This Roasted Sage Pesto Turkey recipe is so simple to make with tender, juicy results every time.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time2 hourshrs
Total Time2 hourshrs10 minutesmins
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pesto Turkey
Servings: 10servings
Calories: 689kcal
Author: Kellie
Ingredients
1cupSage Pesto
1 12-14poundturkey
1lemonquartered
1head of garliccut in half
fresh sage leaves
Instructions
Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
Carefully loosen the skin by running your hand between the skin and the breast meat working your way down to the leg. Take 1/4 of the sage pesto and rub it, thoroughly, under the skin over the breast and leg meat being sure to coat as much of the turkey as possible. Repeat on the opposite side and then coat the remaining butter mixture over the skin being sure to cover the entire turkey.
Stuff the cavity of the turkey with the lemon, garlic and sage.
Tuck the wings under the turkey and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
Roast the turkey on the lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees in the oven for 30 minutes and then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees and insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast. Set the alarm on the thermometer to 161 degrees. A 14-16 pound turkey takes approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting time total. (You can also use an instant read thermometer, just remember to check the turkey before the 2 hour mark to avoid overcooking.)
Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Let the turkey rest for approximately 30 minutes before carving.
Notes
If the turkey begins to brown too quickly, cover the breast with a piece of foil and continue roasting until it reaches the correct temperature.