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Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Sauce

A timeless crowd-pleaser recipe for a juicy, flavorful roasted turkey paired with tangy-sweet cranberry sauce.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings 8 -10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole turkey 12-14 pounds, thawed if frozen
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 large onion quartered
  • 2 cups chicken or turkey broth
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 orange zest and juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 325°F. In a bowl, mix the softened butter, rosemary, thyme, garlic, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Gently loosen the turkey skin over the breast and thighs, then rub half of the herb butter underneath. Spread the remaining butter over the outside of the turkey. Stuff the cavity with onion quarters.
  • Place the turkey breast-side up on the roasting rack. Pour 1 cup of broth into the pan. Cover the turkey loosely with foil and roast for 2.5 hours. After 2.5 hours, remove the foil, baste the turkey with pan juices, and roast uncovered for another 1-1.5 hours. Add more broth to the pan if it dries out.
  • Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. It should read 165°F. If the skin isn’t golden enough, increase the oven to 425°F for the last 10 minutes.
  • While the turkey rests, combine cranberries, sugar, orange zest, juice, water, and cinnamon stick in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and the sauce thickens. Remove the cinnamon stick before serving.
  • Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving. Pour pan juices over sliced meat for extra flavor.