How to Make the Best Roasted Turkey in the Oven
Is it possible to make the best roasted turkey in the oven? Many struggle with their oven-roasted turkey coming out too dry. The trick to the best-roasted turkey, I think, is in the brine. You can’t just toss a whole turkey in the oven all willy nilly and hope for the best. Instead, you need to show it a little love, attention, and brine! Let’s chat about roasting a brined turkey.
Brined & Roasted Turkey Recipe
What You Will Need (Full Printable Recipe Available Below)
Ingredients:
- 1 whole Turkey
- 2 cups kosher salt
- 2 gallons water
- olive oil
- 1 apple, cut into quarters
- 1 onion, cut into quarters
- 2 stalks of celery, cut into pieces
Additional
- Large stockpot
- Roasting pan
When the holidays roll around each year it’s a great time to get together with loved ones and family and share an amazing meal or two. A roast turkey often becomes one of the top choices for what to serve on the holidays.
If this is your first time hosting, or maybe you have been doing it for years I hope you love this roast turkey recipe as much as we do. If it is, in fact, your first time, then let’s go over how to roast a turkey that you will be proud to put on your table.
How to Brine a Turkey for Roasting
Ingredients:
As always, let’s first make sure that we have all of our turkey brine ingredients. There isn’t much to it. I like to keep things simple. ๐
The Day Before Cooking a Turkey
The best way to roast a turkey is to plan ahead. So, the day before cooking you will need to remove your turkey from its packaging. Remove the gravy packet, if there is one and the giblets. Now, rinse your turkey well on the inside and outside. Side note, I have a friend who washed her turkey with soap. Please do not do that – plain water is fine. In a large stockpot go ahead and dissolve the salt in the water. Once the salt is completely dissolved, add your turkey to the pot.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy
The Day of Cooking a Roasted Turkey
- When ready to starting cooking you will need to set your turkey roasting temp and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. The cooking times for how long to roast a turkey will vary depending on weight but your temp will remain at 350.
- Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse well on the inside and outside. Pat dry and place the turkey in a roasting pan. When cooking a turkey in a roasting pan you can easily find one online HERE if you don’t already have one.
- With the turkey in the pan bend wings under the bird.
- Stuff the cavities of the turkey with the apple, celery, and onion.
- Baste the turkey with olive oil and generously salt and pepper on all sides.
- Place your turkey in the oven and cook according to the chart below or until reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Keep an eye on the turkey as it cooks. Don’t sit in front of it and watch like a television, but check on it throughout the cooking process. If the skin on top browns faster then the rest of the turkey you will want to loosely cover it with foil to prevent burning.
- When your roasted turkey is cooked and the internal temp has reached 165 degrees remove from the oven. Allow the turkey to rest for 20 to 30 minutes prior to carving.
How long does it take to roast a turkey?
- 10 to 18 pounds – cook 3 to 3-1/2 hours
- 18 to 22 pounds – cook 3-1/2 to 4 hours
- 22 to 24 pounds – cook 4 to 4-1/2 hours
- 24 to 29 pounds – cook 4-1/2 to 5 hours
Serve your turkey along with your favorite side dishes and enjoy.
Printable Recipe
How to Make the Best Roasted Turkey in the Oven
Make the best roasted turkey in the oven. See the easiest method to roasting a brined turkey in the oven with clean and simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 whole Turkey
- 2 cups kosher salt
- 2 gallons of water
- olive oil
- 1 apple, cut into quarters
- 1 onion, cut into quarters
- 2 stalks of celery, cut into pieces
- Additional
- Large stockpot
- Roasting pan
Instructions
- Remove turkey from the packaging. Remove gravy packet (if included) and giblets. Rinse well on the inside and outside.
- In a large stockpot, dissolve kosher salt in water. Once the salt is completely dissolved, add the turkey to the pot. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The day before cooking:
When ready to cook:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove turkey from the brine and rinse well on the inside and outside. Pat dry. Place in a roasting pan and bend wings under the bird.
- Add the apples, celery, and onions to the cavities of the turkey.
- Baste the turkey with olive oil and generously salt and pepper on all sides.
- Place turkey in the oven and cook according to the chart below or until reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Watch turkey carefully. If the skin on top begins to brown faster than the rest of the turkey, create a loose tent of aluminum foil over the top of the turkey.
- When done, allow the turkey to rest for 20 to 30 minutes prior to carving.
Notes
Roast Turkey Cooking Times:
10 to 18 pounds 3 to 3-1/2 hours
18 to 22 pounds 3-1/2 to 4 hours
22 to 24 pounds 4 to 4-1/2 hours
24 to 29 pounds 4-1/2 to 5 hours
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.