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A perfectly cooked roast turkey, golden brown and ready for carving

Best way to grow a Perfect Roast Turkey in 4 Hours

This recipe guides you through roasting a perfect turkey in just 4 hours, ensuring a juicy and flavorful result. Ideal for holiday gatherings or a special family meal, it simplifies the process without compromising on taste.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 whole turkey 12-14 pounds, thawed
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 medium onions, quartered
  • 3 medium carrots, roughly chopped
  • 3 medium celery stalks, roughly chopped
  • 4 cups chicken broth

Equipment

  • Roasting pan
  • Roasting rack
  • Meat thermometer
  • Small bowl
  • Basting brush

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and ensure the turkey is thawed and patted dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, mix softened butter with rosemary, thyme, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to create a herb butter.
  3. Gently separate the skin from the turkey breast and spread about half of the herb butter underneath; rub the remaining butter all over the outside of the turkey.
Roasting
  1. Stuff the turkey cavity with quartered onions, chopped carrots, and celery stalks.
  2. Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan and pour chicken broth into the bottom of the pan.
  3. Roast for 30 minutes at 425°F (220°C), then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue roasting for 3 to 3.5 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F (74°C).
  4. Baste the turkey with pan juices every 30-45 minutes to keep it moist.
Resting and Serving
  1. Once cooked, remove the turkey from the oven, tent it loosely with foil, and let it rest for at least 20-30 minutes before carving.
  2. Carve the turkey and serve with your favorite side dishes.

Notes

For extra crispy skin, briefly increase the oven temperature to 450°F (230°C) for the last 15 minutes of roasting. If the turkey skin starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover it with foil. The vegetables in the pan will add flavor to the pan juices, which can be used to make gravy.