Roast Turkey with Orange Thyme Rub

If you are looking for a way to jazz up your dinner table, look no further than my Roast Turkey with Orange Thyme Rub recipe.

roast turkey with text overlay for facebook


 

Roast Turkey Recipe

It is that time of year again! Everyone is searching high and low on the internet to find the BEST turkey recipe. One thing is for sure, there are many ways to prep a bird.

I think my Roast Turkey with Orange Thyme Rub is up there in the top five.

It is super flavorful. The key to this recipe is injecting the meat with flavor AND stuffing the cavity.

The result is flavor rich and moist and prevents you from the time-consuming task of brining the bird.

A quick orange juice injection infuses flavor into the meat, keeping it moist. You also stuff the cavity with aromatics, onion, and oranges. As the turkey roasts, everything in the cavity releases its moisture and flavor into the meat.

The result is the juiciest roasted turkey! Sweet and succulent, your guests will rave about your turkey making ability.

overhead shot of leg of roast turkey with orange thyme rub

Ways to Cook Turkey

Some prefer a simple roasted turkey. Seasoned and roasted low for hours, this is the most iconic way to cook a bird. You can also brine and then roast a turkey. This is a fool-proof way to a moist turkey, but it is a lengthy process.

The newest and most trendy way to cook a turkey is to fry it. This method is not for the faint of heart, but it does give you some really crispy turkey skin and it’s a fast method. Be sure to take precautions and be sure to do this outside.

Fear not! You can roast a juicy turkey with this simple recipe with just a little preparation.

knife slicing orange thyme turkey

Ingredients

TURKEY SEASONING

  • Turkey – I like to use a 10 to 12 pound turkey for this recipe. You can use smaller or larger, just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Make sire to use a completely thawed turkey.
  • Oranges – I always use fresh oranges when cooking. We will be using both the zest and the orange for this recipe. We will also be putting oranges into the turkey cavity.
  • Garlic – Freshly grated garlic cloves are always preferred over the jarred variety. The flavor is more potent.
  • Dark brown sugar – Aside from the orange, we need something to make this turkey a little sweet. Brown sugar does just that.
  • Fresh thyme leaves – Fresh herbs are always the way to go. We will use the leaves to make an herb butter to rub over the whole turkey.
  • Kosher salt and black pepper – The seasonings for this turkey rub are really simple. Besides the butter mixture, salt and pepper is all we need.
  • Butter – We want the butter to be room temperature, not melted butter. This will make it easier to rub on the outside of the roast turkey.

TURKEY STUFFING

  • Orange – We add sliced oranges to the inside of the turkey. The perfect turkey is stuffed with a mixture of ingredients to provide both flavor and create excess moisture.
  • Red onion – You can use a sweet onion if you’d like, but I just love the sharper flavor that red onion provides.
  • Star anise pods – We just need a little bit of extra flavor for our stuffing, and anise is a great flavor to pair with orange.
  • Fresh thyme sprigs – Again, fresh herbs are so important for the full flavor.
overhead shot of roast turkey with orange thyme rub

How to Make Roast Turkey with Orange Thyme Rub

  1. Prepare oven and roasting rack. Preheat the oven to correct oven temperature and line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
  2. Clean turkey. Rinse the turkey with cold water and pat turkey dry with paper towels and allow to sit at room temperature while you prepare the seasoning.
  3. Make rub. Zest and juice the oranges. In the bowl of a small food processor, combine the garlic, thyme leaves, kosher salt, dark brown sugar, black pepper and orange zest. Pulse until coarse paste forms. Add the butter and blend well. 
  4. Rub turkey. Loosen the skin of the turkey with your fingers. Smear the butter under the skin. Try to use as much as possible, but if there is any leftover, reserve for inside the cavity. 
  5. Add stuffing. Stuff the cavity with orange slices, red onion, star anise, thyme sprigs, and any leftover compound butter.
  6. Tie it up. Truss the roast turkey with kitchen twine to ensure even cooking and flavor. Place onto the roasting pan, breast side up.
  7. Inject orange juice. Inject the reserved orange juice into all areas of the entire turkey.
  8. Bake. Place the turkey in the oven, cooking for 15 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should reach 170°F in the thickest part of the breast. Use a meat thermometer to check this. If the turkey starts to brown too fast, place a piece of aluminum foil over the browning spots. Baste occasionally with polling liquids for flavor and to keep it moist.
  9. Let rest. Take the turkey out of the oven and allow to rest. Garnish with additional orange slices and fresh thyme leaves.
collage of how to make roast turkey

Storage and Freezing

There are endless ways to use leftover turkey, but first you need to know how to store it. Place turkey in a freezer bag or airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to five days.

