Even a novice can cook a moist, flavorful turkey with ease.
In this guide, I'll share 5 simple tips on how to cook a juicy turkey in the oven, plus my best roast turkey recipe with step-by-step instructions from start to finish. Follow along, and you'll have a golden, tender bird so good, you will want to cook more than once a year!
"Hi there! I've used this recipe to brine and cook my turkey for the last three years, and I even shared it with my mother for her to cook her turkey last year. It is simply amazing, and everyone always raves about how delicious the turkey is. I also use your maple butter glaze recipe! I've stopped by your page because I'm making my shopping list, and thought it's high time I shared my appreciation. Thank you so much for sharing and making my turkey the star of the show every year!!"
★★★★★- Karen
Is this your first time cooking a turkey? You're not alone. Growing up, I'd hear the adults grumble about how stressful, time-consuming, and downright intimidating it was to roast the Thanksgiving bird. The turkey was often described as dry, bland, and more of a tradition than the main highlight.
When it became my turn to break into the Thanksgiving Rite of Passage, I was terrified. After doing a little research (and a lot of trial and error), I discovered the truth: roasting a turkey doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, it can be surprisingly simple, even for beginners.
Now my turkeys come out beautifully brown, tender, juicy, and full of flavor. I had no idea what I'd been missing out on all those years. That's why I am sharing with you my tips and tricks to help you cook the perfect Thanksgiving turkey without the stress!
Whether it is your first bird or fiftieth, this guide will help your turkey turn out delicious - and the star of your holiday table. Enjoy! Xoxo -Katie.
Jump to:
- Watch how to cook a turkey
- Tip 1 - Completely thaw your turkey
- How do you thaw a turkey?
- Thawing tips
- Tip 2 - Brine
- What do you brine a turkey in?
- How do you brine a turkey?
- Tip 3 - Use a meat thermometer
- What is the best temperature to cook a turkey?
- Tip 4 - Baste
- Tip 5 -Rest
- Should you cover the turkey with aluminum foil when cooking it?
- Should you stuff a turkey?
- What size turkey should you buy?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Watch how to cook a turkey
Follow these steps and you will have the best tasting turkey ever!
Tip 1 - Completely thaw your turkey
You can buy a fresh turkey and alleviate some of the stress, but odds are you are going to buy a frozen turkey.
The key is giving yourself plenty of time to let it thaw completely.
If you cook a half-frozen turkey in the oven, you will have a kitchen nightmare. TRUST ME!! It will not cook evenly and the icy spots will never reach a safe eating temperature.
That's why thawing your turkey is one of the most important steps in the whole process.
How do you thaw a turkey?
Place your turkey breast side up unwrapped in the refrigerator thaw. Thaw the turkey on cookie sheet or pan to catch any dripping juices from the turkey. Calculate 24 hours in the fridge for every 4 lbs of turkey.
To Cold Water Thaw: Butter Ball says: Thaw breast side down, in an unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover your turkey completely. Change water every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled. Estimate a minimum thawing time of 30 minutes per lb.
Thawing tips
- Give yourself ample time for defrosting. You cannot buy a 20 pound turkey the night before to cook the next morning for your Thanksgiving meal! There will not be enough defrosting time!
- Buy a smaller turkey if you do not have days to thaw it.
- You can not thaw your turkey at room temperature. You will need to thaw it out in the refrigerator or "cold water thaw" it.
Tip 2 - Brine
The best way to cook a delicious turkey is to brine it first. Why brine? Brining enhances the flavor of your turkey and most importantly, it keeps that bird moist!!!
Brine your bird for at least 2 hours. I often brine my bird overnight.
These are the ingredients you will need to use for the brine:
- Kosher salt
- brown sugar
- water
- apple juice
- ice
*You will find the brine recipe at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
*This post contains affiliate links.
What do you brine a turkey in?
Brine your turkey in a stainless steel pot, bucket, or a brining turkey bag such as Large Turkey Brine Bags Heavy Duty for Turkey or Ham XL, 2 pack, with Cooking Twine
The container will need to be able to fit in your refrigerator! You do not want to use a cooler because it will not regulate the correct temperature to keep it from spoilage.
How do you brine a turkey?
- Dissolve kosher salt and brown sugar in hot water.
- Stir in apple juice and ice.
- Submerge turkey in brine for 2 to 12 hours in the refrigerator. I recommend 10 hours.
Discard the brine when ready to cook. You do not use the brine in your cooking. The brine should never be used as a sauce to cook your turkey in.
Tip 3 - Use a meat thermometer
You are working with a big bird, and the estimated cooking time depends on its size. The key word is estimate. Your turkey may cook a little slower or faster than expected.
- It takes about 15 minutes cook time per pound at 325 degrees oven temperature to cook the turkey... However, this is truly an estimate.
- The only way to know your turkey is cooked perfectly is by using a meat thermometer. With an oven-safe thermometer, you can track it as it roasts; with a digital one, you'll know the instant it reaches that ideal temperature.
