Perfect Roast Turkey

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Turkey - Not Just for Thanksgiving

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (63)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(63)

Cook Time:
2 hr 30 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
8 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 20 min
Cook: 2 hr 30 min
Total:: 3 hr 20 min

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Ingredients

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 fresh turkey (10 to 12 pounds)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme
1 whole lemon, halved
1 Spanish onion, quartered
1 head garlic, halved crosswise

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the zest and juice of the lemon and 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves to the butter mixture. Set aside.

Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, quartered onion, and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.

Roast the turkey about 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil; let rest for 20 minutes.

Slice the turkey and serve.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Perfect Roast Turkey
Rebecca Brooklyn, NY 11-27-2009
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Simply Perfect!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Just like the name says, this is the Perfect Roast Turkey. Such a simple yet delicious recipe, it made making the T-giving... turkey so easy and delicious and the drippings made a great gravy.Read more
recipe Perfect Roast Turkey
missa tallahassee, FL 11-27-2009
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EASY and TASTY
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Delicious recipe, and so easy! The skin gets extremely crispy.
recipe Perfect Roast Turkey
adreana granda hills, CA 11-27-2009
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Best Juicy turkey!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I cooked this recipes this year for Thanksgiving and my family really enjoyed it. It came out really Juicy and delicious. Iam... becoming the master of Turkey for Thanksgiving. Read more
recipe Perfect Roast Turkey
Denise Tampa, FL 11-27-2009
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The Best Turkey Recipe Ever!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Thank you for this delicious recipe! We enjoyed the turkey recipe with root vegetables in previous years but this one was... even better! It was simply Perfect:) Read more
recipe Perfect Roast Turkey
Matthew Sandy, UT 11-26-2009
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Best tasting turkey I have ever had
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I saw this recipe a few days ago and wanted to try it. Needless to say after doing what the instructions said our turkey... today was without a doubt the best tasting bird I and others have ever had! Wonderful recipe and one I will be passing on to other family members.Read more
recipe Perfect Roast Turkey
Ellen Westminster, MD 11-26-2009
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ALWAYS a family favorite!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is my third year making this turkey (we just finished eating it) and it was fabulous! Thank you ina!