Citrus & Sage Roasted Turkey
by Trish James
Love the classic holiday entrees but looking for something new? If turkey is your go-to holiday main dish, you’ll love this freshened up Citrus & Sage Roasted Turkey recipe. Citrus and sage offer up tons of flavor while keeping the turkey tender and juicy. Simple to prep, flavorful, and your guests will be raving about this new twist on a classic turkey dinner.
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Who doesn’t love a classic roasted turkey? Most of us only have turkey around the holidays since its feeds so many people. The next time turkey is on sale grab one to make this Citrus & Sage Roasted Turkey anytime of the year. This turkey recipe is refreshing, loaded with flavor, and of course simple to prepare.
If you have never cooked a turkey and are intimidated by it, don’t be. Once you clean and prep the turkey, it is actually pretty simple to bake. Let the oven do its job and just cook to the internal temperature of the breast reaches 165 degrees. For this recipe you need some oranges, fresh herbs, onions, and butter.
This recipe is great for dinner with your immediate family or for a larger gathering with family and friends. So if you enjoy turkey, make sure to try this recipe this upcoming holiday season!
Key Ingredients for this Citrus & Sage Roasted Turkey
How to make this Citrus & Sage Roasted Turkey Recipe
First preheat the oven to 325°F degrees. Prepare the the turkey and place it a large roasting pan.
Then heat a small saucepot over low heat; add the butter, oil, lemon zest, orange zest, sage, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2-3 minutes, or until butter melts. Let cool slightly and liberally coat turkey with mixture.
Next stuff the turkey cavities with the quartered lemon and orange, sage leaves, garlic cloves and onion.
Then place into the oven and bake for about 2½-3 hours, or until the internal thigh temperature of reaches 180° and breast temperature reaches 165°. Cool 15-20 minutes before carving.
Then serve with all of your favorite side dishes for a complete meal.
What to serve with this roasted turkey recipe
We love our Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes and some of our Lemon Garlic Roasted Artisan Broccoli. A nice salad would be great, too! Try our Roasted Butternut Squash Sweet Kale Salad for a seasonal favorite.
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Cooking with Sage
Sage has an intense aroma and flavor that brings life to many recipes. It pairs well with poultry and adds depth. Where can you find sage? Fresh sage can usually be found in the the produce section with other herbs either packaged or fresh. You can also buy dried sage in the seasoning section.
Have a lot of leftovers from this turkey? Make sure to try out our Turkey Cranberry Empanadas or our Holiday Leftovers Shepherd’s Pie!
Frequently asked questions:
Can I freeze leftover turkey?
Yes! You can store the cooled turkey in an air tight container or bags in the freezer. It is recommended to try to eat the leftover turkey within 2 to 6 months once frozen. That ensures the best quality and taste.
How long can I store the leftovers in the refrigerator?
If the turkey is wrapped and sealed properly, you can safely enjoy the turkey for 3-4 days.
Citrus & Sage Roasted Turkey
Ingredients
- 8- pound whole turkey rinsed and patted dry
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon zested, quartered
- 1 large navel orange zested, quartered
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage plus 6 whole leaves
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic plus 4 whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 small onion quartered
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Place turkey in roasting pan.
- Heat small saucepot over low heat; add butter, oil, lemon zest, orange zest, sage, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2-3 minutes, or until butter melts. Let cool slightly and liberally coat turkey with mixture.
- Stuff turkey cavities with quartered lemon and orange, sage leaves, garlic cloves and onion.
- Bake 2½-3 hours, or until internal thigh temperature reaches 180° and breast temperature reaches 165°. Cool 15-20 minutes before carving.
Nutrition
More recipe to try:
Holiday Stuffed Turkey & Green Bean Casserole
