This easy Thanksgiving turkey recipe is no frills – just a simple, delicious, juicy turkey that will be the star of the show on the big day!

A close-up image of a perfectly reasoned roasted Thanksgiving turkey. Text across the bottom of the image says, "The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey"

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, fam, and you know I couldn’t leave you without sharing the easiest Thanksgiving turkey recipe ever! Not only will you be pleased with the fact that you DON’T have to brine this turkey, but you hardly have to do anything to make this the most flavorful, juicy Thanksgiving turkey you’ve ever served.

Why You Need an Easy Turkey Recipe

Now, here’s the thing. I don’t feel the need to make my roasted turkey recipes complicated when I have a billion other things to cook on Thanksgiving. So, why complicate things with a turkey that takes hours and hours to prepare?! Not ‘round here, Cousins!

I get that from my mom. I remember watching her make our Thanksgiving turkey, and she always kept it simple–no brine, not a million ingredients, or all-day processing. That gave her more time to focus on the MANY side dishes and desserts, like a savory green bean casserole or a Southern sweet potato casserole. She was never overwhelmed in the kitchen… and you shouldn’t be either!

Thanksgiving is a HOLIDAY, for goodness’ sake! And while a flashy turkey may please your guests, I’m sure they won’t enjoy seeing you frazzled and sweating through your apron! That’s why this easy turkey recipe is practically foolproof. As long as you follow the simple steps (and my video below 😉), you’ll have a perfect Thanksgiving turkey that tastes great and keeps you cool in the kitchen.

Ingredients for the Easiest Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey

So, what exactly do y’all need for an easy roast turkey recipe? Well, I’ll tell you – a big ol’ turkey, some seasonings, and a lot of butter! You can find a list of ingredient measurements in the recipe card below, but here’s what you’ll be putting on your shopping list.

Turkey: the size of your turkey depends on how many people you’re feeding, so plan accordingly!
Herbs and Spices: we’re rubbin’ this turkey up with a whole lotta flavor. You’ll need ground sage, seasoning salt, garlic salt (or garlic powder), and basil.
Lemons & Onions: these aromatics, while pretty different from each other, work together to give your turkey so much flavor and moisture from the inside out!
Butter: we’re going to use a heap of butter to make a savory herb butter.

That’s all you need, my loves! With just a few ingredients, you’ll get a perfectly moist turkey packed with flavor. The savory herb butter does wonders to keep the turkey meat flavorful and juicy while also getting that nice, crispy skin everyone loves. If this is your first time hosting or making a turkey, boy, are your guests in for a real treat!

Step 1: Easy Turkey Prep

Now, first things first: prepping your perfect turkey! I have a whole guide on how to prep and cook a Thanksgiving turkey that gives you just about every turkey tip you could possibly need. But to keep you on THIS recipe, here are the highlights:

Pick a turkey large enough to feed all your guests… and then some! Plan for about 1.5 pounds of turkey per guest (or 2 pounds if you want turkey leftovers).
Give your turkey a thorough rinse in the sink–but be SURE to clean your sink really well after to avoid any nasty cross-contamination.
Thoroughly dry the turkey using paper towels. You want the skin nice and dry so all the seasoning sticks.
Untie that turkey and let it stretch its legs! Trim any excess skin from around the legs and opening of the cavity.
Speaking of the cavity, empty that out of all the innards. You’ll most likely find a turkey neck and a bag of giblets. (Pro-tip: you should definitely keep these to make smothered turkey necks and a delicious giblets gravy!)

Once your turkey is cleaned up, it’s time for the good part: a flavor party!

Step 2: Seasoning and Stuffing Your Turkey

Now it’s time to get all that flavor all up on your Thanksgiving bird. Start out by making the herb butter mixture. In a bowl, combine room-temperature butter (believe me, it’s not easy to mix cold butter!) with fresh minced garlic cloves, ground sage, and kosher salt.

