The main dish for your Thanksgiving dinner – the roast turkey – is as easy to make as roast chicken. This keto roast turkey recipe is juicy and savory and comes out perfectly every single time.
Roast Turkey
A large roast turkey is the start of the show on Thanksgiving. From the moment you lift the frozen turkey into your cart at the grocery store, it might feel intimidating. It’s heavy and takes a long time for the turkey to cook in the oven.
Don’t let the size overwhelm you. Roasting a turkey is a lot like roasting a chicken. My recipe will show you every step, so you’ll have a juicy, herbaceous turkey to serve your family on Thanksgiving.
How To Roast A Turkey
Roasting a turkey is easier than you might think. The most important thing is to make sure it is completely thawed out before you place it in the oven. Depending on the size of the bird, it could take two or three days in the refrigerator for the turkey to thaw completely.
The next most important step is to run your hand in between the skin and the meat. This will allow you to rub the spice mixture into the meat. Then, rub the outside of the skin with the spice mixture too.
Some people like to rub butter in between the skin and the turkey too. This will give it more moisture, so it can be a good thing to try.
You should cook the turkey until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches at least 165F. Here is about how long the turkey will take to cook at 350F, based on its size.
- 4 to 8 pounds (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours.
- 8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
- 12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
- 14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours.
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours.
- 20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
Easy Turkey Recipe
You can use either a plastic roasting bag or sheets of parchment paper to completely cover the turkey while it roasts. No matter which one, you just need to cover the turkey so the skin doesn’t burn to a crisp as it cooks.
Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
This turkey recipe is naturally gluten-free and low-carb. Since it just uses herbs and turkey, there aren’t really any carbs in it.
It fits in perfectly with a low-carb Thanksgiving dinner. Serve it with some keto sausage stuffing, keto cauliflower stuffing and some loaded cauliflower mash! For dessert, make some no-bake keto pecan pie bars.
It’s really simple to make low-carb Thanksgiving feats everyone can eat together.
Oven Roasted Turkey
This recipe will feed your family and there will still be turkey leftover too! Use the leftover turkey to make some keto turkey pot pie. Or just serve the turkey in your meal prep for lunch.
Slice it and add it as protein to your salad recipes this week.
Keto Roast Turkey Recipe
Here are the ingredients to make this keto roast turkey recipe. The exact measurements and instructions are in the printable recipe card, just a little below.
Roasted Turkey (Yields 1 – 15 lb. turkey)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 3 hours (cook time varies per poundage – see instructions)
Ingredients:
Dry parsley
Garlic powder
Celery seed
Cardamom
Dry thyme
Onion powder
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
15lb turkey
Instructions:
Allow turkey to thaw before preparation and cooking. To thaw a frozen turkey, place it in a refrigerator two days before cooking.
Remove turkey from packaging, remove giblet pouch and neck.
In a bowl, mix the spices minus the salt and pepper. I like to mix and then grind the spices into a rub with a pestle and mortar.
Separate the skin on the breast meat using your hands. Go slow and gentle to not rip the skin. Pull the skin back and rub the breast meat with the spice rub.
Fold the skin back over the meat and then spread the oil across the whole top of the bird.
Rub the remaining spice rub over the whole bird including the legs.
Salt and pepper the bird.
Place some parchment paper in the roasting dish to cover the bird. Place the bird on the parchment and then cover the bird with the parchment. Seal the parchment by crumbling it together.
This seals in moisture that evaporates during cooking.
Cook at 350°f for 3 hours. Make sure the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°f in all the meat portions.
4 to 8 pounds (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours.
8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours.
18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours.
20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
Leave turkey covered by parchment for 30 minutes to rest once fully cooked. You can use juices in the roasting dish for gravy.
Carve turkey and enjoy!
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Keto Roast Turkey
The main dish for your Thanksgiving diner - the roast turkey - is as easy to make as roast chicken. This recipe is juicy and savory.
Ingredients
- 15 pound Turkey
- 1 tbsp Dried Parsley
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 2 tsp Celery Seed
- 2 tsp Cardamom
- 1 tbsp Dry Thyme
- 1 tbsp Onion Powder
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
Instructions
-
Allow turkey to thaw before preparation and cooking. To thaw a frozen turkey, place it in a refrigerator two days before cooking.
-
Remove turkey from packaging, remove giblet pouch and neck.
-
In a bowl, mix the spices minus the salt and pepper. I like to mix and then grind the spices into a rub with a pestle and mortar.
-
Separate the skin on the breast meat using your hands. Go slow and gentle to not rip the skin. Pull the skin back and rub the breast meat with the spice rub. Fold the skin back over the meat and then spread the oil across the whole top of the bird.
-
Rub the remaining spice rub over the whole bird including the legs.
-
Salt and pepper the bird.
-
Place some parchment paper in the roasting dish to cover the bird. Place the bird on the parchment and then cover the bird with the parchment. Seal the parchment by crumbling it together. This seals in moisture that evaporates during cooking.
-
Cook at 350°f for 3 hours. Make sure the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°f in all the meat portions.
-
Leave turkey covered by parchment for 30 minutes to rest once fully cooked. You can use juices in the roasting dish for gravy.
-
Carve turkey and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
-
4 to 8 pounds (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours.
-
8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
-
12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
-
14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours.
-
18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours.
-
20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
Keto Thanksgiving Recipes
If you enjoyed this keto roast turkey recipe, here are some more low-carb Thanksgiving recipes you should try next!
