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Roast Turkey with golden skin in pan.
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500 Degree Turkey Recipe

Fool-proof and perfectly roasted every time. This is the best roast turkey recipe for a moist and delicious turkey!
Course Poultry
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 830kcal
Author Deb Clark
Cost $20

Ingredients

  • 1 18-20 lb Turkey
  • 6 cups root vegetables - I use onion, carrots and butternut squash
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 4 tablespoons softened butter
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

  • Adjust oven rack to lowest position.
  • Preheat oven to 500 degrees
  • Remove the bag of giblets from cavity. Blot turkey with paper towels. Cross legs and tie them together with kitchen twine, bend wings under the turkey.
  • Clean & chop the root vegetables into large pieces, place them on the bottom of the pan. Place roasting rack in pan, place turkey breast side up on rack.
  • Mix together the butter and spices - salt, pepper, cloves & nutmeg. With clean hands, run the butter mixture all over the inside and outside of the turkey. Separate the skin from the breast meat and get it in there also.
  • Mix together the wine and chicken broth and pour it over the turkey. Cover the turkey very tightly with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 500 degree oven as follows;
  • First half hour: 500 degrees
  • Second half hour: 450 degrees
  • Third half hour 400 degrees
  • Turn heat down to 350 and continue cooking for one hour. Remove the foil. Baste turkey as it continues to cook. It will take about 1 ½ hours more for a 20 lb. turkey.
  • Allow to rest for at least a half hour, covered with aluminum foil. Remove the root veggies from the pan and you have a delicious side dish! Carve the turkey & enjoy!

Video

Notes

If your turkey is between 14-17 pounds reduce the high temperature cooking time to 20 minutes.
  1. 20 minutes: 500 degrees
  2. 20 minutes: 450 degrees
  3. 20 minutes: 400 degrees
  4. Turn heat down to 350 and continue cooking for one hour. Remove the foil. Baste turkey as it continues to cook. It will take about 1 ½ hours more for a 16 lb. turkey.

Nutrition

Calories: 830kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 113g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 377mg | Sodium: 1373mg | Potassium: 1380mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin A: 5025IU | Vitamin C: 12.2mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 5.4mg