How to Cook a Turkey

I recommend this recipe to anyone who wants an easy, delicious bird. This recipe turned out great for me... I followed it exactly.

I followed the recipe exactly. It was very easy to do. I bought a 12 lb. turkey but when the 3 hours were up the turkey was not done. The breast was almost done but the legs and thighs were still bleeding. I had to put it back in but by the time the dark meat cooked, the breast was dried out. I cried all Christmas dinner.

Thank You, Thank you, thank you!!! This is an excellent recipe!! Simple, but simply perfection!! The bird is so moist, and no fuss with brining!!

Good recipe for flavour. I will definitely do this again. My problem was the temp. For an 11 lbs unstuffed turkey, it took 4 hours, and it was still iffy by the bone. I will start my next one at 400 F, breast down for 1 hour. Then flip it breast side up, reduce temp to 325 F for 2 more hours. This is my tried and true method, and the meat literally falls off the bone. Looking forward to combining these recipes. Yum!

This was my first year cooking a turkey from scratch. The recipe is flexible but the technique that he explains in the video made this year a complete 100% success! Thanks Chef John!

Great video! For those of us that have been cruising by while Mom made the Turkey each year and all of a sudden it's our turn and we haven't got a clue.

I know this recipe says for beginners and first-time turkey makers, but I have been cooking the Thanksgiving meal for my family for over 20 years, and this is still my favorite way to cook a turkey. There are fancier methods out there, but I think turkey is one of those foods that is so delicious all by itself that it doesn't really need all those bells and whistles. This easy recipe gives you a delicious, juicy, beautiful turkey every single time. Thanks Chef John for another winner!!

Made a delayed Thanksgiving Dinner today....Absolutely the best Turkey Ever!! So moist and flavorful. Try this recipe and drain the juices and add chicken stock to make the gravy at the end. You will not be sorry.

Excellent! My new stand by And yet again - another perfect turkey:) Thanks Chef John

I made my first turkey with this recipe and it came out perfectly! I added a bit more butter, seasoning, doubled the herbs and added thyme to baste turkey with and total cook time was 4.5 hours. It turned out beautifully! This is going to be my go-to recipe for turkey.

Awesome recipe. My first time cooking a turkey and it came out great, very moist and tasty.

Easy -- made my first turkey a success!

Aloha. I followed the recipe but I didn't use the vegetables on the bottom. I used a wire rack but to add height to it I thickly sliced potatoes and placed it under. The potatoes actually cooked with the juices from the turkey. The salt, blk pepper & cayenne mixture plus the sage and rosemary really added great flavor to the turkey. In the final half 45 minutes I basted the turkey with the juices causing the skin to have a beautiful crunch. Great and easy recipe.

I followed the video presentation of this recipe, it is slightly different to the written one. I am from Australia,and I am visiting family over here. I cooked the turkey yesterday for Thanksgiving. It was so amazing, it turned out beautifully, I have never tasted something so juicy and flavor some. Thank you Chef John for sharing this recipe. Wendy from Australia

Great turkey recipe. The herbs and butter are what make it shine. Cook 20 minutes per pound.

I have cooked many a Turkey and this is the moistest Turkey I have ever cooked. I used the recipe as written. Excellent! Even the gravy had a nice spicy kick to it everyone enjoyed. I saved this recipe to use it again.

I have made this recipe 3 or 4 times now so clearly it's a winner! My only deviation is that I always add a Granny Smith apple to the veggies in which the turkey cooks. I've also used jar spices for the Rosemary & Sage when I forgot to buy fresh and could not face another trip to the store. It's an acceptable substitute and I don't kick myself for it. The turkey is always tender and NOT DRY (yay!) and falls off the bone. My hubby and 5 boys love it and more importantly I love it. HA! Thanks!

Moist and amazing! Thank you for sharing!

Only recipe I tried, it was my first attempt at a turkey, I didn't have all the ingredients, but it came out delicious anyway! Thank you!!

