Does baking a turkey intimidate you? With Mayo-Roasted Turkey, you will get a moist, flavorful bird every time! From the spicy mayonnaise mixture smoothly spread all over the turkey to the fresh herbs, garlic, and bay leaves tucked inside, and last but not least, the way it’s baked until golden-brown, this turkey has so much going for it… inside and out! Mayo-Roasted Turkey features less basting, but more flavor tasting. Don’t ever be scared by this Thanksgiving favorite again. This bird’s got you covered!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 4 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons ground sage
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, can substitute cayenne pepper powder, to taste
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (10-12-pound) turkey
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 1 head garlic, halved across the cloves
- thyme, parsley, rosemary, and/or sage sprigs, to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup water
Directions
Step 1 –Adjust a rack on the lowest position in the oven, then preheat to 325 degrees F.
Step 2 –Place a roasting rack in a large roasting pan.
Step 3 –In a medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, the paprika, the dried parsley, the garlic powder, the dried thyme, the ground sage, the hot sauce, the salt, and the black pepper and stir to combine.
Step 4 –Discard any parts from the turkey’s neck and breast cavities and reserve for another use, if desired.
Step 5 –Dry the turkey’s skin and inside the cavity with paper towels.
Step 6 –Evenly rub the mayonnaise mixture over the turkey’s skin and inside the cavity.
Step 7 –Place the onion, the garlic, the fresh herb sprigs, and the bay leaves inside the cavity of the turkey.
Step 8 –Place the prepared turkey, breast-side up, into the prepared roasting pan and tent with aluminum foil.
Step 9 –Roast the turkey, about 2 hours.
Step 10 –Discard the aluminum foil and increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
Step 11 –Add the water to the bottom of the roasting pan to prevent the drippings from burning.
Step 12 –Bake the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the thigh, about 30-45 minutes.
Step 13 –Transfer the baked turkey to a wire rack and let rest, about 20 minutes.
Step 14 –Strain the pan drippings through a wire-mesh strainer.
Step 15 –Carve the turkey.
Step 16 –Serve the turkey drizzled with the pan drippings.
