Herb-Glazed Roasted Turkey

The holiday season means it's Turkey Time. I could never figure out why so many people wanted to come over...until they confessed it was my recipe for turkey! Gobble, Gobble! I do not stuff the turkey. I make my own stuffing on the side and serve in a festive dish.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 4 hr
• Total Time: 4 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 829 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup honey
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon ground thyme
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 (16 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 2 teaspoons dried sage leaves

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Rinse the turkey, and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Brush the turkey with olive oil, inside and out.

Step 2

Mix 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, and the thyme in a small bowl, and sprinkle the turkey with the mixture.

Step 3

Place the turkey on a rack set in a roasting pan, and roast in the preheated oven for 2 hours.

Step 4

In a bowl, stir together the honey, melted butter, sage, parsley, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper, until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Brush the turkey with the honey glaze, and return to the oven.

Step 5

Roast the turkey until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 2 more hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Continue to brush the turkey with the honey glaze frequently as it roasts. Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.