Delicious, savory, make sure to put some water in the pan under the turkey, why? So your turkey doesn't come out dry. And bend the turkey wings under the turkey so they don't cook crusty, it will be hard to bend so get a strong friend to help you.

By far the best turkey ever!!! Forgot to take a picture.

I did this today. Perfect! I didn't have Rosemary or sage so I added those dry spices to the salt and pepper mix. Otherwise I followed the recipe. Very moist. Very easy. Will do this from now on.

I was so excited about this recipe because it got such rave reviews. Honestly, the turkey flavor was fine, but the gravy was so stinkin' hot. Definitely not your traditional turkey recipe. Next time, I won't use the cayenne.

Used this recipe for my first turkey ever. It was amazingly flavorful and delicious!!

Chef John, thank you! This was my first turkey and it was amazing. I was a little scared not placing the turkey in a bag like my mom did when I was younger, and I'm so glad I didn't. This turkey was wonderful. I'm not going to bore people with what I did differently. By the way, I only changed a few spices to our taste and fresh herbs. The timing was perfect, the bird was excellent, and you made me a professional!

This was my first time making a turkey. I had a small one, just 12 pounds. It was moist and delicious. The herbs were wonderful. Don't be afraid to try roasting a turkey.

A last-minute Thanksgiving schedule change required that I find a set-it-and-forget-it turkey recipe. This one was just the ticket! Fast, easy, and tasty; what a combo. This was my first time cooking a turkey and it's really nice to know that it doesn't have to be difficult!

Thanks Chef John! I've made this for two years in a row and have GREAT success both times! The first year I used a tbsp of cayenne pepper. It was warm ? but it was worth it! It was great! Easy recipe and great taste! Making amateurs look like professionals!!

Great recipe! Super easy and my turkey was moist,delicious and beautiful!

The taste is perfect, it was a little too spicy for my kids so next time will have to cut down on cayenne pepper

The family ranted and raved about how good my turkey was!

Loved it, so simple and yummy :-)

I have to say this.... I wish I could hang with Chef John, without him ...and countless others on this site my family would starve! I wouldn't get a man through his stomach, I wouldn't get teenagers to remain at the table and the most of all I wouldn't get the approval of crusty elderly people I have learned so much and I thank you.

Delicious, but too salty for our taste (and we enjoy salt). The cayenne pepper was a nice change. If you taste the dry spice mix it will be spicy, but once cooked on the turkey - it was very nice and not at all too spicy. I used a 16.5 pound turkey and followed the recipe exactly (exception: recipe calls for 12 pound turkey and I only had fine Sea Salt). I think had I used this on a 12 pound turkey, I'd be rating it lower than four stars because it would have been SO salty. The next time I make this I will reduce the salt to 1 Tablespoon or perhaps slightly rounded Tablespoon. ( I used Bob's Red Mill Sea Salt. I have used Kosher salt before and although the Kosher was a tad larger grain - I believe it would still have been too salty). Next time I make this I will reduce the salt (to amount mentioned above) but, I will keep everything else as the recipe lists. Also, this recipe would be delicious with a roast chicken in place of turkey.

Easy and best turkey I ever made. Thank you. I did use a turkey bag to bake it in though. Yummy.

Super easy and great instructions

I followed directions exactly. It was done cooking in less than 3 hours. Next time I will get a meat thermometer as recommended.

Absolutely wonderful!!!! I did a few things different. I added the salt and peppers to the melted butter instead of sprinkling the seasonings over the buttered turkey, and it came out a beautiful, all over, roasted brown. I did not have sprigs of rosemary, so I used my dried rosemary and sage, lightly chopped, moistened, rubbed inside and place remaining inside the turkey. The gravy was very salty, so I plan to adjust the salt in the giblet broth instead of on the turkey. however, I did not stuff the turkey and that may change the saltiness. I plan to only bake a turkey this way in the future. It was that good!

Perfect.

A very simple recipe to follow!! And turned out amazing! Everyone enjoyed the turkey including our dogs that got a small treat!!

