Easy, No-Fuss Thanksgiving Turkey

Four photos showing the cavity of the turkey being stuffed with salt, pepper, onion, apple, lemon and herbs.

Tuck the wings of the turkey underneath the turkey and set the turkey on a roasting rack inside a roasting pan (or on top of a bed of chopped veggies —carrots, onion and celery work well—in a disposable roasting pan). Tucking the wings prevents them from burning, and helps the turkey sit flatter.

Two photos showing the wing of a turkey being tucked underneath the bird.

Use your fingers to loosen and lift the skin above the breasts (on the top of the turkey) and smooth a few tablespoons of the herb butter underneath. Use some twine to tie the turkey legs together. Then slather the outside turkey in the rest of the herb butter. That’s it! You are ready to let your oven do the rest of the work!

Preparation of a thanksgiving turkey including fingers loosening the skin on the breast of an uncooked turkey. Then the turkey is placed in a roasting pan and basted in softened herb butter before being roasted in the oven.

You will want to check the turkey about half way through cooking. Use your oven light to see if the skin is golden, and then place a large piece of tinfoil over the breast meat of the turkey to help keep it from overcooking.

Side view of a roasted thanksgiving served in a large platter and garnished with lemons, garlic, apple and herbs.

Whether this is your first time cooking a turkey, or you just decided to give this method I try, I would love to hear from you! Rate the recipe and comment below with your experience.

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