You can also freeze this perfect roast turkey recipe the same way. In an airtight container or freezer bag and it will last for up to five months. Thaw the frozen turkey in the refrigerator before reheating.

collage of orange thyme turkey for pinterest

More Thanksgiving Recipes

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See The Recipe!
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All your dry brining questions answered! How to dry brine a turkey to add flavor and get perfectly seasoned and succulent turkey everytime.
See The Recipe!
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Martha Stewart Cheesecloth Turkey Recipe

Butter Cheesecloth Turkey is an easy and foolproof way to cook a succulent and flavorful bird. Your guests will be begging you for the recipe. 
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leg of orange thyme turkey with text overlay for pinterest
overhead shot of orange thyme turkey

Roast Turkey with Orange Thyme Rub

4.99 from 53 votes
Roast Turkey w/ Orange Thyme Rub is the BEST roasted turkey recipe. Juicy turkey guaranteed to give you the best drippings to make gravy!
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Turkey Seasoning:

Turkey Stuffing:

Gravy:

Instructions

Roasted Turkey:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
  • Rinse the turkey with cold water and pat turkey dry and allow to sit at room temperature while you prepare the seasoning.
  • Zest and juice the oranges, reserving in separate bowls. 
  • In the bowl of a small food processor, combine the garlic, thyme leaves, kosher salt, dark brown sugar, black pepper and orange zest. Pulse until coarse paste forms. Add the butter and blend well.  
  • Loosen the skin of the turkey with your fingers. Smear the butter under the skin. Try to use as much as possible, but if there is any leftover, reserve for inside the cavity. 
  • Stuff the cavity with orange slices, red onion, star anise, thyme sprigs, and any leftover compound butter.
  • Truss the turkey to ensure even cooking and flavor. Place onto the roasting pan, breast side up.
  • Inject the reserved orange juice into all areas of the turkey.
  • Place the turkey in the oven, cooking for 15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 170°F in the breast. If the turkey starts to brown too fast, place a piece of aluminum foil over the browning spots. Baste occasionally with polling liquids for flavor and to keep it moist.
  • Take the turkey out of the oven and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Garnish with additional orange slices and fresh thyme leaves. When ready to serve,  carve and serve with Red Wine Gravy (below).

Red Wine Gravy:

  • In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and add the minced shallots. Saute until soft.
  • Add the flour and stir into a paste (roux). Continue whisking, allowing the mixture to brown lightly.
  • Whisk in the red wine and broth until smooth. Add the salt pepper and thyme and reduce to low heat for 15 minutes.
  • Run the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and return to saucepan. Correct seasoning, if needed and serve!If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was! 
  • Ladle out 1/3 cup of gravy to a small bowl and mix with cornstarch. Whisk back into the saucepan until blended and mixture starts to thicken. Remove from heat immediately. Set side until ready to serve.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Video

Notes

  • If you don’t have a small food processor, finely mince all ingredients as best as possible and mash with butter using the back of a spoon or fork. 

Nutrition

Calories: 1107 kcal, Carbohydrates: 19 g, Protein: 118 g, Fat: 61 g, Saturated Fat: 27 g, Cholesterol: 467 mg, Sodium: 2036 mg, Potassium: 1456 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 14 g, Vitamin A: 1620 IU, Vitamin C: 63.9 mg, Calcium: 136 mg, Iron: 5.5 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Anne
Calories: 1107
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: juicy roasted turkey, roast turkey recipe
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.99 from 53 votes (45 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Making this today and it is smelling amazing!!! Only doing turkey not the rest though. I can’t wait to eat!!!

  2. 5 stars
    This will be the fifth year I’ve used this recipe! It is so flavorful and moist. I am a lazy cook so the first time I considered using it I was a bit apprehensive . It is really not anymore effort than any large meal and so worth the effort! Every year I ask if I should try something different next year and the answer is a resounding no!

  3. 5 stars
    Just reading the ingredients, makes my mouth water! Looking forward to enjoying this for Thanksgiving this year; definitely too good to pass up!

  4. 5 stars
    Citrus does such amazing things for turkey! I appreciate your detailed directions, too. Thanks for the recipe!

  5. 5 stars
    This is the perfect Turkey recipe for this time of year! Love the seasonings you use and the simple step by step instructions!

    1. 5 stars
      Oh my goodness, Angel, don’t apologize! I took yesterday off and I now I feel terrible I didn’t see your comment. I updated this recipe recently and totally forgot to add back in the injection. I just added it, but it is probably too late for you. I hope enjoyed your turkey day!