WOW! My husband and I cooked our very first turkey and thanks to Chef Jeff and Allrecipes it came out absolutely stunning in presentation and flavor by following recipe ingredients and watching the video which made it so easy for beginners like us !!! We are now excited to try other recipes from your site and want to wish you all a very happy thanksgiving!!!!!

Thank you so much for this recipe! I always felt completely incompetent to cook a nice turkey but this recipe makes it easy and straightforward and all the flavors are delicious. I didn't have fresh herbs on hand so subbed dry rosemary and thyme. Also didn't have cayenne so subbed red chile powder.

I followed the recipe and it came out looking like something you would see in a magazine. It was so juicy and delicious. Everyone came running with their phones. It was a 25 lb bird and gone the next day.

Most delicious turkey every! Shshshshsh, don't tell Grandma! ;)

I followed the instructions and then added a few things. The instructions are EXTREMELY EASY to follow. I also made my own stuffing and stuffed the turkey. I cooked it for almost 3 hours and it came out perfect. I used a 12 lb turkey and it was moist. I set it to the temperature indicated. For the person who says their turkey was not cooked after 3 hours, I would have to say it's the oven. All ovens are different but most should cook a 12lb turkey after 2 1/2 hours. I also used the popout timer. I place one on the thickest part of the thigh and another at the thickest part of the breast. The thigh timer popped first and then 20 minutes later the breast timer popped. I left it in the oven, turned off for an additional 10 minutes and the turkey was to perfection. My guests could not stop complementing how moist and delicious the turkey was. I am happy with this recipe and will continue to use it. Also this is the second time in my life I made a turkey. The first time was 22 years ago, followed a Betty Crocker recipe and this time I used this recipe. Both times it came out super delicious!

Used this recipe a couple of times now. I’ve put stuffing in with herbs. Loved it both ways! Also bribed first and that made it even better

I used this for our Christmas turkey. I’d never cooked a turkey before. It turned out perfectly and the size was perfect for a small family of 3...and we still had leftovers.

This was awesome! My Turkey was just over 13 lbs and took around 3.5 hours. I used dried rosemary and thyme and added Northwoods seasoning from Penzey's into the butter with the rosemary and thyme. I cut up several stalks of celery, several carrots, 3 small onions, and a green apple to rest in the pan because those are all delicious when cooked in the juices along with the Turkey. I also used convection, so I followed the standard guideline of reducing temperature by 25 degrees to 300. My whole family declared it spectacular, including the 6 and 9 year olds.

Great Starter for a beginner/novice. I added and adjusted, but the basics of this recipe will yield a perfect bird for family. I followed this recipe to a tee, but added 2 quarters of fresh naval orange, 2 quarters of sweet yellow onion, Five fresh, uncut garlic cloves, and also added garlic, rosemary, thyme, and sage to the butter reduction. I also added some rubbed sage to the salt, pepper, and cayenne. I know I’m going on and on, but I also doubled the amount of fresh veggies for the bed in the pan, and added pats of butter just under the skin of the bird. I slowed the cook time by going with 300°. And let me tell you, it was the best turkey I ever made! Thank you for the basis of this recipe, and never be afraid to add to it a little!!

I've made Thanksgiving turkey for many years. This was the best method I've found yet! Turned out better than brine and it was much easier.

My this year’s Thanksgiving Turkey! Easy and so good !!!Outstanding recipe.

I made this for the 1st time. this was the most moist turkey I've ever eaten. It was falling off the bone when trying to carve. The only thing I changed was I replaced 2 cups of water with chicken broth. Everyone loved it.

I didn’t use the celery, onion, or carrots. Also I didn’t have fresh sage. However this is the BEST turkey I’ve ever made. There were no leftovers!! I did use an oven bag to keep it moist.

first time making turkey without a turkey bag. My family loved it!

This is close to how I do my turkey, but I stuff two apples (big slices) in my bird (keeps it super moist). Then when it comes to roasting, cover mine with foil to start with, then uncover for the last hour, basting every 15 mins. Keeps the skin crisp and doesn’t burn.

I made my first turkey this year using this recipe and it turned out great. Our guests all thought it tasted wonderful and wanted the recipe themselves. Thank you!

