Best Roast Turkey

Recipe Ingredients

These simple ingredients let the turkey’s natural flavor shine while adding just the right touch of seasoning and richness.

Dried Spices: This is what gives the Thanksgiving turkey amazing flavor, and guess what? You probably have them in your spice drawer right now. The spice blend used in this recipe is unique because it combines traditional herbs like oregano and rosemary with less common spices for turkey: ground mustard, coriander, and cayenne. The whole thing smells and tastes so warm and cozy—just like Thanksgiving!

Butter: It wouldn’t be the holidays without butter! This is important because it keeps the turkey moist and tender while roasting and infuses the meat with rich flavor.

Olive Oil: A drizzle of oil helps the turkey skin crisp up beautifully and brown evenly.

Other Ingredients: The Thanksgiving turkey, of course! Plan for about 1 to 1½ pounds per person (or more if you want leftovers).

How to Make the Best Roast Turkey

Here’s a quick overview of what to do for a holiday-worthy Thanksgiving turkey. Check out the full recipe below.

1. Prep the Turkey

Gently loosen the skin and spread softened butter underneath. This helps the meat stay juicy and flavorful as it roasts. Then, rub a mixture of garlic salt, oregano, rosemary, mustard, coriander, and cayenne on the outside of the skin to add tons of flavor. Drizzle the outside of the turkey with olive oil, tie the legs back, and place it breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan.

2. Cook the Turkey

This will take several hours, so make sure you’ve set aside enough time. In general, you’ll want to plan for 13 minutes of roasting time for each pound of unstuffed turkey. For this recipe, you’ll be roasting the turkey for around 4 to 5 hours at 325°F. To make sure your turkey gets perfectly done, insert an ovenproof meat thermometer so the tip is in the thickest part of the inside thigh (because this part takes the longest to cook). That way, you’ll be able to monitor the temperature as your turkey roasts. If you don’t have an ovenproof thermometer, you can check the temperature periodically with an instant-read thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the legs move easily, your turkey is done!

3. Serve and Enjoy

Once the Thanksgiving turkey is out of the oven, let it rest for 15 minutes before carving. You’ll have tender, juicy meat with beautifully seasoned, golden skin—the perfect centerpiece for any holiday table!

Storing and Reheating

Turkey day leftovers are a gift that keeps on giving—here’s how to store and reheat them so they taste just as good tomorrow.

Refrigerator

Carve the turkey, then store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezer

Put the carved turkey in an airtight container or resealable bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Another great option: dice up the leftovers to use in a soup at a later time.

Reheating

• From Fridge: Microwave on High in 1 minute increments until hot.
• From Freezer: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in the microwave on High in 1 minute increments until hot. You could also add the frozen diced turkey directly to chili or chicken noodle soup in a pot on the stove—it will thaw as it simmers!