Oven Baked Herb Turkey

Oven-baked herb turkey is perfectly juicy and tender! It’s stuffed with slices of citrus, a crisp apple, and fresh herbs then baked until it’s a toasty golden brown. It’s mouthwatering and delicious!

Thanksgiving turkey is not complete without all the side dishes! Try this Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Carrots, or Cauliflower Au Gratin. And you must end the night with some Pumpkin Pie! 

Oven Baked Herb Turkey

Thanksgiving would not be the same without a beautiful turkey on your dinner table. This turkey recipe is the BEST. Your guests will not be disappointed! It will have everyone raving about your beautiful, golden-brown turkey. Dinner for Thanksgiving does take time and needs a lot of care and preparation before baking. But this recipe is super straightforward and anyone can make it! You will have the perfect turkey to serve this Thanksgiving.

The turkey is the most important part of Thanksgiving and what everyone is looking forward to. These step-by-step instructions will help make your Thanksgiving the best it has ever been! And when you’re done with the turkey then these sides of Sweet Potatoes and Mashed Potatoes, brown butter carrots, and Green Bean Casserole go fantastic with any Thanksgiving dinner!

How to Thaw and Prep a Turkey

It is best to start off with a completely thawed turkey. This can take 3 to 7 days depending on how frozen and how large your turkey is so you definitely need to be thinking ahead. You thaw a turkey by placing it into the refrigerator in a large pan or baking sheet. And then you just leave it there until it’s no longer frozen! Once your turkey is thawed and you are ready to bake your turkey here are a few steps to prepare your turkey for the oven:

1. Remove from fridge: Remove your turkey from the refrigerator for about 30 minutes prior to preparing. This will help it to bake more evenly.
2. Dry: Pat turkey completely dry, soaking up any excess water with paper towels.
3. Remove giblets: In the turkey cavity you will want to remove the neck and giblet bag.
4. Tie it up: With kitchen twine or string, tie the legs together.
5. Fold under the wings: Take the turkey wings and fold the end of them under your bird. This will prevent them from burning and drying out.

Brine the Turkey First!

Brining a turkey means that you soak it in a water and salt solution (a brine). If you brine your oven-baked herb turkey then it will help to keep the meat moist and it adds even more flavoring to the meat!

• Create a water bath for your turkey with a salt and water solution. Then, you add in herbs and citrus flavors. Use this Turkey Brine Recipe for the best results!

Ingredients for Oven Baked Herb Turkey

Turkey is the most important part of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Having just the right ingredients will tenderize, add flavor and create a perfectly golden turkey for your Thanksgiving! See the recipe card below for a list of exact ingredient measurements.

• Turkey: 12 to 20 pounds

Stuffing ingredients: 

Combine these stuffing ingredients for a sweet, rich, and tender turkey. 

• Onion: adds a bitter but sweet flavoring.
• Garlic: has a mellow, sweet and spicy taste.
• Rosemary sprigs: a lemon-pine flavoring with a peppery ending.
• Apple: crisp and cut into quarters.
• Lemon: sweet and sour lemon quartered for more flavoring.
• Thyme sprigs: a powerful herb that is pungent and slightly bitter.

Herb butter:

Baste and coat your turkey with this buttery herbed mixture for a crispier outside and tender inside.

• Butter: helps make everything tender and rich in flavor.
• Garlic: minced and added into the mixture.
• Thyme: fresh and finely chopped.
• Oregano: finely chopped and adds a strong aromatic taste.
• Rosemary: fresh and finely chopped.
• Salt and pepper: just a pinch!

How to Make Oven Baked Herb Turkey

This oven-baked herb turkey is golden brown, tender and juicy! It’s the absolute perfect turkey recipe that will make you wish that Thanksgiving came around more often!

• Prepare turkey: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. To prepare the turkey, remove the neck and giblets. Tuck the wings underneath the turkey.
• Stuff your turkey: Stuff the turkey with the onion, garlic, rosemary, apple, lemon and thyme. Tie the feet together with twine.
• Combine the herb butter mixture: In a small bowl combine the butter, garlic, thyme, oregano, rosemary and salt and pepper. Rub evenly over the turkey and underneath the skin.
• Bake turkey in roasting pan: Place the turkey in a roasting pan and cook for 15 minutes for each pound or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees and the juices run clear. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes before carving.
• Make turkey gravy: Save the drippings for the turkey and make this Turkey Gravy if desired.

