Garlic Cloves , peeled
- 6-8 fresh Thyme sprigs , rinsed
- 3 stems fresh Italian Parsley , rinsed
- 3 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- The night before roasting: put the turkey on a baking sheet uncovered in the refrigerator to sit overnight.
- The day of roasting the turkey: Remove turkey from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for two hours. (When ready to roast the turkey) Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cover V-rack (roasting rack) with foil (dull side outward), poke holes and spray with cooking spray; place in a roasting pan no deeper than 2-inches. Combine the salt and pepper into a small bowl.
- Coat the cavity of the turkey with some of the oil (easiest down with your hand), and some of the salt and pepper, rubbing all around the cavity. Fill the cavity with the onion, apples, celery, garlic and herbs. Brush the remaining oil all over the outside of the turkey and rub in the remaining salt and pepper to coat. Truss the turkey legs (ignore if the legs were done before purchasing) and place breast DOWN in the prepared rack in the roasting pan.
- Cook the turkey for 45 minutes (note: cook 45 minutes with the breast down even if cooking a different size turkey).
- Remove the roasting pan from the oven and turn the oven temperature DOWN to 325 degrees. Using several paper towels (and avoiding touching the hot roasting pan) turn the turkey over so the breast is now UP. Note: avoid using utensils which can puncture the skin. Cook for 1 hour.
- After an hour wrap foil around the wing tips to avoid them burning and return to oven.
- At 2 hours cooking time, check temperature in the thick part of the thigh with an instant read thermometer (without touching the bone). Return to oven and cook until the temperature of the thigh reaches 165 degrees. Note: the temperature can rise quickly as the turkey is almost done. Once the turkey temperature registers in the 140 degree range check again in 15-20 minutes to avoid over cooking. Once the thigh registers 165 degrees, remove from oven and lightly tent with foil; allow to rest for 30 minutes before carving.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published: November 6, 2016
Milena says
I’ve always brined my turkey because that’s how my sister made it. I’d love to try something easier! This looks great!
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
You had me at White Wine. One bottle for me, one for the bird! LOL 🙂
Toni Dash says
That’s actually my other turkey recipe mentioned in this post that is brined in white wine! It’s definitely good too!
Anitra | The Mom on the Move says
So I guess this is why my skin is never crispy when I cook a turkey! I’m just plop it in the oven and keep it moving. ???? now I know better.
Toni Dash says
I’ve done more hours of research on this topic than I will admit Anitra. There is a delicate balance between crisp skin and dried out meat. I think leaving this exposed in the refrigerator the night before, flipping it (if you leave it breast down the entire time the juices all run there and it never crisps up), searing it on high heat (seals it) then cooking on low heat (keeps it moist) are all the magic that makes it happen. I wonder if the pilgrims thought this much about cooking turkey at the first Thanksgiving….
Anitra | The Mom on the Move says
I am sure they did not. LOL Now, I have done the cook it breast down and flip it, but setting it aside and changing the temperature is not something I’ve tried. My husband has been on a turkey frying kick lately anyway, so we don’t get to roast many anymore. Which is sad because I love stuffing in the turkey. But that’s a different post. 😉
Toni Dash says
LOL! I will say one Thanksgiving we were living in Northern Virinia and my brother lived in Virginia Beach for a short time. He got the turkey frying set up and deep fried the Thanksgiving turkey. It was fantastic! I thought it would be soggy and oily but far from it. I can see why your husband is hooked!
Emily says
This turkey looks delicious! I am looking forward to Thanksgiving in the next few weeks. I love eating cold turkey the next day. It has become a weird family tradition.
Toni Dash says
Well probably not ‘weird’ since I think every family really looks forward to that second meal cold the next day! We love it too.
Pam Wattenbarger says
It’s just not Thanksgiving without a turkey, is it? This sounds like the perfect way to prepare the turkey!
Toni Dash says
It’s not! No matter how much we might think we can change it up, it’s not quite the same I think.
Susan says
My mother always used a method similar to yours, and her turkey always had nice, crispy skin. I’m pretty sure she didn’t leave it uncovered in the fridge overnight, though. And she always put the stuffing (dressing) in the bird. I will never forget the day my mother was trying to flip the turkey and it ended up on the kitchen floor…
Toni Dash says
Oh no! That sounds like one of those holiday movies Susan, when the dog is waiting right there to grab the bird and head out the dog door! The leaving it in the refrigerator overnight uncovered is something my husband does (and he’s well practiced and researched on the turkey front). You really don’t notice anything different with the turkey when it’s cooked (e.g. it doesn’t dry out the meat) but the skin really is heaven!
Melissa @ The Staten Island family says
I will have to share this post with my turkey-eating friends! You truly give step by step instructions that will help anyone create a Thanksgiving feast that is gourmet!
cheryl larimer says
I can sometimes take on too much for holiday dinners trying to get everything perfect and something for everyone. This Thanksgiving I will try this one so I can enjoy more of the holiday with family instead of cooking and fretting about the food.
Toni Dash says
Isn’t that the truth? When I’ve done the entire meal I feel saturated with the smells and never hungry when it’s time to eat! This recipe really is simple. The only thing you have to pay attention to (besides flipping the turkey) is watching the internal temperature for doneness.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I can’t wait to make this for Thanksgiving! The past few years, I’ve started to get creative with my roast turkey, and this sounds absolutely delicious.
Rachee says
With Thanksgiving coming (in the US) I have to try this recipe! This sounds and looks delicious!
Toni Dash says
I hope you will! I wanted to share something not over complicated that is also predictable with juicy meat and crisp skin. Easily adaptable to any size turkey.