Roast Turkey Recipe

A no-fail, classic Thanksgiving roast turkey recipe straight from Mrs. Leonard's own kitchen. Orange zest brings an unexpected ZING to the bird, while rosemary and garlic add plenty of savory holiday flavor. This recipe uses a 16-pound turkey and serves 14 to 16 people.

What Makes This Roast Turkey Special?

This classic Mrs. Leonard's recipe gets its flavor from a mixture of olive oil, orange zest, garlic and fresh rosemary. The mixture is rubbed underneath the turkey skin and over the breast before roasting, while onion and rosemary are added to the cavity for even more flavor.

Servings: 14 to 16

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Total Time: Approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Stew's Turkey (about 16 pounds) rinsed and patted dry
• 2 Tbsp. Orange Zest
• 2 Tbsp. chopped Rosemary
• 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon Stew's Kosher Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Stew's Fine Ground Black Pepper
• 1 Tbsp. Stew's 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 Onions, quartered
• 2 Rosemary sprigs

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F 
2. In a small bowl, combine the orange zest, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir in about 1/2 of the oil.
3. Loosen the skin on the breast and legs of the turkey. Rub the orange zest mixture under the skin. Rub the remaining oil over the turkey skin. Place the quartered onion and rosemary sprigs in the cavity of the turkey
4. Place the turkey on a rack in a large roasted pan and bake for 3 to 4 hours. Check the temperature in three places (the breast, inside thigh, and outer thigh) with an instant-read thermometer. The meat should be at least 165°F when the turkey has finished cooking. Shield the breast meat with foil if needed to keep it from overcooking or getting too browned. 
5. Tent the turkey loosely with aluminum foil and rest for about 30 minutes. This will make the turkey easier to carve and taste juicier. 

Shop Roast Turkey Recipe Ingredients

Get your turkey and all the ingredients you need for Thanksgiving at Stew Leonard's. Shop online for convenient pickup or delivery, or visit your local Stew's to get ready for your holiday meal.