Best 6 Always Tender Roasted Turkey Recipes

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**Indulge in a Thanksgiving Feast with Perfectly Roasted Turkey and an Array of Delectable Sides**

Gather your loved ones and embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving with a culinary masterpiece that will leave everyone in awe. This comprehensive guide presents a collection of recipes designed to create an unforgettable feast, anchored by a succulent and tender roasted turkey. Discover the secrets to achieving a golden-brown, crispy skin and moist, flavorful meat that will tantalize taste buds. Alongside the star of the show, find a symphony of delectable side dishes to complement your turkey. From classic stuffing and mashed potatoes to green bean casserole and cranberry sauce, each recipe is crafted to harmonize perfectly with the main course. Whether you're a seasoned host or a culinary novice, this guide ensures a Thanksgiving dinner that will be cherished for years to come.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

HOW TO COOK THE JUICIEST, MOST TENDER OVEN ROAST TURKEY



How to Cook the Juiciest, Most Tender Oven Roast Turkey image

I recently learned How to Cook the Juiciest, Most Tender Oven Roast Turkey EVER - and it has changed the way I am going to cook my turkeys from now on.

Provided by Karlynn Johnston

Categories     Main Course

Time 5h15m

Number Of Ingredients 9

one 15-25 pounds turkey
1 tablespoon sea salt flakes or coarse salt
1 tablespoon parsley
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1 litre carton turkey broth
1 turkey sized oven safe roasting bag
1 small white onion, peeled and quartered
1-2 stalks celery ,washed and cut into sticks
1 apple, de-seeded and quartered

Steps:

  • NOTE : This method cooks your turkey a LOT FASTER than usual! The USDA doesn't recommend cooking under 325 ° F However, this method steams the turkey and it will get crazy hot inside the bag. If you want an all day turkey, turn the heat down. IF it's cooking too fast, turn the heat down, the residual steam will keep it cooking. The choice is up to you!
  • Pre-heat your oven to 300 °F.
  • Pat the tops and sides of the turkey dry with paper towels and throw them out.
  • Place your turkey so that it's completely in the oven bag BUT so that the opening is slanted more towards the top instead of straight across . Take your chosen onions quarters, celery, apple etc and place them into the turkey cavity.
  • Take one tablespoon of sea salt flakes or coarse salt and a tablespoon of parsley and mix them in a bowl. IF you have a larger turkey you can double this. Set aside for now, you just had to get this ready because now your hands are getting dirty again!
  • Take a bottle of olive oil and drizzle a small stream across the skin on the breast of the turkey and some on the thighs and legs. Gauge how much you need to cover the surface area in a nice coating. Put the bottle away and roll up your sleeves.
  • Rub the olive oil all over the turkey skin, getting it covered well. You don't have to do the bottom.
  • Take the salt/parsley mixture and rub it all over the turkey in an even layer. The olive oil will help it stick. It should look like the photo above. Then of course, wash your hands and move on to the next step.
  • Pour the turkey or chicken broth into the bottom of the bag, making sure not to wash off the spices.
  • Use the little tie that comes with your oven bags and seal the bag. Cut small holes into the top of the roasting bag to let steam out.
  • Place in the oven and cook for 3-4 hours for my 13 pound turkey and up to 5-6 for a larger turkey. If you notice the breast is getting too brown and crispy. you can cover the top with tinfoil.
  • When the thigh meat reaches a temperature of 185 °F and the breast meat is 165°F minimum, you can remove the turkey. Let it rest for 10 minutes, then remove the bag.
  • You can either move it to a platter (it can be done, with two people and a few forks holding it together in key places) or simply carve it in the pan.
  • Use the drippings to make what is the BEST turkey gravy you will ever eat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 31 kcal, Fat 3 g, Sodium 872 mg, ServingSize 1 serving

PERFECT ROAST TURKEY



Perfect Roast Turkey image

Use lemon, garlic and thyme to flavor Ina Garten's Perfect Roast Turkey recipe from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network, great for the holidays or just dinner.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h20m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 fresh turkey (10 to 12 pounds)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme
1 whole lemon, halved
1 Spanish onion, quartered
1 head garlic, halved crosswise

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the zest and juice of the lemon and 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves to the butter mixture. Set aside.
  • Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, quartered onion, and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.
  • Roast the turkey about 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil; let rest for 20 minutes.
  • Slice the turkey and serve.

A SIMPLY PERFECT ROAST TURKEY



A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey image

Simple, perfect roast turkey just like grandma used to make. Seasoned with salt and pepper, and basted with turkey stock, the flavors of the turkey really stand out. Stuff with your favorite dressing.

Provided by Syd

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Turkey     Whole Turkey Recipes

Time 4h30m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 (18 pound) whole turkey
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 ½ quarts turkey stock
8 cups prepared stuffing

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place rack in the lowest position of the oven.
  • Remove the turkey neck and giblets, rinse the turkey, and pat dry with paper towels. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Loosely fill the body cavity with stuffing. Rub the skin with the softened butter, and season with salt and pepper. Position an aluminum foil tent over the turkey.
  • Place turkey in the oven, and pour 2 cups turkey stock into the bottom of the roasting pan. Baste all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 to 2 cups at a time. Remove aluminum foil after 2 1/2 hours. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 4 hours.
  • Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter, and let it stand for at least 20 to 30 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 662.6 calories, Carbohydrate 13.7 g, Cholesterol 211.4 mg, Fat 33.8 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 72.2 g, SaturatedFat 10.4 g, Sodium 709.5 mg, Sugar 2 g

SEASONED ROAST TURKEY



Seasoned Roast Turkey image

Rubbing the skin with melted butter keeps this simply seasoned turkey moist and tender.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 3h

Yield 15 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/4 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1-1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 turkey (13 to 15 pounds)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan; pat dry. Brush with butter mixture., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, 2-3/4 to 3-1/4 hours. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.) Cover and let stand 20 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 488 calories, Fat 24g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 221mg cholesterol, Sodium 698mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 63g protein.

