Spice Rub Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey

This Thanksgiving turkey recipe produces a well-seasoned, juicy, and tender turkey that will bring smiles to everyone's faces. You cannot go wrong with a spice rub and a giant bird!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 5 hr
• Total Time: 5 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 1344 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped fresh cilantro
• ½ cup kosher salt
• ½ cup garlic powder
• ½ cup ground paprika
• ½ cup ground cumin
• ½ cup dried basil
• ½ cup ground black pepper
• 1 (15 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 2 medium sweet onions, chopped
• 2 medium heads garlic, peeled and chopped
• 3 cups butter, melted
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

Step 2

Combine garlic powder, paprika, cumin, basil, salt, and pepper in a zip-top bag. Close and shake spice rub until well mixed.

Step 3

Cut small slits into the skin of the turkey. Use a palmful of spice rub at a time to rub all over turkey-on top, sides, bottom, inside cavity, and into the slits in the skin. Stuff the cavity with cilantro, onion, and garlic. Place in a roasting pan, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 12 hours.

Step 4

Remove turkey from the refrigerator. Baste with melted butter. Pour 1/2 of the chicken broth inside the pan. Cover with foil.

Step 5

Roast in the preheated oven, for 3 hours. Remove foil and baste with remaining chicken broth. Continue to roast until turkey is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 2 1/2 hours longer. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).