Delicious Turkey Recipe

Introduction

A perfectly cooked turkey is the star of any celebratory table, from holiday feasts to Sunday dinners. This delicious turkey recipe delivers juicy, tender meat with a crispy, golden skin—an irresistible combination that’s guaranteed to satisfy your guests. The secret? An herb-infused butter rub and simple, efficient preparation that lets the natural flavors of the turkey shine.

Why This Delicious Turkey Recipe Stands Out

This recipe is all about maximizing flavor while minimizing stress. The aromatic blend of fresh herbs and lemon creates a balanced, savory profile, while carefully timed roasting produces succulent meat every time. It’s a no-fuss, crowd-pleasing approach that transforms even a novice home cook into a holiday hero.

Creating an Herb Butter for Extra Juiciness

An herbed butter, applied both under and over the skin, makes each bite moist and rich. The combination of softened butter, garlic, Thyme, Rosemary, and a hint of citrus infuses the turkey without overpowering it. Working the butter under the skin is easy and pays off with every slice.

Perfect Roasting for Consistent Results

Roasting the turkey on a rack ensures even airflow for consistent cooking. By starting at a higher temperature and reducing it midway, you crisp the skin first while allowing the inside to cook gently, locking in those flavorful juices.

Serving Suggestions for a Stunning Turkey Presentation

Serve your delicious turkey carved on a platter surrounded by all the classic fixings: roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, and a shower of fresh herbs. For added flair, include wedges of roasted lemon or sprigs of rosemary for a truly impressive centerpiece.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 10 to 12 servings, making it ideal for family gatherings or festive occasions. Each serving (about 6 ounces cooked turkey with skin) contains approximately 290 calories, 14g fat, and 38g protein—nutritious and filling!

Delicious Turkey Recipe (Recap)

With its simple herb rub and foolproof roasting technique, this turkey recipe delivers big flavor with minimal fuss. Expect juicy slices, crispy skin, and happy diners around your table.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and seamless meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Place an oven rack in the lower third position.
2. Remove giblets and neck from the turkey; pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
3. In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt, pepper, and lemon zest until well mixed.
4. Carefully loosen the skin from the turkey breasts, gently sliding your fingers underneath. Rub half of the herb butter under the skin, and the remaining over the entire turkey.
5. Stuff the turkey cavity with the halved lemon and quartered onion.
6. Arrange the carrots and celery in the bottom of a roasting pan. Place a roasting rack over the vegetables and set the turkey on the rack. Pour broth into the pan.
7. Roast the turkey for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Continue roasting, basting every 30 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°F (about 2½ to 3 hours total).
8. Let the turkey rest, tented with foil, for 20–30 minutes before carving to keep in all those savory juices.

Weekly Meal Planning

This turkey recipe is a game-changer for weekly meal prep! Save and schedule this recipe to plan your roasts and generate smart shopping lists that consolidate everything you need across planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities for all your scheduled meals
• Sorts shopping lists by grocery store sections for streamlined shopping
• Helps prevent ingredient duplication and food waste
• Makes weekly meal prep smoother and more organized

Pro tip: When planning your week, schedule recipes together—CookifyAI will tell you, for example, if your turkey and sides both need fresh herbs, and will add the right total amount of each, so you don’t overbuy or forget anything.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes (including resting time)