Juicy Herb Roasted Turkey

Add wonderful flavor to your big dinner with this juicy herb-roasted turkey. Make sure you use the drippings for a delicious gravy! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin

Ingredients

8 fresh sage leaves plus 4 fresh sage sprigs, divided
6 fresh thyme sprigs, divided
Herb Roasted Turkey
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
4 medium onions
5 celery ribs
5 medium carrots
3 medium parsnips

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°. Chop 8 sage leaves and leaves from 2 thyme sprigs. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup oil, garlic, salt and pepper with chopped herbs. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub mixture under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks.
Cut onions into wedges and the celery, carrots and parsnips into 2-in. pieces. Place about a fifth of the onions, celery and carrots in the turkey cavity; add 4 sage sprigs and remaining 4 thyme sprigs to cavity. Arrange remaining vegetables evenly in a roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, over vegetables. Brush with remaining 1/4 cup oil.
Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 170°-175°, 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand 20 minutes before carving. Discard vegetables. If desired, use drippings to make gravy.

JUICY HERB-ROASTED TURKEY TIPS

How do I prep a turkey for roasting?

Remove the giblets—or the meaty pieces—from inside the turkey. They tend to be deep inside the bird. Next, remove and discard any large pockets of fat along the neck. Now the fun starts! Rub the bird with ample salt, preferably kosher, and your choice of seasonings. Massage all over the outside of the turkey. This is the secret to getting that extra-crispy skin we all crave. Return the bird to the fridge when you’re finished. For more tips, check out our guide to cooking turkey.

How do I make gravy with the turkey drippings?

A traditional from-scratch gravy recipe will wow your family or guests when served with this Juicy Herb-Roasted Turkey. Switch up the herbs to fit your preferences, or simply use what you have on hand!

What sides can I serve with juicy herb-roasted turkey?

You have the turkey… Now onto the sides! Here are the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes to round out your holiday dinner.

—Maggie Knoebel, Taste of Home Culinary Assistant

Photo by Taste of Home