Holiday Roast Turkey with Roasted Vegetables

This holiday roast turkey is built for a cozy family table: crisp golden skin, juicy meat, and easy roasted vegetables that can finish alongside the bird or be served in the same platter. A simple herb-butter rub keeps the flavor classic and approachable, and a thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness.

Recipe at a glance

• Yield: 8 to 10 servings
• Prep time: 25 minutes
• Cook time: 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes
• Rest time: 25 to 30 minutes
• Total time: About 3 hours 35 minutes to 4 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey, 10 to 12 pounds, thawed if frozen
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dried
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, optional
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lemon, zested and cut in half
• 1 onion, quartered
• 3 carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 pound broccoli florets
• 1/2 teaspoon salt for the vegetables, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper for the vegetables
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water, for the pan

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 325°F. Set a rack in a large roasting pan or use a large casserole-style baking dish deep enough to catch juices. Pat the turkey dry inside and out with paper towels.
2. Make the herb butter. Stir together the softened butter, kosher salt, black pepper, rosemary, thyme, parsley if using, garlic, and lemon zest.
3. Season the turkey. Gently loosen the skin over the breast and thighs with your fingers, then rub most of the herb butter under the skin and the rest over the outside of the bird. Season the cavity with a little salt and pepper, then tuck in the lemon halves and onion quarters.
4. Start roasting. Place the turkey breast side up in the pan. Add the broth or water to the bottom of the pan. Roast for about 2 hours, basting once or twice if you like, until the skin begins to turn deep golden brown.
5. Add the carrots. Toss the carrot pieces with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Scatter them around the turkey in the pan and continue roasting.
6. Check for browning. If the breast or wing tips are browning too quickly, loosely tent those areas with foil. Keep roasting until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, away from the bone, reaches 165°F. The breast should also register 165°F for safe serving.
7. Add the broccoli near the end. Toss the broccoli with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the remaining black pepper. Add it to the pan for the final 15 to 20 minutes, just until the florets are bright green and crisp-tender.
8. Rest before carving. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board or platter, loosely tent with foil, and rest for 25 to 30 minutes. This helps the juices settle so the slices stay moist.
9. Carve and serve. Arrange the turkey with the roasted carrots and broccoli on a large platter. Spoon a little of the pan juices over the meat if desired, or serve them on the side.

Tips

If your turkey is larger than 12 pounds, plan on extra roasting time and continue checking the temperature early and often. For a more aromatic bird, swap the rosemary and thyme for sage, or add a few sprigs of each to the pan.

If you want to keep the vegetables extra crisp, roast the broccoli on a separate sheet pan instead of adding it to the turkey pan. That also gives you a little more control if the bird needs longer than expected.

For stuffing, it is safest to bake it in a separate casserole dish rather than inside the bird. That makes it easier to reach a safe temperature without overcooking the turkey.

Serving ideas

Serve this turkey with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, or a simple green salad. The carrots and broccoli make the platter feel complete, but you can also add roasted potatoes or parsnips if you want a bigger holiday spread.

Storage notes

Refrigerate leftover turkey and vegetables within 2 hours of cooking in shallow containers. Store for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat turkey gently with a splash of broth in the oven or microwave until hot, and reheat the vegetables just until warmed through. Cooked turkey can also be frozen for up to 2 to 3 months for soups, casseroles, or sandwiches later.

For best texture, slice only what you plan to serve right away and keep the rest of the bird covered until needed. Leftover pan juices can be spooned over slices when reheating to help keep the meat tender.

Sources

• USDA FSIS: Let’s Talk Turkey Roasting
• FoodSafety.gov Meat and Poultry Charts