Learn how to cook a turkey with Chef John's recipe for juicy, perfectly-cooked turkey seasoned with butter, rosemary, and sage and roasted in the oven.
Preparation Time
20 mins
Cooking Time
3 hr 5 mins
Total Time
3 hr 25 mins
Calories
355 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Step 2
Place onion, celery, and carrot in a large, shallow roasting pan.
Step 3
Place turkey, breast-side up, on top of vegetables in the roasting pan. Pat outside and inside of turkey dry with paper towels.
Step 4
Combine salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Season inside of turkey with about 1/3 of the salt mixture. Fold wing tips under bird.
Step 5
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until edges turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add rosemary and sage; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 6
Place rosemary and sage inside cavity of turkey; reserve melted butter. Tie turkey legs together with twine.
Step 7
Brush melted butter over turkey. Season with the remaining salt mixture.
Step 8
Bake turkey, uncovered, in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and juices run clear, about 3 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).
Step 9
Remove turkey from the oven and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets reserved
