Easy Roasted Turkey with Gravy: The Only Recipe You Need

Roasting a turkey can feel daunting, but this Easy Roasted Turkey with Gravy recipe simplifies the process without sacrificing flavor. Developed over decades of holiday cooking, this method ensures a juicy, golden-brown turkey every time. With just a few simple ingredients and easy steps, you’ll create a show-stopping centerpiece and delicious homemade gravy to complete the meal! Whether you’re hosting your first Thanksgiving or perfecting your annual tradition, this recipe is sure to become your go-to.

Ingredients You Will Need:

For the Roasted Turkey:

• Whole Turkey (fresh, organic if possible)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion (cut into large chunks)
• Celery (chopped into 3-inch pieces)
• Olive oil
• Herbes de Provence

For the Gravy:

• Pan drippings from turkey
• All purpose flour
• Turkey or chicken stock (see note below)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Butter

Cooking the Turkey

• Preheat the oven to 325℉. Place the oven rack on the lowest setting.
• Remove the giblets and neck from turkey if they were included with the bird.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper inside the cavity of the turkey.
• Place the turkey on a rack of a roasting pan and tuck the wings behind the shoulders.
• Place onion and celery into the cavity of the turkey.
• Rub olive oil onto the turkey.
• Sprinkle the turkey with Herbes de Provence and press it into the skin
• Place the turkey into a preheated oven.
• Every 30 minutes rotate the turkey to ensure even cooking.
• Once pan juices collect in roasting pan, baste the turkey every 30 minutes using a basting brush.
• Roast the turkey at 325℉ until it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉
• Allow the turkey to rest for at least 20 minutes before carving

How do you know when the turkey is done?

Cooking times for a whole turkey vary depending upon the size of the bird. I recommend using this guide from the USDA to estimate cooking time.

Confirm doneness with a meat thermometer placed in the thickest part of the inner thigh. (In my oven, the cooking time seems to be faster than the USDA guide)

Making the Turkey Gravy

• Pour the drippings from the turkey pan into a large measuring cup.
• Allow the drippings to rest for a few minutes so that the fat rises to the top.
• Using a ladle or spoon, carefully remove as much of the fat from the top as possible.
• Add ½ cup of the pan drippings to a medium saucepan.
• Heat the drippings over medium heat until bubbly.
• Sprinkle flour over the drippings and whisk vigorously. This mixture is called a roux.
• Cook the roux over medium heat approximately 2 minutes until it is golden in color.
• Add turkey or chicken broth a little at a time, whisking well between additions.
• Check the flavor and add salt and pepper if desired.
• Add the butter to the gravy, and cook approximately 10-15 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently.

Tips For Making the Perfect Roasted Turkey and Gravy

• Years ago, I invested in a heavy roasting pan with a rack. If you don’t have a roasting pan, you may use a disposable foil pan.
• In recent years, the turkeys I have purchased may or may not come with a neck and giblets. If the neck and giblets are present, remove them from the turkey before roasting.
• For the gravy: you may make your own turkey stock, or use pre-made turkey or chicken stock
• If the neck is included with the turkey, place it in a pan with 1 chopped onion and 2 stalks of celery along with a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. Add water to the pot and simmer it on low heat while the turkey cooks in the oven. When the turkey is done, strain the stock and use it to make gravy.
• Cooking times for the turkey vary depending upon the size of the bird. I recommend using this guide from the USDA to estimate cooking time.
• Confirm doneness with a meat thermometer placed in the thickest part of the inner thigh. (In my oven, the cooking time seems to be faster than the USDA guide, so I begin checking early.)

I Hope You Try This at Home

Over the years, I’ve experimented with all kinds of turkey recipes—cheesecloth and wine, the upside-down method, bourbon turkey, and more. This simple recipe, however, has become my go-to for the holidays. It reliably delivers a juicy turkey with flavorful drippings for gravy. I hope it becomes a favorite in your home too!

Here are a few of my favorite side dishes to serve with the Easy Roasted Turkey:

• Southern Cornbread Dressing
• Creamy Potato Bake
• Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

If you try this recipe at home, I’d love to hear how it turns out! Send me a message, or tag me on Instagram and Facebook @modernclassichost.