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How to Cook a Turkey

Follow these easy steps and guidelines for How to Cook a Turkey. Cooking time and serving size are for an 18 pound turkey. See chart in post above for cooking times for smaller and larger turkeys.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Resting Time
30 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 349 kcal
Course: Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 whole turkey thawed (18-20 lbs)
  • thick celery stalks and onion slices (optional, see steps 2 and 3)
  • 1/3 cup salted butter
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1-2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • 1 teaspoon sage
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • Aluminum foil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove turkey from packaging. Remove the neck, giblets, and gravy packet included with the turkey. Keep the gravy packet in the refrigerator until you make the gravy (turkey gravy recipe in recipe notes). Pat completely dry with paper towels (this is important so the butter will adhere to the turkey).
  2. Spray a roasting pan with cooking spray. Add the chicken broth to the bottom of the pan, then place the turkey on a wire roasting rack inside the pan. Thick celery stocks and thick onion slices can be used instead of a wire rack.Note: If using an aluminum roasting pan, do not place the turkey directly on the aluminum. Place some thick celery stocks and thick onion slices in the bottom of the pan, and place the turkey on top of them.If the turkey is placed directly on the pan, the skin will stick to the bottom of the pan as the turkey cooks and the turkey will be difficult to remove from the pan.
  3. Tuck the wing tips under the bird so that they will not get too brown while cooking. This also looks much more appetizing.
  4. Melt butter and brush evenly over the turkey. Gently lift the skin and rub some of the butter under the skin layer.
  5. Combine the spices and rub them evenly over the buttered turkey.
  6. Make an aluminum foil "tent" to go over the entire turkey. Using a wide aluminum foil sheet, or two long sheets crimped together to form a wide sheet, loosely cover the entire turkey.  Tuck the foil inside the roasting pan around the turkey so the condensation from the turkey drips from the foil back into the pan.  
  7. Place the turkey in the oven and cook according to turkey package directions. Cooking time will vary according to the turkey size. See turkey cooking chart in post above.  A meat thermometer is always recommended. A turkey is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. If the turkey has been "stuffed" with dressing, add 15-45 minutes to the cooking time.  The dressing, or stuffing, is fully cooked when it reaches 165 degrees in the center of the dressing.
  8. Remove the foil tent after one hour of cooking. The foil keeps the moisture in the turkey. As the skin browns, it thickens and will do the job of keeping the moisture in without the foil. If the turkey is getting too brown near the end of the cooking time, replace the foil tent.
  9. Once the turkey reaches 165 degrees, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 20 minutes, and up to 40 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute through the meat.
  10. While the turkey is resting, make turkey gravy. See the link to "How to Make Turkey Gravy" in the recipe notes below.
  11. Carve and slice.  Enjoy a moist, delicious turkey!

Notes

  • Because of the butter on the turkey, there is no need to baste the turkey while it cooks. The aluminum foil tent also keeps moisture in the turkey. Once the skin browns, it thickens and keeps the moisture in.
  • If you are using an electric roaster, the turkey will cook faster. Depending on your roaster it could cook up to 2 hours faster than a traditional roaster in the oven. Check it at the half-way point to see how it is coming along. 
  • See How to Make Turkey Gravy for a delicious turkey gravy to serve with your turkey.

Nutrition Information

Calories 349kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 1g (0%) Protein 47g (94%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Cholesterol 168mg (56%) Sodium 357mg (15%) Potassium 496mg (14%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 285IU (6%) Vitamin C 1.7mg (2%) Calcium 27mg (3%) Iron 1.9mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 349

% Daily Value*

Calories 349kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 1g 0%
Protein 47g 94%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 168mg 56%
Sodium 357mg 15%
Potassium 496mg 11%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 285IU 6%
Vitamin C 1.7mg 2%
Calcium 27mg 3%
Iron 1.9mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.