Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

mom's thanksgiving rosemary roasted turkey

(1 rating)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Dene Mitzel
Biloxi, MS

This is the roasted turkey recipe that I have always used for Thanksgiving Day. :)

Blue Ribbon Recipe

If you're a fan of the Mediterranean flavors, then add this turkey recipe to your holiday menu. The olive oil, garlic, and herbs rubbed under and over the skin infuse so much fantastic flavor and moisture. You're left with a beautiful and delicious turkey. It has a rich aroma and incredible rosemary and garlic flavor.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(1 rating)
prep time 25 Min
cook time 4 Hr
method Bake

Ingredients For mom's thanksgiving rosemary roasted turkey

  • 3/4 c
    olive oil
  • 3 Tbsp
    minced garlic
  • 2 Tbsp
    chopped, fresh rosemary
  • 1 Tbsp
    chopped, fresh basil
  • 1 Tbsp
    Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp
    ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 1
    12 lb. turkey

How To Make mom's thanksgiving rosemary roasted turkey

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Olive oil and seasonings combined in a bowl.
    2
    In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, basil, Italian seasoning, black pepper and salt. Set aside.
  • Washing the turkey.
    3
    Wash the turkey inside and out; pat dry. Remove any large fat deposits.
  • Loosening the skin from the turkey.
    4
    Loosen the skin from the breast. This is done by slowly working your fingers between the breast and the skin.
  • Continuing to loosen the skin.
    5
    Work it loose to the end of the drumstick, being careful not to tear the skin.
  • Adding oil/seasoning mixture under the turkey skin.
    6
    Using your hand, spread a generous amount of the rosemary mixture under the breast skin and down the thigh and leg.
  • Rubbing remaining mixture over turkey.
    7
    Rub the remainder of the rosemary mixture over the outside of the breast.
  • Using a toothpick to cover breast meat with skin.
    8
    Use toothpicks to seal skin over any exposed breast meat.
  • Adding water to a roasting pan.
    9
    Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the pan.
  • Turkey roasted in the oven.
    10
    Roast in the preheated oven 3 to 4 hours, or until the internal temperature of the bird reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).
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