Thanksgiving is here and you want to roast a Turkey. Great! Here is the ‘How to Roast a Turkey” for beginners guide; the simplest method to getting a juicy, golden brown bird every.single.time. I promise it’s so much easier than you think. ANYONE can make a great turkey. Add my tutorial for making amazing Gravy and Cornbread Stuffing and Thanksgiving is served!
Cooking a turkey for the holidays or a special occasion can seem daunting, especially when dealing with a large 15 pound bird. However, with some preparation and by following cooking guidelines, you can roast a juicy, flavorful 15 pound Butterball turkey.
Overview of Cooking Times
As a general rule, you should plan on cooking your Butterball turkey for 13-15 minutes per pound. This means a 15 pound turkey will take approximately 3 to 3 3⁄4 hours to fully cook.
For more specific timing, consult Butterball’s cooking chart for recommended cook times based on the turkey’s weight and whether it is stuffed or unstuffed
<table>
<tr>
<td>Weight</td>
<td>Cook Time (Unstuffed)</td>
<td>Cook Time (Stuffed)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10-18 lbs.</td>
<td>3-3 1⁄2 hrs.</td>
<td>3 3⁄4-4 1⁄2 hrs.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18-22 lbs.</td>
<td>3 1⁄2-4 hrs.</td>
<td>4 1⁄2-5 hrs.</td>
</tr>
</table>
A 15 pound turkey falls within the range of 10-18 pounds. According to Butterball, an unstuffed 15 pound turkey will take 3 to 3 1⁄2 hours to fully cook. If stuffing the turkey, extend the cooking time to 3 3⁄4 to 4 1⁄2 hours.
Step-By-Step Roasting Method
Follow these steps for roasting a juicy 15 pound Butterball turkey:
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Preheat the oven to 325°F. Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavities. Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
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Prepare a seasoning of your choice. Butterball recommends poultry seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub the seasoning over the skin and under the skin.
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Place turkey breast side up on a flat roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, taking care not to touch bone.
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For a stuffed turkey, spoon prepared stuffing loosely into neck and body cavities. Cook stuffing to 165°F.
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Roast turkey uncovered at 325°F, following recommended cook times above. For a 15 lb turkey, this is 3 to 3 1⁄2 hours unstuffed or 3 3⁄4 to 4 1⁄2 hours stuffed.
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Baste turkey with pan juices every 30 minutes to keep moist. Add broth to pan if drippings evaporate.
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Once turkey has roasted for about 2⁄3 of total cook time, loosely tent foil over breast to prevent overcooking.
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Turkey is done when thigh temperature reaches 165°F and breast/stuffing reach 170°F.
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Let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving for juicier meat. Enjoy!
Helpful Turkey Roasting Tips
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For optimal flavor and texture, thaw frozen turkey in the refrigerator 1 day per 4-5 lbs.
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Trussing or tying the legs together helps the turkey cook evenly.
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Use a V-rack in the roasting pan to elevate turkey off the bottom of the pan. This allows air circulation for even cooking.
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Make turkey stock with the neck and giblets. Use to baste and add flavor.
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Test doneness early and often by inserting thermometer into thickest part of thigh, taking care not to hit bone.
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Letting turkey rest before carving allows juices to redistribute for moister meat.
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Carve turkey by slicing breast meat, then legs and thighs. Keep slices together on platter for presentation.
Common Turkey Roasting FAQs
Should I cook stuffing inside the turkey?
For food safety reasons, Butterball recommends cooking stuffing separately outside the bird. However, if stuffing the turkey, do so just before roasting and use a food thermometer to ensure the center of the stuffing reaches 165°F.
Can I speed up cooking time?
High heat roasting above 350°F is not recommended, as it can cause the turkey to dry out. Maintain a 325°F temperature. Convection ovens may slightly reduce cooking time.
How do I prevent a dry turkey?
Basting the turkey every 30 minutes keeps it moist. Also, tenting foil over the breast prevents overcooking. Finally, letting the turkey rest after cooking allows juices to redistribute.
What if my turkey is still pink?
Some pink hues are normal, especially around bones. Be sure to use a food thermometer to accurately determine doneness, as color is not reliable. Turkey is safe to eat once thigh reaches 165°F.
Can I roast a frozen turkey?
Yes, a frozen turkey can be roasted without thawing first. Add about 30 minutes per pound to the recommended cook time. Also, roasting upside down for the first hour helps thaw the cavity first.
Enjoy Your Perfectly Roasted 15 Pound Turkey
Learning how long to cook a Butterball turkey ensures you’ll have a beautifully browned, tender, and juicy holiday centerpiece. With the proper roasting times, temperature, and technique, your 15 pound turkey will turn out perfect.
How to Keep Your Turkey Juicy
Many people will tell you that you need to brine your bird or incorporate some kind of rub or seasoning to promote a juicy turkey. Some even say fresh is king and frozen birds are the problem. I don’t believe any of it. A fresh bird is plenty juicy. So is a frozen one! If you happen to have a frozen turkey, read the label. Odds are you’ll see that it says “contains up to 8% of a solution of water, salt, spices and natural flavor for tenderness and juiciness.” This basically means that if you defrost your bird in the fridge for a few days, it will be sitting in this solution…therefore brining itself before you roast it. The work has already been done.
All you have to do now is roast it until it hits the proper temperatures without going past too far, and you’re there! Roasted turkey heaven. Once you get that turkey out of the oven, tent it with foil to let it rest 15-20 minutes and then slice and serve.
Some people don’t like the ingredients or the “natural flavors” in the solution that come in a frozen turkey and choose to brine a fresh bird. To each their own! Good for you if this is what you choose to do. Some people will brine their frozen bird to impart more flavors THEY like. Again, you do you, boo.
If you’re a beginner or don’t want to have to deal with brines or just simply don’t know where to begin, just know that skipping a brine or a special rub is aok, and you’ll still have a great turkey.
How long to cook Turkey per pound
So there are all sorts of oven temperatures and roasting instructions floating out in the ether online when it comes to turkey roasting. Here’s how I do it and it seems pretty fail proof: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Once your turkey is prepped and ready to go, stick that pretty bird inside your preheated oven and immediately reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Roast your turkey until the breast reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees F and the thigh is 175 degrees F, about 12-13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. Start checking for doneness thirty minutes before it is estimated to be done with an instant read meat thermometer (this is the one I have and works great! Under $20.)
For a stuffed turkey, you can estimate 15 minutes per pound.