- Use a leave-in oven-safe thermometer. This prevents you from repeatedly poking the turkey skin with an instant-read thermometer and letting out that beautiful juice.
This digital meat thermometer works great for the oven.
What is the best temperature to cook a turkey?
People love to debate the "right" internal temperature for turkey. I have seen everything from 165 degrees to 185 degrees.
The truth is, turkey is safe to eat at 165 degrees. I recommend pulling it out of the oven at that point and letting it rest. As it rests, the temperature will continue to rise, ending with juicy, perfectly cooked turkey that is completely safe to serve.
Tip 4 - Baste
Do you see that pretty brown golden skin on my turkey? All of my turkeys look this way. Do you know why?
I lovingly baste them. I slather them up in an AMAZING butter and maple syrup recipe I found in a "Cuisine at Home" magazine.
Baste your turkey the last hour of cooking every 15 minutes.
It makes that skin a beautiful color and it makes the turkey taste WICKED GOOD! Find the baste recipe in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Tip 5 -Rest
Resist the urge to carve your turkey the second it comes out of the oven. Give it time to rest.
Resting gives the juices time to redistribute evenly throughout the meat. If you carve too soon, you will lose all of that flavorful moisture. Resting also allows the meat to firm up slightly, making it easier to carve.
Ideally you should rest your turkey about 30 minutes. I would not do anything less than 20 minutes.
Use that resting time to set the table, fill the drink cups, or any other last minute things you need to do before serving Thanksgiving dinner.
Should you cover the turkey with aluminum foil when cooking it?
I only cover the turkey with foil if it's cooking too quickly.
With larger birds, the skin or breast can start browning before the inside is fully cooked. If that happens, just tent the breast or any over-browning spots with foil to slow things down and keep it cooking evenly.
If you cover the entire turkey in the roasting pan it will steam cook it. That would not be good.
A smaller turkey most of the time doesn't have this problem. If it isn't browning too fast before the last hour, you won't need the foil.
The foil is the backup. The meat thermometer will let you know if only part of the turkey is cooking too fast.
Should you stuff a turkey?
I do not suggest stuffing the turkey. The turkey will be overcooked before the stuffing on the inside is safe to eat.
What size turkey should you buy?
When choosing a turkey size, you want about 1.5 lbs per person. That seems like a lot, but it will cook down and you will want a little for leftovers.
Thanksgiving side dishes:
- Granny Moore's Dressing
- Cranberry Apple Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole
- Pineapple Casserole
- Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
- Southern Crockpot Green Beans and Potatoes
- Southern Collard Greens
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Corn Pudding
- How to Cook Field Peas
- Tomato Grits Casserole
- Hash Brown Casserole
- Seven Layer Salad
- Ambrosia Salad
- Salted Caramel and Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
Serve your perfect turkey with homemade sweet tea and these tasty Thanksgiving side dishes!
When you make your turkey, please let me know how it turned out in the comment section! I want to hear all about it!! My other readers do too!
Also post your picture of your turkey on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with a #aforkstale hashtag! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
How to Cook a Turkey - 5 Tips For A Juicy Turkey
Ingredients
- 8 lb turkey
Brine Ingredients
- ½ cup kosher salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 cups apple juice
- 4 cups ice
Baste Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Completely thaw turkey.8 lb turkey
Make the brine.
- Dissolve kosher salt and brown sugar in hot water.½ cup kosher salt, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 cups hot water
- Stir in apple juice and ice.2 cups apple juice, 4 cups ice
- Submerge turkey in brine for 2 or more hours in the refrigerator. I recommend 10 hours for optimal flavor and tenderness.
Cook the turkey.
- Roast the turkey uncovered on a rack in a roasting pan at 325 degrees. Plan for about 15 minutes per pound, but rely on a meat thermometer for accuracy. Turkey is done once it reaches an internal 165 degree temperature.
Make the baste on the last hour of cooking turkey.
- In a pan, melt butter and mix in maple syrup.¼ cup butter, ¼ cup maple syrup
- Baste the turkey every 15 minutes during the final hour of cooking.
- Allow the turkey to rest 20 to 30 minutes before carving and serving.
Video
Notes
**This recipe is for an 8 lb turkey. Adjust and double to the size of your turkey.
Lettz says
Best most delicious turkey every time
Lettzbeme says
This is still the ultimately best turkey recipe ever. Every time I use it everyone coment on how delicious and moist the meat is. If you have nit tried it then do. I brine mine in a bin bag without air holes then put it is a nif storage box.
Natalie says
We have used this recipe the last 3 years for thanksgiving and it turns out perfectly every time! The drippings make a delicious gravy, especially with the butter and maple syrup from the baste.
Ashley says
Hello, can’t wait to try this, do you rinse your turkey after it comes out of the brine?
Katie Crenshaw says
Great question Ashley. No, you do not need to rinse off the brine from the turkey.