Whether youre a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, these step-by-step instructions for how to roast a turkey will ensure that your turkey emerges golden brown, moist, and full of flavor.
Check out all the other Easy Recipes for Thanksgiving to create the perfect holiday meal for your family. Make sure you download and print out the FREE Turkey Cooking Charts at the bottom of the blog post!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There are no gifts to buy, no presents to wrap. Its all about FOOD. I love all the preparation that goes into the biggest meal of the year as well.
Its a lot of work, but so rewarding to sit down to a delicious meal with my family.
Check out the NEW Place Cards available to help you set a GREAT table for Thanksgiving! And if you want to cook a turkey breast, read my post on Crock Pot Turkey Breast.
Dont forget to print out the FREE Turkey Roasting Chart to refer to while the turkey is cooking. I keep mine on the windowsill above the kitchen sink and refer to it often while the turkey is cooking. [feast_advanced_jump_to]
To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.
Tips for Carving Roast Turkey
- I like to roast my turkey early in the day and have it carved before my guests arrive; that way I can have a clean kitchen.
- Always remove the turkey breast completely from the turkey body and then slice it on a cutting board. I know a lot of people like to slice the breast while its still attached to the turkey, but if you remove it completely, youll get beautiful slices of white meat.
- After the breast is removed and sliced, you can proceed to carve the dark meat, thighs, wings and legs.
- Keep the turkey in a large pan covered with aluminum foil until youre ready to serve.
How long should I keep my turkey covered with foil?
- If you notice that the turkey is getting too brown while it is cooking, cover the turkey with the lid from the roaster.
- If you dont have a roaster lid, you can cover the turkey loosely with aluminum foil.
- Covering the turkey with foil while cooking traps steam and moistness so the turkey doesnt dry out.
- The turkey is done when a Digital Meat Thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey’s thigh reads 170°F degrees.
- If you stuffed the turkey with dressing, the dressing should reach 165°F degrees for it to be safe to consume.
- Once the turkey is finished cooking, remove it from the oven. Take the turkey out of the roasting pan and place on a cutting board. Cover the turkey with aluminum foil. Let the turkey rest for 30 to 60 minutes before carving.
Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
FAQ
Is it better to cook a turkey breast at 325 or 350?
Do you put water in the pan when baking a turkey?
What’s the best temperature to cook a turkey breast?
Should a turkey breast be covered?
This means that starting out covered is the way to go. You also have the option to just cover the breast with foil, as the white meat cuts of turkey are less fatty to begin with and heat up faster than the wings and thighs. Because of that, they’re more at risk of drying out.
Should you cover a turkey breast before roasting?
Some recipes instruct you to cover only the turkey breast rather than the whole bird because the former cooks more quickly than the dark meat and is prone to drying out. In either case, remove the foil tent during the last 30 minutes of roasting time to encourage the crispiest skin possible.
Do you need a roasting pan to cook a turkey breast?
But because a turkey breast is smaller, you don’t necessarily have to use a roasting pan. You can also use an oven-safe skillet or any baking dish that will hold the breasts. Instead of a roasting rack, you can roast the turkey breast over thick-cut onions and potatoes (instant side dish!). What’s the Best Temperature for Cooking Turkey Breasts?
How do you cook a turkey breast in the oven?
Season the breast all over with salt and pepper (with some under the skin, if desired). Rub the seasonings into the skin. If you’re cooking a half-breast, pull the skin to cover the meat as much as possible. Lower the oven to 350°F and roast the turkey for 1 hour. Place the turkey in the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 350°F.