How Long to Cook Your Oven Baked Herb Turkey

The last thing that you want to do is to overcook (or undercook) a turkey! So it’s important that you know a few things about your bird first!

• Turkey size: Know how big your turkey is. You will cook it for about 13-15 minutes per pound!
• Leave in meat thermometer: Use a meat thermometer! A leave in oven safe meat thermometer is a great way to continually check on the turkey. Place it in the thickest part of your turkey for the most accurate temperature reading. If you use a thermometer like this then you don’t have to keep opening your oven door towards the end. This will help keep the heat in and your turkey cooking!
• Cooking temp: Once your turkey has reached 165 degrees then take it out and let it reset. This is when you don’t cut into it and just let the juices keep smoking into your meat! This part is SO important!
• Brined turkey: A brined turkey will cook faster so keep a close eye on your turkey.
• Don’t eat pink: If your turkey is pink AT ALL then it isn’t done.

Tips for Cooking a Turkey

This tried and true oven-baked herb turkey recipe is just what you need for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner. It roasts your turkey to a crisp, golden brown outside and tender, juicy meat on the inside.

• Turkey size: You don’t want to run out of turkey! A good rule of thumb is to plan for a pound of turkey per person.
• Don’t forget to thaw it!: Thaw your turkey days ahead of time to make sure it is completely thawed.
• Use chicken stock: Adding 1 to 2 cups of chicken stock to the bottom of the roasting pan will keep the turkey from drying out. It also helps when making your turkey gravy at the end. If you are planning to brine your turkey then skip this tip.
• Use foil: If you notice your turkey is getting dark on top but your meat is not cooked through then simply add a piece of foil over top while it finishes roasting.

How to Carve a Turkey

Looking at the turkey and knowing where to carve the turkey is sometimes overwhelming. Carving a turkey is just a large bird and will still taste delicious no matter how you slice it! Here are some tips on where to start! Make sure your knife is sharp and you have a fork to help hold your turkey and plate in place while carving.

• Wings: Remove the turkey wings first.
• Thighs: Thighs will go next, cutting through the joints.
• Breast: Slice close to the rib cage carving the breast meat into individual slices.
• Excess meat: Move your knife to the flat side, carve right up against the rib bones.
• Separate: Now that the meat is off, separate the dark meat (thighs and drumsticks) from the white meat.
• Plate: Plate everything all together for more option choices at the dinner table.

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover oven-baked herb turkey makes the BEST leftovers! There are so many things that you can do with it! I love to make Leftover Turkey Casserole to use up the rest of the Thanksgiving dinner. Here is how you can store extra turkey to save for later!

• Refrigerate: Wait until your turkey has cooled. Then, place it in an airtight container and put it in your fridge, It can last there for 3 to 5 days.
• Freezer: After your turkey has cooled down then place it in a freezer bag. Lay your turkey flat in the bag and then zip or suction out all the air in the bag. Label your bag with the date and then you can keep it frozen for up to 1 month in the freezer. When ready to reheat, place in the refrigerator over night to thaw.
• Reheating: To reheat in the oven then place in a baking dish at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until warm. When reheating in a microwave, heat 1 to 2 minutes at a time until warm. Try not to over heat. This will leave your leftover turkey dry and hard.

Pie Recipes for Dessert

Thanksgiving dinner is just not complete without some pies! And the greatest thing about pies is there are SO MANY flavors to choose from! I have rounded up a few of my favorite tried and true pie recipes that everyone loves. Pick one, or make them all! You can’t go wrong!

Desserts

Homemade Cherry Pie

Desserts

Perfect Apple Pie

Desserts

Banoffee Pie Recipe

Desserts

French Silk Pie

Print

Oven Baked Herb Turkey

Oven baked herb turkey is perfectly juicy and tender! It's stuffed with slices of citrus, a crisp apple and fresh herbs then baked until it's a toasty golden brown. It's mouthwatering and delicious! 

