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This Thanksgiving Turkey recipe uses an herb butter under the skin to keep the meat moist and flavorful, resulting in a perfectly golden, juicy bird. With simple steps and key tips like basting and resting, this recipe ensures tender, delicious slices for your holiday table.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword how to cook a 15 pound turkey, How To Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey, Thanksgiving Turkey, turkey
Remove your turkey from any packaging then remove the giblets and neck from the turkey cavities.
Drain any liquid from the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the turkey breast-side up on the rack of your roasting pan.
Making the Butter Herb Mixture
In a small bowl, combine the butter, olive oil, garlic, parsley, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Preparing the Turkey for Baking
Use your fingers to gently loosen and lift the skin around the turkey breasts. Then, using your fingers, distribute about ¾ of your herb butter mixture underneath the turkey skin making sure to coat the breasts.
Use the remaining herb butter to coat the top of the whole turkey including the legs and wings.
Insert the onion, lemon, carrot, and rosemary into the turkey cavity. Pour ½ cup of the chicken broth into the turkey cavity and pour the remaining two cups into the roasting pan.
Tie the legs together with butcher’s twine and tuck the wings under the turkey.
Bake and Rest
Bake the turkey, in the center of the oven, for about 15 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the breast reaches 165º Fahrenheit.
Let the turkey rest for at least 45 minutes and remove the butcher’s twine before carving.
Gravy (optional)
Use the pan drippings to make gravy and serve over the turkey.
Notes
Cooking Times vary based on oven between 3.45 hours and 4 hours.Always read the instructions on the packaging before preparing your turkey. Make sure you remove any plastic inserts, the neck, and giblets.