OMG!!!!!! I have cooked many birds before but this recipe beats every recipe I’ve ever done! (in fact, I threw out every other turkey recipe I have!) No brining, smoking, deep frying to get a super moist, tasty bird—just use this recipe. The only thing I did do was to cook my 21lb bird an oven bag (due to a time crunch) for about 3 1/2 hours at 350. I had planned to remove it from the bag and cook it the last half hour uncovered (as oven bagged birds have not given me the golden brown color (see photo—taken just out of from the oven) I’m looking for), but when I opened the oven my bird was perfect! Thank you Chef John for this amazing recipe! Now I look forward to cooking my next turkey instead of dressing it:)

Good turkey! Veery juicy .

This was the best Turkey Recipe EVER!!! I followed it exactly but left out the Cayenne pepper. I was amazed at how much gravy this method made it was so amazing. We love gravy and never get enough. This method made the most delicious turkey and gravy. I had so many compliments this year. I wish All Recipes would take all their 5 star recipes and make a large cookbook. Please do this and you will get my sale for sure.

First turkey I made since my divorce, and this was the best! So much easier and better than the traditional “slow and low” people tout. Try it you won’t be disappointed!!

This turkey was excellent! And, as promised, it was super easy (video was super helpful)! Everyone was complimenting it at Thanksgiving dinner and it indeed looked like a magazine cover (but forgot to get a pic in the scramble of getting everything ready). Thank you, Chef John!

I have been making this Turkey riecpe

Easy to follow recipe and delicious! We had a 15 pound turkey and cooked it on convection.. it was done in 3 hours!

This recipe was a huge hit for my fiancé and I first thanksgiving feast! We will definitely make it again.

Used this recipe to cook my first turkey. It came out amazing! Moist and full of flavor. My stove is small and gets hotter than regular ovens, so I reduced time to be 12 min per pound.

I made it on a rack instead of on top of veggies. No one could believe how beautifully golden and moist it was! It stayed moist through reheating for multiple days! Saved for my ONLY way to roast a turkey! Its all about the thermometer I think. I am going to buy the oven proof kind just so I dont keep poking it, but it was still PERFECT!

The only recipe you'll ever need!

Hi, I am looking forward to making this. What is the cooking time if I add stuffing

awesome and easy and bursting with flavor! this will be my 6th year making it, per everyone's request!!

I’ve used these instructions to cook a whole turkey and a bone in breast. It’s simply delicious!

My turkey turned out quite well after all for me. I had mixed all dry ingredients in the butter and I rubbed the Turkey with it and baste a few times during cooking. Quite good, actually. Thank you for posting. :-)

My family said it was the best turkey I've ever made! It was easy, the only thing I did differently was use dry sage as I did not have fresh. Very flavourful!

First time cooking a turkey and it was a Hit!

Followed the recipe nearly to the letter. Juiciest turkey I have ever made. Thank you!!

I'm not big on rosemary or carrots with turkey but I used everything else and it turned out great!

My first turkey and it was a hit! Crispy skin and juicy turkey! And it was so easy...thank you! I followed the recipe except I added a little butter under the skin too.

I cooked a turkey using this recipe for Thanksgiving and I was most pleased with it. I followed directions and in return yielded a delicious juicy and beautiful turkey. Everyone enjoyed it and this is now the recipe for me for now on.

I wish I could give this 10 stars!! It was SO easy and turned out better than ANY turkey I've ever had. I made this recipe for Thanksgiving since my mom has passed the torch to me and I was worried mine wouldn't turn out like hers does. But she loved it and told me it was the best turkey she had in her whole life. It was a huge compliment and everyone one else felt the same! Look no further for a great recipe!

I made it on a rack instead of on top of veggies. No one could believe how beautifully golden and moist it was! It stayed moist through reheating for multiple days! Saved for my ONLY way to roast a turkey! Its all about the thermometer I think. I am going to buy the oven proof kind just so I dont keep poking it, but it was still PERFECT!

I made this in a turkey bag and it was excellent.