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword baked turkey, turkey

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes

Servings 15 people

Calories 517kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

• 1 12-20 pound turkey thawed

Stuffing Ingredients

• 1 medium onion quartered
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 1 large apple quartered
• 1 medium lemon sliced
• 2 sprigs thyme

Herb Butter

• 1 cup butter softened
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 Tablespoon thyme finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon oregano finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon rosemary finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. To prepare the turkey, remove the neck and giblets. Tuck the wings underneath the turkey. Stuff the turkey with onion, garlic, rosemary, apple, lemon, and thyme. Tie the feet together with twine.
• In a small bowl combine the butter, garlic, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and salt and pepper. Rub evenly over the turkey and underneath the skin.
• Place the turkey in a roasting pan and cook for 15 minutes for each pound or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees and the juices run clear. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes before carving.
• Save the drippings for the turkey and make this turkey gravy if desired.

Notes

Updated on November 9, 2021

Originally Posted on October 20, 2019

Nutrition

Calories: 517kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 61g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 233mg | Sodium: 577mg | Potassium: 674mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 579IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 3mg

from The Recipe Critic https://ift.tt/30dxDHQ
https://ift.tt/2pBCakC

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

The best sweet potato casserole is smooth and creamy, sprinkled with a brown sugar pecan mixture. It’s a sweet and savory side dish that is perfect for the holidays!

Get ready for a life-changing moment with this sweet potato casserole recipe. If you love sweet potatoes like us, try honey cinnamon, candied, mashed, or this amazing sweet potato hash.

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Sides are my favorite part of Thanksgiving. I always find myself going back for seconds. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, even cranberry sauce… without them, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving! I could go on and on about my love for these, but for now, let’s talk about this AMAZING sweet potato casserole! It is truly the best I have ever had. It starts with softened sweet potatoes which creates the creamiest, most delicious texture! Then, with a little milk, eggs, vanilla, and brown sugar, it becomes a heavenly sweet treat. Top it with a crumbly brown sugar pecan mixture, and voila! A knockout side!

This sweet potato casserole is honestly so delicious, I will make it outside of the Thanksgiving season. This and corn casserole are some of the most requested sides by my family. I always make sure to make double batches since it goes so quickly! If you are looking for a foolproof recipe for the holidays, this is it. I know that you and yours will love it just as much as my family does! It’s fluffy, nutty, and sweet, with the rich sweetness of brown sugar in each bite. Truly, it is an irresistible side dish that will be loved by all.

Sweet Potato Casserole Ingredients

I love that the ingredients for this casserole are so simple. As long as you’ve got the sweet potatoes and pecans, chances are the rest of the ingredients are in your kitchen! This side dish is as easy to put together as it is delicious.

• Sweet Potatoes: These need to be softened ahead of time for best results. I’ll give you some tips below!
• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to the potatoes.
• Eggs: Bind all of the ingredients together and add to the creamy texture!
• Vanilla: Just a dash for extra flavoring.
• Milk: Makes your casserole perfectly smooth and creamy! I always opt for whole-fat milk here. The fat content makes each bite absolutely dreamy.
• Butter: Melted and added for a richer flavor.

Pecan Topping

• Brown Sugar: Gives your topping sweetness and a bit of texture.
• Flour: Separates and ensures no clumping with the sugar and pecans. It’s also going to add a tasty, crumbly texture.
• Melted Butter: Holds everything together and helps bake the topping perfectly.
• Pecans: Chopped and mixed in for a crunchy texture.

How Do I Prepare Sweet Potatoes for a Casserole?

There are a few ways of cooking sweet potatoes for this casserole recipe. The goal is to soften the sweet potatoes enough so they are easy to mash! You can either roast or boil your sweet potatoes. Both ways work great, it comes down to your personal preference! You can also use my mashed sweet potato recipe for more in-depth tips and tricks.

• Roasting: First, rinse and completely dry your sweet potatoes. Poke them with a fork a few times for ventilation. Next, lay your potatoes on a large baking sheet lined with foil and give them a spritz of cooking spray. Bake them for 1 hour at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Check with a fork to make sure they are tender. Once they’re done, let them cool. They’re now ready to peel! The skins should be soft enough to remove with your fingers. Give your sweet potatoes a quick chop and then add to a bowl for mashing.
• Boiling: Prepare your sweet potatoes by peeling and chopping them into 1-inch chunks. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Then, add the potatoes and boil for 20-30 minutes until tender. Strain the water out and add potato chunks to a large bowl for mashing.

Mashing Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes can be mashed using several methods. It ultimately comes down to your preference and the tools you have on hand!

• Hand Mashing: You can mash with either a fork or a potato masher. These methods will leave you with a rustic-style mash, with a mix of creamy potatoes and sweet chunks.
• Mashing with Appliances: Using a mixer or a food processor will leave you with equally smooth and creamy mashed sweet potatoes.

