Are you making your first Thanksgiving Turkey this year? Want a foolproof recipe? I’ve got one I’ve made at least 15 times in 15 years and have perfected the recipe! So let’s see how you can make your first thanksgiving turkey!

How to roast the perfect Thanksgiving Turkey

Get a roaster like mine above Oster CKSTRS18-BSB 18-Quart Roaster Oven with Self-Basting Lid, Black Finish My roaster is my mom’s from when she first got married. It’s going on 50 years old. So these last a lifetime or two!! 

Get turkey out of plastic and place in a shallow dish.

Pull the neck and gizzards or livers out of the neck cavity.

Pull the gravy packet out of the bottom cavity.

Brush turkey with butter if you like (mine was not brushed)

Salt and Pepper if you like (mine’s not)

Preheat oven to 350*

Put cut celery and cut onions into bottom cavity and neck cavity

Leave cover off at first. Let it brown then put cover on.

It’s done when  meat thermometer reaches 175*

My turkey was 14lbs and I cooked it 3.5 hours. You can roast it according to your turkeys instructions. 

And the Thanksgiving turkey all cut up! 

What’s your favorite sides to make for Thanksgiving? Have you made your own turkey before?  Before you go check out my stuffing muffins recipe that will complement any turkey perfectly!

Check out my other Thanksgiving posts! Cute and Easy Turkey Craft, Thanksgiving Turkey kids craft, how to roast the perfect turkey, 8 ways to prepare for Thanksgiving Dinner, Slow Cooker Sides for Thanksgiving, 15 beautiful Thanksgiving Centerpieces, Cranberry sauce so easy to make, What to do with Thanksgiving leftovers,  my free A-Z thankful printable for the kids and the adults in the family, and a Toilet Paper Turkey Craft.