Oven-Roasted Turkey with Herb-Butter and Classic Stuffing

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

A traditional Thanksgiving turkey roasted with herb-infused butter paired with savory bread stuffing baked to golden perfection. This American-inspired Thanksgiving recipe, ready in about 255 minutes, pairs whole turkey, unsalted butter, fresh rosemary for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 600 calories and feeds 10, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 lbs whole turkey
• 1 cup (2 sticks), softened unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tbsp, finely chopped fresh sage
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 8 cups stale bread cubes
• 2 cups, warm chicken broth
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 3, diced celery stalks
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter (for stuffing)
• 3, minced garlic cloves

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a small bowl, mix 1 cup softened unsalted butter with 2 tbsp rosemary, 2 tbsp thyme, 1 tbsp sage, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper until combined. Carefully loosen the turkey skin and spread half of the herb-butter mixture under the skin, and the rest over the skin of the 12 lbs whole turkey for moist, flavorful meat.
2. Step 2: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter and sauté 1 diced yellow onion, 3 diced celery stalks, and 3 minced garlic cloves for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant. In a large bowl, combine this vegetable mixture with 8 cups stale bread cubes and 2 cups warm chicken broth. Stir well until the bread is moistened but not soggy.
3. Step 3: Stuff the turkey cavity loosely with the prepared bread stuffing and place the bird breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast uncovered for about 3 to 3.5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh, basting every 45 minutes with pan juices for a golden, crispy skin.