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a golden lemon-herb roasted turkey in a wide horizontal shot, on a platter with lemon halves, rosemary, and herbs on an elegant holiday table, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Lemon Herb Roasted Turkey

A whole turkey rubbed with lemon and garlic and roasted to a golden brown. Herbs are under the skin.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 14 lb whole turkey
  • 0.75 cup butter softened
  • 2 lemons zested and halved
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tbsp fresh thyme chopped
  • 3 tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 325F and pat the turkey dry.
  2. Mix the butter with lemon zest, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
  3. Loosen the skin and spread the herb butter under and over the skin.
  4. Place the lemon halves inside the cavity and tie the legs.
  5. Roast about 3.5 hours, basting occasionally, until a thermometer reads 165F in the thigh.
  6. Rest 20 minutes before carving.

Notes

Tent with foil if the skin browns too fast.