Juicy Whole Roasted Turkey (No Brine Needed!) | I Heart Recipes

whole turkey

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: turkey breast

Chicken is lower in fat, while turkey breast is more affordable.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier and can be cheaper than butter.

fresh herbs

🥗Healthier: dried herbs

💰Cheaper: herb blends

Dried herbs provide flavor without the cost of fresh.

chicken broth

🥗Healthier: vegetable broth

💰Cheaper: water with seasoning

Vegetable broth is lower in calories and can be made from scraps.

Unwrap the turkey and remove everything from the cavity, setting it aside for gravy later.

Rinse the turkey in a clean sink that has been washed with bleach and ammonia.

Remove excess skin and fat from the turkey.

Pat dry the turkey and set it aside.

Make turkey butter by mixing salted butter with ground sage, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and other spices using a handheld mixer until creamy.

Loosen the skin on the turkey using a plastic spatula and your hands.

Use half of the butter mixture to massage under the skin and over the meat of the turkey, including inside the cavity.

Chop up celery, apples, thyme, onions, garlic, and parsley, ensuring everything is washed before use.

Stuff the turkey with the chopped mixture to add flavor and prevent it from caving in while baking.

Tie the legs of the turkey with butcher string.

Use the remaining butter to paint the outside of the turkey.

Place the turkey on a rack in a roaster pan and add leftover veggies (apples, oranges, carrots, lemon, sage, parsley, and optional red onions) to the bottom of the pan.

Bake the turkey uncovered in the oven at 350°F for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Remove the turkey from the oven and baste it with the juices from the bottom of the pan.

Cover the turkey and bake for an additional 2 hours.

After 2 hours, remove the turkey from the oven, baste it again with the juices, and cover it to let it rest for at least 1 hour.

Baste the turkey again with the juices before serving.

Garnish the serving platter with apples, oranges, lemon, and parsley, and add a bowl of cranberry sauce in front of the turkey.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens