Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with loved ones and enjoy delicious food, with the traditional centerpiece being a roast turkey. This classic recipe provides a step-by-step guide to creating a perfectly roasted turkey that is sure to impress your guests. The recipe calls for a 12-15 pound whole turkey, herb butter made from butter, thyme, rosemary, sage, salt, and pepper, along with onion and garlic to be stuffed into the bird before roasting. It recommends basting the turkey every hour and resting it for 15-20 minutes before carving. Share this dish with family and friends for a memorable holiday feast.

Thanksgiving Roast Turkey: A Classic Recipe for a Memorable Holiday Feast

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends to give thanks for all of life’s blessings. And what better way to celebrate than with a delicious feast? For many families, the centerpiece of that feast is a beautifully roasted turkey. With this classic recipe, you can create a perfectly roasted turkey that will impress your guests and leave them feeling thankful indeed.

Ingredients:

• 1 (12-15 pound) whole turkey, thawed if frozen
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
• 1 tablespoon dried sage
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 onion, quartered
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Preheat Your Oven

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Prepare Your Turkey

Remove your turkey from the packaging, and remove the neck and giblets from the inside. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place the turkey on a roasting rack set inside a roasting pan.

3. Make Your Herb Butter

In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, thyme, rosemary, sage, salt, and pepper. Using your hands, rub the herb butter all over the turkey, including under the skin and in the cavity. This will help keep the turkey moist and flavorful as it roasts.

4. Stuff Your Turkey

Stuff the turkey with the onion quarters and smashed garlic cloves. This will add even more flavor to your finished turkey.

5. Roast Your Turkey

Place the turkey in the preheated oven and roast for 15-20 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the turkey (the thigh) reaches 165 degrees F. This will typically take around 3-4 hours for a 12-15 pound turkey. And remember to baste the turkey every hour or so with the juices from the bottom of the pan to keep it moist.

6. Let the Turkey Rest

Once your turkey is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest on the carving board for at least 15-20 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making for a juicier and more flavorful turkey.

7. Carve Your Turkey

Now it’s time to carve your turkey! Using a sharp carving knife, cut the turkey into slices and arrange them on a platter. Then, serve and enjoy!

Conclusion

With this classic recipe and step-by-step guide, you can create a Thanksgiving roast turkey that will be the highlight of your holiday feast. So gather your friends and family, give thanks for all of life’s blessings, and enjoy a delicious meal together.