Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s a the time we get to gather with our loved ones and partake of some of our favorite holiday dishes. From mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and any of your favorite desserts, it is a day we allow ourselves to indulge. Thanksgiving also means it’s time to start thinking about the centerpiece of the meal: the turkey. Roasting a turkey can seem a bit challenging, but it’s actually quite easy, especially if you follow a few easy steps. The key to a great turkey is making sure you pick the right one, make sure you select the right seasoning and following the appropriate cooking instructions for your size turkey. Once you have a clear plan in place then roasting your turkey will be a breeze.

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1. Ingredients

Turkey, butter, onion, celery, lemon, water, paprika garlic powder, thyme, rosemary, black pepper and sea salt

2. Making the Seasoned Butter for your Thanksgiving Turkey

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, rosemary, thyme, and butter. Mix well.

3. Coating the Thanksgiving Turkey

Use the butter mixture to generously coat the turkey, inside and out.

4. Stuffing the Turkey

Place the turkey in a roasting pan and add the water to the bottom of the pan.

Stuff the turkey cavity with the onions, celery, and lemon then place the remaining onions, celery, and lemon in the roasting pan around the turkey.

5. Baking the Turkey

Roast the turkey for the appropriate amount of time, based on its weight. See the chart below for cooking times. Baste the turkey every 40 minutes with the pan juices. The turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Cooking Times:

• 12-14 pound turkey: 3-3 1/2 hours
• 14-16 pound turkey: 3 1/2-4 hours
• 16-18 pound turkey: 4-4 1/2 hours
• 18-20 pound turkey: 4 1/2-5 hours

What to Do with Leftover Turkey?

Leftovers after Thanksgiving is inevitable. Whether you cooked a Thanksgiving dinner for two or twenty it doesn’t matter. The good thing is if you are like me, you love leftover. Store you food in the proper con turkey there are a number

Whether this is your first Thanksgiving making a holiday turkey or you are a seasoned pro, this easy to follow recipe is worth trying.

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

Recipe by Soul Food Cooking

4.3 from 3 votes

Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Medium

Servings

20

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

7

hours 

20

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 fresh turkey (12-20 pounds)

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1 onion, quartered

• 2 stalks celery, cut into large pieces

• 1 lemon, quartered

• 1 cup water

• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme

• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary

• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

• 2 teaspoons sea salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, rosemary, thyme, and butter. Mix well.
• Use the butter mixture to generously coat the turkey, inside and out.
• Place the turkey in a roasting pan and add the water to the bottom of the pan.
• Stuff the turkey cavity with the onions, celery, and lemon.
• Place the remaining onions, celery, and lemon in the roasting pan around the turkey.
• Roast the turkey for the appropriate amount of time, based on its weight. See the chart below for cooking times.
• Baste the turkey every 40 minutes with the pan juices.
• The turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Notes

• Cooking Times:
• 12-14 pound turkey: 3-3 1/2 hours
• 14-16 pound turkey: 3 1/2-4 hours
• 16-18 pound turkey: 4-4 1/2 hours
• 18-20 pound turkey: 4 1/2-5 hours

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