Delicious. I followed the directions except that I had some thyme to add in and I also cooked mine in a turkey bag, so I followed the temp/time for the bag instead of those here. Worked very well. Moist and delicious. The cayenne adds just the right amount of kick.

My cooking abilities are limited to pasta & putting premade meals in the oven. With minimal help I made this turkey & it was delicious. 11.5 pound turkey was in the oven for 2 hours 40 minutes. Thank you so much it was inexpensive & easy to follow!

I added poultry seasoning and cut back on the salt. The flavor was amazing, and the meat was super tender

I got all the way to the end and realized we forgot to get white wine.... I subbed light beer (coors light) and it still came out AMAZING. My husband said it's the first 'non boring' turkey he's ever had, lol. I think it was the best turkey I've had too. After the brine sat for 12 hrs I discarded the liquid & let the turkey 'dry out' over night in the fridge... this helps it brown better. It was picture perfect! It was just 2 of us and a little, so we did a turkey breast & scaled the recipe.

I covered the breast with foil and about halfway through i uncovered it. This helped keep the breast real moist. The turkey was perfect. By far the best I've made yet.

First time cooking a turkey and it's a huge success! Only variation I did is use more butter and next time I might step it up a little more, 6 tablespoons, since the rosemary and sage soak a lot of it up. Not sure if I'm biased since I cooked it but it's the most delicious turkey I've had in my life!

I have been cooking turkeys for many years and they come out pretty well in terms of moisture and flavor. However, I've never been able to cook one where the Turkey looked evenly golden brown and so pretty. This recipe is so easy to follow and I was happy with my results. I didn't have fresh sage or rosemary. My go-to store was out. So I mixed 2 teaspoons of ground sage and crushed rosemary into the butter when I melted it. I used the same spices to coat two chopped up celery stalks in a bowl and then stuffed the raw Turkey with the coated celery. That way my Turkey was able to still get a good, aromatic flavor from inside the cavity as it cooked. This recipe is a keeper! Thank you Chef John!

Thank you,turned out awesome

I followed the recipe exactly (aside from using table salt and a poultry seasoning instead of pepper and cayenne) and it turned into a masterpiece. My friends loved it and were impressed with my first bird haha so moist. Tip: leave the oven closed the full 3 or so hours. I had an 11 pound bird and did just over 3 hours.

It was perfect

I use this recipe every year and have always had a wonderful and juicy turkey.

Turned out great. Will use this one again!

Easy and delicious! I used Tastefully Simple Rustic Herb seasoning instead of fresh herbs because my grocery store was completely out with the Thanksgiving holiday. It turned out so delicious!

Omg!! Poultry is my nemesis!! This has been the best Turkey I have ever done!! Thank you Chef John his recipes never disappoint. I seasoned my turkey to my liking and injected it with Mojo. Covered it with bacon weave and stuffed it with a whole apple garlic and half a sour orange. I cooked it at 325° for 3 & half hours it was 15lb pounder at the 3 hour mark I checked for temp, breast was done but legs needed about 5 degrees. I covered the breast with aluminum foil. I did let the bird rest for a good hour before carving... I was amazed at house juice it was and completely cooked... I also tried not to open the oven door at all.

I made this yet again. It turned out great, again. I love all of the spices, but it does make a gravy that is a little too spicy. I added chicken stock to my gravy this time and less drippings, and it turned out perfectly! I love this recipe. I love chef John, and I am so grateful for this site.

I used this recipe for my first ever last year, and we were blown away. It turned out phenomenal and the recipe is so easy. Last time I made it, I accidentally kept the rosemary in the butter and applied the leaves to the outside, and guess what, best mistake I ever made, it was so delicious. I'm doing it every time now :).

I used this recipe to cook my 19 pound Christmas turkey and it turned out perfectly! I definitely plan to use this again.

my first turkey, came out great! I was nervous, but it was super easy. I added a sliced lemon with the vegetables for my own flare

I made the perfect turkey last thanksgiving using this recipe. I now routinely use it to roast the perfect chicken, each and every time throughout the year.