Easy Roast Turkey Recipe

AN EASY ROAST TURKEY RECIPE & OTHER IDEAS

Each year, our lovely staff shares personal, family recipes during the holiday season. It is a joy to share with CharlottesvilleFamily readers some of our favorite dishes like this Easy Roast Turkey Recipe with the hope that you and your family will enjoy them just as much as we do.

Sometimes the most basic part of a holiday meal, like the turkey, can be the most daunting recipe to tackle. There are so many preparation options, that the risk of ruining the star dish on the table can be intimidating. This foolproof and tested recipe from Jennifer Carroll is easy and impressive. See her story and recipe below.

“There are a ton of recipes out there on how to roast a turkey. I’ve tried a lot of them. A few years ago, I devised this no-fail recipe and have never looked back! The secret to the juiciest, most delicious bird ever is an oven bag. This little bag takes all the guesswork out of making a tender turkey. It’s easy and doesn’t require my constant attention, leaving me free to work on some side dishes. I normally bake a turkey breast, but this recipe works for a whole turkey, too.” When you have finished your meal you may want to participate in a Charlottesville holiday event like a turkey trot or holiday lights walk.

Easy Roast Turkey

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Ingredients

  

• 1 fresh turkey breast, rinsed and patted dry
• 1 oven bag for turkey, 8 to 24-pound size
• Vegetable oil spray
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 large Vidalia onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 2 tbsp salt
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 teas thyme
• 1 teas sage

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Shake flour in oven bag, then place bag in a large roasting pan at least two inches deep. To reduce having the turkey stick to the bag, spray inside of the bag with nonstick spray.
• Chop onions, celery and carrots, and place in oven bag. Rub softened butter liberally all over turkey. Sprinkle salt, garlic pepper, thyme and sage all over turkey (inside too)!
• Place turkey in oven bag on top of vegetables. Close oven bag with nylon tie, then cut six ½-inch slits in top. I recommend inserting a meat thermometer through slit in bag into the turkey to monitor cooking temperature. Tuck ends of bag in the pan, ensuring the bag is not overhanging the pan.
• Bake approximately 2½ to 3 hours or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit. (Note: If needed, atonce it is at this temperature but not browned on top, I carefully split the bag and turn the oven to broil to brown the top of the turkey to a beautiful, golden color. If you do this step, be sure to not walk away from the oven, it can brown very quickly.)
• Allow turkey to stand for 15 minutes before carving. Reserve bag liquid for gravy.

Other Holiday Recipes

Looking for other cozy home ideas and recipes this winter like this Easy Roast Turkey Recipe? The Food & Home section of our website has endless possibilities for all your home needs and wants. Or, find even more holiday recipes and tips over on Wine & Country Life.

Getting a head start on holiday baking? See our absolute favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe here.

JENNIFER CARROLL MARTIN is our Home & Garden Editor. With over thirty years of experience in decorating warm and welcoming homes as well as designing extraordinary celebrations in her hometown of Charlottesville, plus New York City and Beverly Hills, Jennifer has helped busy moms and busy celebrities live and celebrate in style. She is a wife, mom, avid baker, decorator, gardening enthusiast, photographer, and author of Harry Potter: Feasts & Festivities: An Official Book of Magical Celebrations, Crafts, and Party Food Inspired by the Wizarding World.

You can catch up with her at celebratingeverydaylife.com