How to Make the Best Sweet Potato Casserole

Making this casserole is so easy, be prepared to have it as a regular in your holiday lineup! It’s so creamy and insanely good, you’re going to love it! Even my picky eater kids agree that this is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving.

1. Prep Casserole Dish: To begin, spray a 1 ½ to 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Mix Casserole Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and melted butter. Pour into prepared casserole dish.
3. To Make the Topping: Combine brown sugar, flour, melted butter and chopped pecans. Sprinkle over the top.
4. Bake: Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until cooked throughout and the top is lightly brown.

Sweet Potato Casserole Tips and Variations

One of the things I love most about this casserole recipe is that you can easily adjust it to your liking! You can change the mashing method depending on what kind of texture you want, and you can add additional flavors, too! Here are a few tips and tricks to upgrade your casserole this Thanksgiving!

• Add Different Nuts: If you’re not a fan of pecans, you can swap them out for other nuts with a sweet and savory crunch or just omit them entirely. Walnuts or almonds are always a great choice! I have also loved making this recipe with cinnamon sugar candied almonds.
• Adding Marshmallows: Marshmallows are so fun to use! They also brown perfectly, leaving the top layer perfectly glazed and golden. Add 1 cup of mini marshmallows on top 5 minutes before baking time is done. They should be nice and golden-brown!
• Seasonings and Spice: Sometimes I like to add in a pinch of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon to my sweet potato mixture. It gives it a nice warmth and a flavor fit for fall.

More Thanksgiving Favorites

Looking to switch up your recipe lineup this year? These are some of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving recipes, and they’ve never let me down! Just like this sweet potato casserole, they’re easy to make and bursting with flavor! I know they’ll bring joy to your friends and family just like they have with mine. I’ve included recipes both savory and sweet to satisfy each craving!

Side Dishes

Creamy Parmesan Garlic Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Side Dishes

Honey Orange Glazed Carrots

Side Dishes

Cranberry Pecan Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

Dinner

The Absolute BEST Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Storing Sweet Potato Casserole Leftovers

With the holidays just around the corner, the more prepared you are, the better. This sweet potato casserole recipe can be made in advance! It’s also perfect for leftovers if you want a quick and tasty treat days after Thanksgiving.

• Preparing Ahead: Assemble your sweet potato casserole in your casserole dish and cover with wrap or foil. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply follow baking instructions once you’re ready to serve! It’s so easy to just pop it in the oven and prepare your other Thanksgiving dishes.
• Storing in the Refrigerator: Leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving! Make sure your casserole has cooled completely. Then, either transfer to an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. It will stay good for 1 week!
• Storing in the Freezer: Store your cooled casserole in an airtight container. It will keep for 1 month. Thaw overnight before serving.
• Reheating: When you’re ready to reheat your sweet potato casserole, place it in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also pop a serving in the microwave for 15-20 second intervals until warm.

Tried and True Sweet Potato Recipes

Creamy, flavorful, and loaded with fiber and vitamins, sweet potato is one of my favorite veggies to cook with! It has such a versatile flavor and texture, you can prepare it in many different ways! I’ve gathered up some of my favorite sweet potato recipes here. They’re crazy delicious and really easy to put together. You’ve got to give them a try!

Desserts

Sweet Potato Pie

Side Dishes

Crispy Garlic Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

Side Dishes

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Side Dishes

3 Ingredient Candied Sweet Potatoes

A Reader’s Review

“I made this for Thanksgiving and it was such a hit I am making it for Christmas!!! When it is cold it is like pie!!”

Kris

Print

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

The best sweet potato casserole is smooth and creamy, sprinkled with a brown sugar pecan mixture. It's a sweet and savory side dish that is perfect for the holidays!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword sweet potato casserole, sweet potato casserole recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 12 people

Calories 339kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

• 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Topping:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

• Prepare a 1 ½ to 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and melted butter. Pour into prepared casserole dish.
• To make the topping: Combine brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and chopped pecans. Sprinkle over the top.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until cooked throughout and the top is lightly brown.

Video

Notes

Updated on November 8, 2021

Original Post was on November 6, 2014

Nutrition

Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 153mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 5172IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg

from The Recipe Critic https://ift.tt/32PgjUK
https://ift.tt/2qf3fux