Basic Roast Turkey Recipe

This time-tested roast turkey recipe requires only the most straightforward prep. But we devised a way to dress the turkey up once its ready to serve, by garnishing the bird with navel orange wedges and fresh flat-leaf parsley or celery leaves. This way, by the time it arrives at the table, your thanksgiving guests will be sure youve put in extra work (when in reality, your turkeys roasted in the oven mostly without intervention, thanks to a cup of water youll add to the roasting pan). Indeed, that simple kitchen hack frees you up from near-constant basting so you can focus on mashed potatoes, stuffing, and the works.