Lauren's Apple Cider Roast Turkey

The most delicious roast turkey recipe ever! The brine is well worth the extra time the night before; the result is a juicy, perfectly seasoned turkey. A brined turkey cooks 20-30 minutes faster; keep that in mind when consulting roasting charts. Enjoy!

• Calories: 952 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 ½ gallons water
• 1 gallon apple cider
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 (16 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 1 ½ cups kosher salt

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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

Step 2

Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water; pat dry with paper towels.

Step 3

Mix water, apple cider, kosher salt, and sugar in a large pot or 5-gallon food-grade bucket, stirring to dissolve salt and sugar. Submerge turkey in brine, cover the container, and place in refrigerator, 8 hours or overnight.

Step 4

Remove turkey from brine and discard used brine. Place turkey breast-side up into a roasting pan; pat turkey and cavity dry with paper towels. Loosen turkey skin over breast and thighs with your fingers.

Step 5

Mix olive oil, thyme, and poultry seasoning in a small bowl. Rub seasoned oil over turkey and underneath loosened skin. Cover turkey loosely with aluminum foil.

Step 6

Roast in the preheated oven until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of a thigh, not touching bone, reads 165 to 175 degrees F (75 to 80 degrees C), 4 to 4 1/2 hours. Remove foil tent about 45 minutes before end of roasting time to let skin brown. Let turkey rest 30 to 45 minutes before carving.