A closeup image of a bowl of herb butter, which will be used to season the easy Thanksgiving turkey.

Here’s the most challenging part of this turkey recipe:

Use your hands or a rubber/plastic spatula to carefully separate the turkey skin from the meat. Slide your hand just under the skin, slowly moving around the turkey until there’s space under the skin around the whole turkey.
Next, take the herb butter mixture in your hands and rub it into the turkey, under the skin, all around the space you’ve made. (If you feel icky about using your hands, wear gloves!)
Take any excess butter you have and rub it all over the outside of the turkey – around the legs and in every nook and cranny until that whole bird is nice and covered.

A raw whole turkey sits on a cutting board, the skin covered in a savory herb butter mixture.

Once you’ve buttered your bird, take a mixture of ground sage, seasoning salt, garlic salt (or use garlic powder if you want to limit the amount of salt), and crushed dried basil and sprinkle that all over every surface of the turkey.

Finally, stuff the cavity of the turkey with some aromatics for extra flavor. I like to use onions and citrus fruits like lemons and oranges. If you want even more flavor, you can add things like garlic cloves or a bunch of fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and sage leaves.

A raw turkey rests in a roasting pan, covered with a mixture of savory seasonings and spices.

Step 3: Roasting the Easiest Thanksgiving Turkey

Once you get your bird all set up on the roasting rack and settled in for the long roast, crank that oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Cover the roaster with a lid or aluminum foil and place the turkey in the oven.

How long does it take to bake a Thanksgiving turkey? About 13-15 minutes per pound. If you have a 10-pound turkey, the total cooking time will be about 2.5 hours.

Turkey Roasting Tips:

Leave the turkey covered for the first two hours of cooking time, and don’t you dare crack that oven and peak!
After two hours, remove the foil and bake the turkey. Use the turkey drippings and any remaining herb butter mixture.
Leave the turkey uncovered for the last portion of cooking time to ensure that perfectly golden brown, crispy skin.

The safest way to ensure a fully cooked turkey is to check the internal temperature with a reliable meat thermometer. Check the temp in the thickest part of the thigh AND the thickest part of the breast – the turkey thigh should be at least 155-160 degrees F before it’s safe to remove from the oven (but don’t worry – your turkey will continue to carry over cook while it rests, bringing it right to a safe temperature of 165 degrees without overcooking and drying out the meat).

Rosie uses a red silicon basting brush to baste the partially roasted Thanksgiving turkey with more flavorful herb butter.

Giving the Turkey a Rest:

Carefully remove the turkey from the roasting pan (this is easy if your roaster comes with a removable rack) and place it on a baking sheet or clean cutting board.
Tent the turkey with aluminum foil to keep the bird nice and warm.
Let the turkey rest for at least 15-30 minutes. This will allow all the juices to settle and absorb back into the turkey meat, injecting every last lick of flavor into the bird.

Resting time is the perfect time to gather up the liquid gold turkey drippings from the bottom of the roasting pan and make a tasty turkey gravy.

And there you have it, fam! The easiest and best Thanksgiving turkey recipe you’re sure to find! While it might not come stacked and packed with bells and whistles, it sure is the tastiest roast turkey recipe that will shine on your holiday table.

A closeup image of a perfectly roasted turkey, covered in savory seasonings and crispy, golden brown skin.

More Holiday Dishes from I Heart Recipes

Now that you’ve got the easiest Thanksgiving turkey recipe under your belt, how about some more holiday dishes? Don’t miss this list of must-have Thanksgiving dishes, as well as my ultimate list of holiday dishes you can prep ahead of time to save time and stress in the kitchen. Looking for more? Try these holiday favorites:

From mine to yours, I wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

Loved easy turkey recipe? Share a photo of your Thanksgiving spread by tagging me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube! Don’t forget to check out I Heart Soul Food, Super Soul Food with Cousin Rosie, and A Cousin Rosie Holiday, with many recipes you can’t find anywhere else.