So, how would you like to learn a guaranteed easy juicy crispy roast turkey recipe? Now that’s a mouthful, right?

I have been hosting Thanksgiving for 15 years and have never served a dry turkey. And guess what I taught myself the trick to making the juiciest turkey with extra crispy skin.

Also, I make turkey at different times of the year to save the leftovers to make pot pies, turkey sandwiches, turkey salads, and homemade soup.

If you follow this recipe your turkey will be the star of the show and will be the perfect Thanksgiving turkey EVER!

Why is Adding Butter Under The Skin Important?

Why Add Butter Under The Skin?

Here’s a little secret, adding a generous amount of butter between the skin and the turkey is the key to getting GUARANTEED juicy meat and the perfect turkey! The fat underneath the turkey skin both tenderizes and adds tons of flavor to the turkey.

Some may disagree, however it has worked for me for years. Also this is another way it helps with browning the skin.

Many times when cooking a turkey the first thing people say is the white meat is often dry. Not with this recipr the breast of the turkey is tender and juicy and it’s so good! And for the dark meat lover, this turkey recipe makes the meat even better!

Another trick is mixing oil and soft butter together and covering the entire outside of the turkey. I rub it in every nook and cranny which ensures moisture and flavor. This also ensures amazing turkey skin and we all know we love that brown skin on the turkey.

Jump to Recipe

Buying A 15-20 lb Turkey Fresh Or Frozen

Step 1: Buying A Fresh Or Frozen Turkey And Thawing It For Roasting

First things first, we use a 15-20 pound fresh turkey. This recipe will also work well for a frozen turkey however remember to let it thaw in the refrigerator. A good rule of thumb is to melt at least 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. So, a 15-pound turkey will take four or five days to soften completely.

Remember to never wash a turkey, it’s not necessary and unsafe. This is the recommendation from the FDA as well as Butterball.

Also, if this is the first time making a roasted turkey make sure to empty the cavity of the turkey. The turkey cavity has a bag of giblets and the neck. Sometimes it can be in the backend of the turkey too.

Remove the wrapping from the turkey over the kitchen sink and place the turkey in a large roasting pan breast side up. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels and throw them in the garbage. Now, make sure to sanitize the sink and wash your hands well.

How Long To Roast A Turkey?

Step 2: Time It Takes To Roast A Turkey

The time it takes to roast a turkey from start to finish varies. It depends on the size turkey and also the temperature of the turkey before it goes into the oven. Remember

We generally roast our turkey at 350 degrees for three and half hours and turn the oven temperature up to 400 degrees F for the last half hour for our 16-pound turkey. This also ensures the best crisp skin and the juiciest turkey recipe.

Some roast their whole turkey at 425 but I tried this and I wasn’t a fan of how the turkey turned out at a high temperature.

The turkey is cooked when an instant-read thermometer and internal temperature reaches 180 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh.

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Is Sage The Only Herb To Use?

Are There Other Herbs You Can Use?

Yes, there are. I love sage with my turkey however, if you aren’t a sage fan use your favorite. Thyme, rosemary, chives, marjoram, or basil will work.

Make The Herb Butter For The Turkey Breast To Add Extra Flavor

Step 3: Making Herb Butter To Put Under The Turkey Breast Skin

Make the herb butter with 2 tablespoons of room temperature and one sprig of roughly chopped fresh sage. You usually can find this in the produce aisle in small plastic containers. Add the soft butter and the sage to a small bowl and combine. Then wrap with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Tip 1: I make this the day before for the fresh sage flavor to infuse into the butter. By Kerry Gold Soft butter for this process. Because it’s soft it also has olive oil which enhances the browning of the skin and adds flavor and moisture.

Tip 2: Also, I use Kerry Gold Irish butter for cooking and baking. This product makes a HUGE difference in my opinion.

Prepping The Turkey Meat The Night Before

Step 4: Prep Turkey The Night Before For A Juicy Turkey

Doing this step has given me the best results for a moist and golden brown turkey every time. Next step, sprinkle the whole bird liberally with kosher salt and black pepper. Also, make sure to salt and pepper inside the cavity. Put the turkey back in the refrigerator overnight. This will remove the moisture from the skin and ensure a juicy roast turkey with great skin.

Getting The Turkey Ready For The Roasting Process

Step 5: Add Roasting Rack To The Bottom Of The Roasting Pan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees f. Add fresh herbs to the cavity such as sage, thyme, and a sprig of rosemary. This year for the big day I added fresh thyme.

Then for the last 30 minutes of roasting time, turn the oven up to 400 degrees.

The best way to get a moist turkey and crispier skin is to allow the turkey to warm up a bit before roasting. I usually let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to 2 tablespoons of melted butter and mix together.

Use a knife and carefully put a slice between the turkey breast meat and the skin. Add the sage butter mixture under the skin. As I said above, this will flavor and help the white meat remain juicy.

Next, use a pastry brush or hands and add the oil and butter mixture to the entire outside of the turkey. Make sure to cover the wings and legs well. Make sure to cover the top of the turkey well with this mixture too as I said to keep moisture in the turkey.

Then, sprinkle the outside of the turkey with sage turkey rub seasonings.

Tip 3: Will the extra olive oil and the oil in the butter be too much? Absolutely not. It will add to the meat being moist and the crispy skin!

Adding Chicken Stock To The Roasting Pan

Step 6: Adding Chicken Stock To The Bottom Of The Pan

We add the stock to the bottom of the pan with a little bit of sweet white wine. This adds even more moisture to the turkey.

Also, our roasting pan should never get dry or it can ruin the pan so keep this in mind during the cooking time.

Tip 4: I add Riesling wine or Verde Italian Champagne. Why, this adds a bit of sweetness to my turkey!

Best Turkey Recipe And Turkey Gravy

Step 7: Adding Pan Juices To The Gravy

Now I’m going to share another secret, I don’t make my gravy. Honestly, this is where I take an easy shortcut. I purchase a Williams Sonoma turkey gravy base. It tastes amazing and the only thing I need to do is add milk and turkey pan drippings, simmer and it makes this turkey even more perfect.

As I’m making the turkey gravy, I get out the cutting board and make sure to get my side dishes hot and ready to serve.

During this, I also make sure the turkey rests for a minimum of 15 minutes. Here’s a neat tip, I add butcher paper under the cutting board to keep cleaning up easier after slicing the turkey. It catches any excess juices and helps keep the counter cleaner.

The very last thing I do is take out the cranberry sauce and we have the best turkey for our Thanksgiving dinner with our family!

By the way, these are easy-to-make dessert recipes that work well with a filling turkey dinner. These are mini pastries and are so EASY to make! And here’s one that’s a one dish easy recipe.

I hope you find this recipe for a guaranteed easy juicy crispy roast turkey recipe helpful and give it a try, You will be so happy you did, and remember turkey is perfect for all times of the year too!

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