PERFECTLY MOIST AND TENDER TURKEY



Perfectly Moist and Tender Turkey image

You only need three ingredients-plus salt and pepper-to create this perfect roast turkey. The secret is placing the bird over a buttered loaf of ciabatta bread, which helps the meat to cook evenly in the roasting pan.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Turkey Recipes

Yield Makes one 18-pound turkey

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 18-pound fresh turkey, giblets and neck removed, rinsed and patted dry
1 loaf ciabatta bread or rustic Italian loaf, halved and cut open
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • Allow turkey to stand at room temperature for about an hour.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees with rack in lower third of oven.
  • Use a serrated knife to cut off top of bread to create a flat surface, if necessary. Cut bread lengthwise, without cutting all the way through. Open bread like a book. Evenly spread butter over cut-side of bread. Place bread, buttered side up, in large, heavy-duty roasting pan.
  • Liberally season turkey inside and out with salt and pepper. Truss legs together using kitchen twine, and tuck wing tips under the breast. Place turkey, breast side down, on buttered bread. Place in oven, legs first if possible, and roast for 45 minutes. (If it's not possible to position turkey in oven legs first, rotate roasting pan halfway through cooking time.) Remove turkey from oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees.
  • Using a wooden spoon and side towels, carefully turn turkey so it's breast side up. Place in oven, breast side first if possible, and continue roasting, turning and basting with pan juices every 15 minutes until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding bone) reaches 165 degrees, about 1 1/2 hours more. (If it's not possible to position turkey in oven breast side first, rotate roasting pan halfway through cooking time.) Let turkey rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

VERY MOIST AND FLAVORFUL ROAST TURKEY



Very Moist and Flavorful Roast Turkey image

Does your turkey need a boost of moisture and flavor? Try this! Tweak it to your own liking as much as your imagination wants. Carve the entire turkey and save the bones, joints, tail, wing tips, drippings, and reserved onion, garlic and celery (but NOT the skin) to make turkey soup. Mix the apple pieces into your dressing.

Provided by Andie

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Turkey     Whole Turkey Recipes

Time 4h30m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 8

½ cup cold butter
1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 Granny Smith apples - cored, peeled, and cut into 8 wedges each
1 large onion, cut into 8 wedges
½ whole head garlic, separated into cloves and peeled
1 pound celery, cut into 2-inch lengths
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Cut butter into 1-tablespoon pieces, quarter the pieces, and refrigerate butter until needed.
  • Use your fingers to loosen the skin over the turkey breast and thighs. Cut a hole in the turkey skin between tail and body (to affix legs); cut a hole on each side of the turkey beneath each wing (to affix wings). Rub the entire skin with vegetable oil.
  • Toss apple and onion wedges, garlic cloves, and celery in a large bowl until combined; sprinkle poultry seasoning over the apple mixture and toss again to coat. Stuff the body and neck cavities with the apple mixture. Insert each wing tip into the hole under the wing to secure wings; insert both legs into hole near tail to secure legs.
  • Place turkey onto a rack and set in a roasting pan. Insert cold butter pieces under the loosened skin, distributing the butter as evenly as possible.
  • Roast the turkey in the preheated oven until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh, not touching bone, reads 160 degrees F (70 degrees C), about 3 1/2 hours. Check for doneness after 3 hours.
  • Remove roasting pan containing turkey from oven and cover with aluminum foil, lightly pressing the foil directly onto the bird. Let the turkey rest for 40 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 774.2 calories, Carbohydrate 6.1 g, Cholesterol 284.8 mg, Fat 40.3 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 91.3 g, SaturatedFat 14.2 g, Sodium 305.3 mg, Sugar 3.5 g

Tips for a Perfectly Roasted Turkey:

  • Choose a fresh or thawed turkey: Fresh turkeys are ideal, but frozen turkeys can also be used if thawed properly. Make sure to allow ample time for thawing, approximately 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4-5 pounds of turkey.
  • Dry the turkey thoroughly: Pat the turkey dry with paper towels inside and out. This helps ensure the skin crisps up during roasting.
  • Season the turkey liberally: Generously season the turkey with salt and pepper, both inside and out. You can also add other herbs and spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or thyme.
  • Truss the turkey: Trussing the turkey helps it cook evenly and keeps the wings and legs in place. Use kitchen twine to tie the legs together and tuck the wings underneath the body of the turkey.
  • Roast the turkey on a wire rack: Place the turkey on a wire rack in a roasting pan. This allows the air to circulate around the turkey, resulting in more even cooking.
  • Baste the turkey regularly: Baste the turkey every 30 minutes or so with the juices that accumulate in the roasting pan. This helps keep the turkey moist and flavorful.
  • Use a meat thermometer: Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey (usually the thigh) to ensure it reaches the proper internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Conclusion:

With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can achieve a perfectly roasted turkey that is moist, flavorful, and golden brown. Whether you prefer a classic herb-roasted turkey or a more adventurous flavor combination, these recipes provide a variety of options to suit your taste. Remember to choose a high-quality turkey, season it liberally, truss it properly, and roast it on a wire rack. With a little practice, you'll be able to roast a turkey that will impress your family and friends.

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