How to Roast the Perfect Turkey for Thanksgiving Day

Even though it takes some effort, Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday! In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to roast a turkey so it turns out golden brown, moist, and full of flavor.

I’ll also be answering a few of the most common questions; like whether you should cover the turkey with foil and when to take the foil off.

And don’t forget to grab the FREE Turkey Roasting Charts, plus explore my full collection of Easy Recipes for Thanksgiving shared below.

Table of Contents

• Recipe at a Glance
• Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
• How to Prep a Turkey for Thanksgiving
• Should I cover my turkey with foil?
• Thanksgiving Printables Your Family Will Love
• Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?
• Recommended Kitchen Tools
• My Kitchen Tools Essentials
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Step-by-Step Instructions for Roasting a Turkey
• What Temperature do you Cook a Turkey to?
• How to carve a Turkey
• How to make Homemade Gravy
• How to keep Turkey Warm?
• Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
• Storing and Reheating Tips
• More Thanksgiving Recipes to LOVE
• Get the Turkey Thawing and Roasting Cheat Sheets for Stress-Free Holiday Cooking
• LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
• 📖 Recipe Card
• Recipe FAQ's
• How long to cook a Turkey in an Electric Roaster?
• Indulge in Flavor, Not Ads - Get Your Ad-Free Digital Cookbook Today!
• Important Update
• 💬 Comments

How to Prep a Turkey for Thanksgiving

Cleaning up after unwrapping a turkey can feel like a chore, so I like to handle this step the night before Thanksgiving. Prepping early not only saves time on the holiday but also helps the turkey roast more evenly.

• Remove the turkey from its packaging.
• Take out the neck and giblets from the cavity (save for stock or discard).
• Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• Place the turkey on a baking tray, cover loosely with paper towels and aluminum foil.
• Refrigerate overnight so the skin can dry slightly, which helps it crisp during roasting.

Should I cover my turkey with foil?

Covering the turkey with foil helps lock in moisture, but leaving it uncovered at the right time ensures crispy skin.

• Tent the turkey loosely with foil for most of the roasting time.
• This keeps the meat from drying out.
• Remove the foil during the last 30–45 minutes so the skin browns and crisps.

How long should I keep my turkey covered with foil?

• Keep the turkey covered for the majority of the roasting time.
• Uncover near the end so the skin can crisp and turn golden brown.
• For large turkeys, check once or twice during roasting and re-tent if needed.

When do you take the foil off of a turkey?

• Take the foil off during the last 30–45 minutes of cooking.
• If the turkey is browning too quickly, loosely tent it again to prevent burning.

Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?

You don’t need to start with water in the roasting pan. A turkey will release plenty of natural juices as it cooks, which keeps the meat moist and creates a flavorful base for drippings.

• Adding water at the beginning can cause steaming, which may prevent the skin from crisping.
• If you prefer, you can add a splash of water partway through roasting to keep drippings from burning.
• Too much water dilutes the flavor of the pan juices and can lead to a less flavorful gravy.

My tip: I always begin with a dry roasting pan. As the turkey cooks, its juices create rich drippings. Near the end, I add just a splash of water to loosen and enhance those juices for gravy.

👉If you’d like to take the flavor up a notch, try brining your turkey before roasting. My Holiday Poultry Brine Cheat Sheet includes nine different brine recipes to help you create juicy, flavorful poultry every time.

Ingredients You'll Need

Step-by-Step Instructions for Roasting a Turkey

Step 1: Remove the turkey from the refrigerator, uncover it, and place it breast side up in a Roasting Pan with Rack. Season the cavity with salt and pepper. If you’re stuffing the turkey, add the prepared stuffing now being careful to stuff it loosely.

Step 2: Tuck the wings back or under the bird, then truss the legs together with kitchen twine. Spread softened butter generously over the turkey, then season the outside with salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, or your favorite spice blend.

Step 3: Roast the turkey at 400°F for the first 20 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 325°F and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 hours. Baste the turkey with warmed chicken broth or the pan juices every 20–30 minutes. For exact roasting times based on your turkey’s weight, check out the Printable Turkey Roasting Chart below.

How to carve a Turkey

• Roast the turkey early in the day and carve it before guests arrive to keep the kitchen clean and stress-free.
• Remove the entire breast from the turkey before slicing for neat, even pieces of white meat.
• After slicing the breast, carve the thighs, wings, and legs.
• Keep the carved turkey in a large pan covered with aluminum foil until ready to serve.

How to make Homemade Gravy

• Instructions on how to make lump-free gravy are in my post for Pot Roast. It's the SAME recipe, only you'll be using the turkey drippings for turkey gravy instead of the beef broth from the pot roast.
• Step-by-step photo instructions are included in that post as well.

How to keep Turkey Warm?

• Place the turkey in an Oster Turkey Roaster, or any electric roasting pan.
• Fill the bottom tray of the roaster with warm water.
• Arrange the sliced turkey in the removable tray, then insert it into the roaster.
• Set the roaster to the warm setting (around 200°F).
• The warm water in the bottom tray creates gentle steam, helping keep the sliced turkey warm and moist without drying it out.

Storing and Reheating Tips

Refrigerator: Place any leftover turkey in an airtight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate within two hours of cooking and store for up to four days.

Freezer: Portion any leftovers it into meal-sized amounts before freezing in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months.

Thawing and Reheating: Thaw safely in the refrigerator overnight and then enjoy your turkey in sandwiches, soups, salads, and more!

More Thanksgiving Recipes to LOVE

• Candied Sweet Potatoes and Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing are two of my favorite side dishes for Thanksgiving! 
• Company Mashed Potatoes - prepare your mashed potatoes the day before with this delicious recipe for creamy mashed potatoes. 
• I always cook an additional Turkey Breast cooked in the crock pot so we have extra white meat for family to take home leftovers to make turkey sandwiches the next day. 
• Planning a group gathering? Check out What to Make for a Thanksgiving Potluck and my post on The Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Serve for your Holiday for easy side dishes and desserts to go with your turkey.

How long to cook a Turkey in an Electric Roaster?

Here’s how to roast your turkey in an electric roaster for juicy, evenly cooked results:

• For an unstuffed turkey, plan on 8–10 minutes of cooking time per pound at 325°F.
• Prep and season the turkey as outlined above.
• Place the turkey in the electric roaster and set the temperature to 325°F.
• Keep in mind that cooking time can vary depending on the weight of the turkey.