Welcome to Sugar, Spice & Glitter! Please note, this post may contain affiliate links. For more details, see our Full Disclosure.

Today, we’re sharing a step-by-step tutorial for how to make the Best Ever Oven Roasted Turkey for the holidays, featuring tender, juicy meat and crispy, buttery, golden brown skin with a light citrus-herb flavor.

Don’t need to cook a whole turkey? Check out our Copycat Disney Turkey Legs recipe or our Roast Turkey Breast recipe instead.

Oven Roasted Turkey Recipe

I grew up only ever having eaten dry, bland turkey so once I had my own family and was in charge of setting the menu, I steered clear of turkey for years.

When I was finally ready to give it a shot, I thought that making a juicy, flavorful roasted turkey would be complicated and time-consuming so I read and watched so many different recipes to ensure that I had all of the tips and tricks I needed to make my first roasted turkey a success… and it turns out, you only need to do a few key things to roast the perfect turkey:

1. Butter under the turkey skin:
   Separate the turkey skin from the breast meat and place butter in between to both crisp up the skin and add moisture to the turkey
2. Don’t stuff the turkey:
   Place lemon slices and herbs inside the turkey and cook the stuffing separately; this will allow even cooking and a shorter cooking time (preventing you from unintentionally drying out the turkey)
3. Aromatics in the roasting pan:
   A bed of onions, lemon, garlic and water creates steam to keep the oven environment moist and also produces richly flavored pan juices for gravy.
4. Start covered, finish uncovered:
   Covering the turkey for the first half of roasting keeps the heat gentle and prevents early drying, while uncovering later encourages even browning.
5. Temperature matters more than time:
   Use roasting time as a guide, but pull the turkey only when the breast and thigh each reach 165F. Resting for 30 minutes after roasting allows the turkey’s juices to redistribute for cleaner slices and better texture.

That’s really it. 5 simple and straightforward tips are all it takes to transform a flavorless, dry turkey into a juicy, succulent and flavorful turkey with golden, buttery and crispy skin.

You can skip ahead to the recipe card or keep reading for our favorite side dishes to pair with turkey, answers to your FAQ about roasting a turkey (including a printable roasting time chart), variations to make this recipe your own AND a recipe video showing how to roast a turkey from start to finish.

Roasted Turkey FAQs

How can I get deeply browned, evenly crisp skin? Using paper towels, pat the skin very dry before applying butter. Roast covered for the first half to hold moisture then uncover for the remainder to promote crisping. Baste sparingly; excessive basting cools the surface.

At the end of roasting you can move the oven to broil for 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely, to finish stubbornly pale spots but this is rarely needed if the bird was dry and the oven sufficiently hot when uncovered.

Can I roast a turkey from frozen? No, for safe, even cooking you must fully thaw the bird first. Thawing in the refrigerator is safest and takes about 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds. Thawing at room temperature is not safe.

How long should I roast a 10 pound turkey? Cooking time is an estimate; the only reliable test is internal temperature, which is why I always use my meat thermometer.

I have prepared a cooking chart below for an easy guide for how long to roast your turkey, whether you plan to stuff it or leave it unstuffed (as I recommend).

Where exactly should I place the meat thermometer? Insert the probe into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone, and also check the center of the breast. If both read 165F the bird is safe and ready.

How to store leftover turkey: Refrigerate leftover turkey within 2 hours of cooking to prevent the turkey from drying out. Store in airtight containers for 3-4 days. (If you have a lot of meat, label containers by dark and white meat for easier reheating and recipe use.)

To freeze, store in ziptop freezer bags or your favorite freezer containers for 2-3 months. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.)

Check out this post for 45+ Recipes Using Leftover Turkey.

Check out our quick recipe video for our classic roast turkey recipe to see just how easy this recipe is for yourself:

Ingredients for Roast Turkey

• Turkey
• Butter
• Olive oil, optional
• Poultry seasoning <– grab our homemade poultry seasoning recipe here
• Lemons
• Rosemary, optional
• Thyme, optional
• Small yellow onions, quartered
• Garlic
• Water

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: you can add other favorite roasted veggies to the pan for pan drippings or just to roast alongside the turkey, ie, celery, carrots, potatoes, etc.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Sharp Kitchen Knife
• Cutting Board
• Roasting Pan
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Baster

How to Make Roasted Turkey

Preheat oven to 375F

Remove any giblets from the turkey.

Use a large spoon to carefully separate the skin from the breast of the turkey, as shown.

Rub 1/4 cup of butter under the turkey skin, directly on the turkey breast.

Rub remaining butter all over the turkey.

Place a halved lemon and a small amount of rosemary and thyme inside the turkey cavity.

Make a small cut 4″ down from the turkey opening and push the turkey legs through. Alternatively, you can use kitchen string to tie the turkey legs together.

Sprinkle turkey liberally with poultry seasoning.

Place water and quartered onions in the bottom of a roasting pan. Quarter the remaining lemon and add to the roasting pan. Cut the top off of one head of garlic, add it to the roasting pan, and then peel and crush each clove of the remaining garlic. Add to roasting pan, then place the turkey overtop. (You can use a roasting pan if desired.)

Bake for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Cover with the top of the roasting pan or tinfoil for the first half of the baking time.

Once you remove the cover, baste the turkey with the turkey juices every 20-30 minutes.

At the 3 hour mark, pour the olive oil over the turkey in any spots that are not browning as deeply as other spots.

Cook until turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165F.

Cover and let turkey rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before carving. (This is a great time to make gravy or finish up other side dishes.)

Pin this Simple Oven Roasted Turkey with Lemon and Herbs for your Holiday Planning:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our roast turkey recipe:

I hope your family loves this easy roast turkey recipe as much as mine does!

For more ways to enjoy turkey, check out our full turkey recipe collection here: