Holiday Main Dish Recipe

Butterball Turkey Recipe

Easy and Delicious!

Looking to make a Thanksgiving turkey that your guests go wild for? This Butterball turkey recipe uses the roasting method &  is so easy & fool-proof! If you don't have a Butterball, you can still use this turkey recipe!

Prep Time: 10 Min

Cook Time: Varies

Ingredients

– 1 Butterball Turkey, 4 ½-30 lbs, fresh or fully thawed and unstuffed – Olive oil or other cooking oil – Salt and pepper – Optional: fresh or dried thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley; minced garlic, lemon juice

Since Butterball turkeys come injected with a salt solution, you don't have to brine them. So easy! But you can if you want. I like to do an overnight dry brine with herbs, spices, garlic, & lemon.

To Brine or not to Brine?

I like to serve my stuffing on the side, but if you want to stuff your turkey,  make sure you take the temperature of it before serving as the stuffing can make you sick if not at the right temperature. The stuffing should be at 165° before serving.

To Stuff or Not to Stuff?

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Step 1

Remove giblets & turkey neck & pat turkey dry with paper towels.

Step 2

Place turkey breast side up on a flat rack in a shallow roasting pan 2 to 2½ inches deep. Turn wings back to hold neck skin in place.

Step 3

Brush skin with oil or butter & rub turkey & cavity with salt & pepper. You can also rub with fresh or dried herbs, spices,  minced garlic, & lemon juice. You can do this the day before roasting or right before.

Step 4

Optional: Insert oven-safe meat thermometer deep into the lower part of the thigh without touching the bone. 

Step 5

Place turkey in oven & roast until the thigh is 180° & breast is 170°. When turkey is about ⅔ of the way done, loosely cover breast with foil so it doesn’t overcook. See chart on next slide for times. 

Step 6

4.5 - 7 lbs Unstuffed: 2-2.5 hours Stuffed: 2.25-2.75 hours 7-9 lbs: Unstuffed: 2.5-3 hours Stuffed: 2.75-4.5 hours 9-18 lbs: Unstuffed: 3-3.5 hours Stuffed: 3.75-4.5 hours 18-22 lbs: Unstuffed: 3.5-4 hours Stuffed: 4.5-5 hours 22-24 lbs: Unstuffed: 4-4.5 hours Stuffed: 5-5.5 hours 24-30 lbs: Unstuffed: 4.5-5 hours Stuffed: 5.5-6.25 hours.

Turkey Roasting TImes

Remove turkey to a platter and let stand for about 20 minutes.

Step 7

Carve and serve.

Step 8

Enjoy your Butterball turkey (or whatever brand you buy) and, of course, all the side dishes & desserts!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Need another delicious Thanksgiving dish? This easy stuffing is the best side dish ever and goes perfectly with Butterball turkey! 

*Get the Best Stuffing Recipe*