How To Cook A Turkey: An Easy Roast Turkey Recipe

This super easy turkey recipe is no brine, no baste, and no stress. So easy and delicious. Want to know how to cook a turkey to juicy, moist perfection with no stress?

Roast turkey on a serving platter with cranberry sauce.

Cooking a turkey can be intimidating for not just a new cook, but even for a seasoned home cook who is simply not used to cooking a massive beast.

Happily, it is actually really easy. The two main things to aim for are:

  1. Don’t overcook it.
  2. Don’t undercook it.

We’re not reaching for the stars, here!

In order to achieve this:

  • Grab a cooking thermometer. (That one is sixteen bucks and has lasted me for years.) I can’t stress enough the importance of this tool
  • To further simplify, buy fresh. I find it juicier and easier to manage planning-wise. That means arranging in advance to buy one up to 5 days ahead. Consider placing an order with your butcher or grocery store (as they often sell out).
  • If you do buy frozen, make sure your turkey is thawed completely before cooking – this can take several days in the fridge, so plan accordingly. Nothing like a semi-frozen thigh to ensure an over-cooked breast.
  • Cook at a low oven temperature. There are methods I’ve tried that involve starting at 400ºF or hotter and then lowering the heat. Although this allows a turkey to cook faster, it also gives more opportunity to dry out the parts that are more exposed to direct heat (like the lean breast meat).
Turkey dinner on a plate with mashed potatoes and green beans.

A simple turkey recipe

I keep things really simple, that’s how to cook a turkey without stress.

  • Simple seasoning: melted butter, coarse salt and freshly cracked pepper all over the bird.
  • No basting: repeatedly opening the oven ultimately increases cooking time, so what you gain in flavoured skin, you lose in moistness of the white meat.
  • No stuffing: don’t stuff the turkey, because it’s a food safety issue – in order for stuffing to reach a safe internal temperature, the breast will almost certainly be dried out. Stuffing cooked outside of the turkey is also much lower in fat and calories so you can eat MORE.
  • Don’t bother brining. As long as you pay attention to the internal temperature and don’t overcook the turkey, this cumbersome extra step is unnecessary.
  • Rest the turkey. This step is as important as not overcooking it. It allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat rather than running out all over your cutting board and being lost forever.
Rubbing butter on a turkey before roasting.

How to check for doneness

For most roasts, I recommend removing it from the oven at a lower temperature than the final internal temperature goal. This is because of carryover cooking, which means the temperature continues to rise as the meat sits.

I don’t do this for turkey, however.

A turkey roast is so large that there are inevitably parts that are higher and lower in temperature. I prefer to stay on the safe side and reach the 165ºF necessary to ensure nobody gets turkey with a side of salmonella.

Insert your cooking thermometer into many parts of the bird. That’s how to cook a turkey fully without concern for food safety. I test the temperature of:

  • the thickest part of the thigh
  • in the bottom of the bird under the leg
  • in the thickest part of the breast
  • in around the wing
  • and a few more spots for good measure
Slicing roasted turkey.

Don’t miss these delicious turkey dinner recipes

Ingredients for Thanksgiving leftover casserole.

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Roast turkey on a serving platter with cranberry sauce.

How to Cook a Turkey: Easy Roast Turkey with Cranberry Chutney

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Servings 12
Dinner
American
Keyword Easy Turkey

Ingredients
 
 

For Turkey

  • 1 turkey thawed if frozen
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh sage (or 1 tsp dried)
  • salt
  • black pepper

For Cranberry Chutney

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 cup onion
  • 1 tbsp ginger
  • 3 cups cranberries
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • â…› tsp cloves
  • pinch salt

Instructions
 

For Turkey

  • Preheat oven to 325ºF. Position turkey breast-side up on an oiled rack placed inside a shallow roasting pan or baking dish. Remove neck and giblets from turkey cavity.
  • Gently use your fingers to lift the skin of the turkey breast. Mash the sage into the butter and smear butter evenly over the entire turkey, gently pushing it under the skin of the breast. Sprinkle turkey all over with salt and black pepper.
  • Pour a cup of water into the bottom of the roasting pan.
    Roast turkey for approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes, covering the neck and wings with foil about halfway through to prevent over-browning. A meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh, away from the bone, should register 165ºF. Let turkey rest at room temperature for one hour to redistribute the juices.

For Cranberry Chutney

  • In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until very soft, about 15 minutes, reducing heat if starting to crisp. Add ginger and cook a minute more.
  • Stir in cranberries, water, sugar, maple syrup, vinegar and cloves. Simmer, uncovered, until cranberries pop, about 10 minutes; cool to room temperature or refrigerate. Serve turkey with cranberry chutney.

Video

Notes

  • Plan about 11 minutes of cooking time per pound of turkey and begin checking the temperature 45 minutes before you expect it to be done. 
  • If you have a convection oven, you can cook it at 325ºF on convection and it will be done up to an hour sooner. 

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 0.4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 9mgPotassium: 62mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 274IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword Easy Turkey

Last Updated on January 26, 2024 by Jennifer Pallian BSc, RD

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Evie
Evie
6 months ago

5 stars
I tried this turkey recipe for the first time a couple of days back and it was a huge hit! The low oven temperature ensured that the turkey cooked evenly and didn’t dry out, and the seasoning was just right. I appreciate the food safety tips Jennifer – it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Bethany
Bethany
6 months ago

5 stars
As someone who loves to cook, I appreciate the simplicity of this recipe. No brine, no baste, no stuffing – just a few basic ingredients that come together to create a delicious and moist turkey. I’ll definitely be using this recipe again this Thanksgiving!

Lola
Lola
6 months ago

5 stars
I was always intimidated by cooking a turkey, but this recipe made it so easy to follow. The tip to use a cooking thermometer was a lifesaver and helped me achieve the perfect internal temperature without overcooking the turkey.

Rose
Rose
6 months ago

5 stars
This turkey recipe is a game-changer! I followed the simple seasoning instructions and the turkey came out so juicy and flavorful. I also learned the importance of resting the turkey before carving to keep all the delicious juices inside.

Brooke
Brooke
6 months ago

5 stars
What I loved about this turkey recipe is that it’s so versatile. Whether you prefer veg or non-veg, seasonal or year-round, you can customize the recipe to suit your tastes. Plus, the cooking tips are so helpful!!

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