This Juicy Turkey Recipe (aka Shake and Bake turkey) with its crispy seasoned coating - is super easy, fuss-free, moist, and tender! In this recipe, we use our own healthy homemade copycat Shake and Bake seasoned coating to keep it gluten free, low carb, and keto friendly.
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Why You'll ❤️ This Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
"You can thank my boys for this juicy turkey recipe! When they were little they used to beg for Shake and Bake chicken. I'll admit I loved it too. One holiday, our oldest asked if we could have a Shake n Bake Turkey instead of the regular Thanksgiving turkey! Funny! I tried it and it turned out fantastic! Now for my homemade HEALTHY copycat version..." 🙂
Easiest Thanksgiving Turkey
A tender juicy turkey recipe that is easy and fuss-free. What else can you ask for? Only a few ingredients and you've got this! To make it even easier, you can pre-make the roast turkey seasoning up to several weeks in advance.
Tip: Make your life even easier and use a turkey baking bag!
Unique
Why not make something totally unique for your Thanksgiving turkey this year? Who says you can't make a Shake n Bake turkey? 😉 It keeps the turkey moist and has the most lovely golden brown color.
Delicious
You have got to try this turkey recipe. It has always been a hit in our house - and with our guests! I love it because it's simple and delicious.
The seasoned coating mixture makes the BEST turkey seasoning - and adds so much flavor!!
Healthy Turkey
This is a healthy gluten-free, sugar-free, low carb, and keto turkey recipe that tastes amazing and will be a sure hit on your holiday table!
The seasoned coating is made with pork panko instead of bread crumbs, therefore lowering the carbs and increasing the healthy fats you are looking for - it also helps to make a moist turkey!
14.5 g fat | 2.9 g net carbs | 19.9 g protein
Juicy and Moist
The turkey seasoning makes a very flavorful crisp coating that also helps to seal in the juices. A super moist and juicy turkey is just what everyone loves!
🥘 What You'll Need
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this juicy turkey recipe:
Please see the recipe card for full details and exact quantities
Ingredients
Whole Turkey - Make sure to thaw your turkey in advance. I say this and EVERY year I seem to never take it out early enough. LOL
Lemons - use fresh lemons
Onion - use yellow or white onions.
Fresh Herbs (plus extra for garnish)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Copycat Shake and Bake Seasoning - Seriously the best turkey seasoning! I highly recommend this seasoned coating mix recipe because of the crust it makes, you can certainly use 2 packets of the store-bought seasoning mix.
Salt and Pepper - to taste
Note: the coating recipe uses pork panko. It's quite common in the store now, so you should have no problem finding it. I usually get it from Amazon.
Equipment
The equipment and tools you will need to make this roast turkey are as follows:
- Roasting Pan with Rack
- Instant-Read Thermometer
- Cutting Board
- Chef Knife
- Kitchen Twine
- Paper Towels
- Oven Roasting Bag - This is optional, but highly recommended. There is less mess and the turkey just comes out juicier. Make sure to get the turkey size bags.
- Large Serving Platter
- Carving Knife
🔪 How To Make A Juicy Turkey
Here's how to make a juicy turkey! Please see the recipe card for full instructions and notes.
Prepare Turkey
Remove turkey from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to roasting.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Line the bottom of a large roasting pan with foil.
Remove the neck and giblets. Be sure to check both cavities.
Rinse and pat turkey dry with paper towels.
Place the turkey in roasting pan.
Fold wings under turkey and then tie legs together with kitchen twine.
Season and Stuff
Stuff onion, lemon, and herbs into the cavity.
Drizzle olive oil over turkey and brush or rub oil all over the skin.
Sprinkle seasoning mix over the turkey pressing it on as you go to help it stay on.
"For less mess and quicker cooking - use an oven-roasting bag. Make sure to follow the roasting instructions that come with the bags as the temperature and time may be different than this recipe."
Roast
Roast until the temperature reaches 165 degrees in the breast and 180 degrees in the thigh (without touching any bone). (Note: our 12.5 lb turkey took approx. 3-1/2 hours to cook the turkey).
Rest
Let turkey stand, covered in foil, for 15 to 20 minutes prior to carving to let juices settle.
Carve and Serve
Either serve the entire turkey on a platter and carve at the serving table, or you can carve first then serve the slices on a platter.
To make your platter pretty, tuck in some fresh sprigs of herbs and lemon wedges. Enjoy!
🥗 How To Serve It
Want to know what to serve with your juicy turkey recipe?
I have been making these recipes almost every Thanksgiving, and they are super simple and delicious. These side dishes are either make-ahead, slow cooker, or super easy - or all 3! 🙂
FYI. Most of these are low carb and keto but they can easily be converted to the full-on carb versions. Enjoy!
- Layered Salad (Layered Overnight Salad)
- Crockpot Green Beans and Ham
- Red Cabbage Recipe (Roasted Red Cabbage) - this is so GOOD! Check out the recipe - even if you're a cabbage hater (like I used to be).
- Make mashed cauliflower or these easy mashed potatoes.
- Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe (Sugar Free)
- Low Carb Cranberry Mojitos (Sugar-Free Keto Cocktail)
Got leftovers? Make this leftover turkey pot pie (low carb and keto)
📖 Variations
- Use mayonnaise or melted butter as a substitute for olive oil.
- Although it is not low carb, you can substitute several packets of regular store-bought Shake and Bake seasoning instead of our Homemade version.
- Add diced fresh herbs into the seasoned coating mix if desired.
- You can stuff the turkey with stuffing if desired, but follow the roasting instructions that come with the turkey for best results.
"Try using mayonnaise or melted butter instead of olive oil! Both are great!"
💭 Top Tips
- Make the seasoning mix in advance. It can be stored in an airtight container for weeks ahead of time.
- Always use an instant read thermometer to test doneness. Check the temperature after 3 hours. Use the USDA guidelines for roasting times. See USDA How To Roast A Turkey for more informaiton.
- When checking doneness in the breast and thigh, make sure you don't touch a bone it skews the temperature.
- I would highly recommend using a turkey-sized oven roasting bag - it is easier to clean up, cooks faster, and holds even more juices in! Make sure to follow the roasting instructions that come with the bags as the temperature and time may differ from this recipe.
- If you are not using a bag, you can place foil over the breast when it is about two-thirds done.
❓FAQs
How To Store
To store leftovers, let the turkey cool completely, remove meat from the bone then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. See reheating and freezing instructions below.
How To Reheat
Place turkey meat on a microwave-safe plate, cover and microwave on low heat until warmed through. A little chicken broth can be poured over the top of the turkey pieces to keep them from drying out. Breast meat will easily dry out so try not to cook too long.
How To Freeze
To freeze leftovers, place in an air-tight freezer-safe bag or container and freeze up to 3 months.
Frozen turkey takes approximately 24 hours for every 4 pounds of turkey in the refrigerator. Thaw the unopened turkey on a tray or platter with the breast side up.
You can also thaw the turkey in cold water which takes around 30 minutes per pound. Thaw the unopened turkey, breast side down, in a sink full of cold water. You will need to change your water every 30 minutes.
1) Remove the legs. While holding the drumstick, cut through the skin and the joint of the leg. Separate the thigh and the drumstick at the joint.
2) Remove the wings. Hold the wing, make a horizontal cut above the wing and cut through the turkey frame.
3) Slice remaining meat starting at the breast. At the bottom of the breast, make a horizontal cut. From there, make thin vertical slices downward toward the horizontal cut. The pieces will come off at the horizontal cut.
A roasted turkey will keep up to 3 days stored in an air-tight container. Carve the turkey into pieces before storing.
✔️ More Roast Recipes
Looking for more holiday roast recipes or main dish ideas? Here are a few ideas I think you'll LOVE:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Breast - let your slow cooker make the turkey breast this year!
- Slow Cooker Ham With Coke (Low Carb and Keto Ham Recipe) - make it with regular Coke or sugar free.
- How To Cook A Prime Rib Roast - melt-in-your-mouth prime rib roast!
- How to Roast A Goose (Christmas Goose Recipe)
- Cordon Bleu Stuffed Pork Loin - this is a great substitute if you don't want turkey on your table.
- Brown Sugar Bourbon Glazed Ham (Sugar-Free Glazed Ham) - make it sugar free or regular.
📋 Recipe
Juicy Turkey Recipe with Seasoned Coating
Equipment
- 1 roasting pan with rack
- kitchen twine
- optional: turkey roasting bag
Ingredients
- 1 12 to 14 lb whole turkey, thawed
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
- 1 onion peeled and cut into wedges
- 4-6 sprigs of fresh herbs plus extra for garnish
- ¼ cup olive oil or as needed, up to 1/2 cup
- 1 recipe homemade shake and bake seasoning mix
Instructions
- Remove turkey from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to roasting. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Remove the neck and giblets. Be sure to check both cavities. Rinse and pat turkey dry with paper towels.
- Place turkey in a large roasting pan. Fold wings under and then tie legs together with kitchen twine. Stuff onion, lemon, and herbs into the cavity.
- Generously drizzle olive oil over the turkey and brush or rub oil all over the skin.
- Sprinkle seasoning mix over the turkey pressing it on as you go to help it stay on.
- Roast until the temperature reaches 165 degrees in the breast and 180 degrees in the thigh (without touching any bone). (Note: our 12.5 lb turkey took approx. 3-1/2 hours to roast).
- Let turkey stand, covered in foil, for 15 to 20 minutes prior to carving to let juices settle.
Video
Notes
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, serving suggestions, and more delicious recipes in our post. Check it out!
- I highly recommend an oven roasting bag. I've found them to be less messy and the turkey cooks faster. Use the instructions on the oven roasting bags to get the correct roasting temperature and roasting times.
- A 12 to 14 lb turkey, stuffed takes about 3-1/2 to 4 hours to bake. Check the temperature after 3 hours. Use the USDA guidelines for roasting times. Information here
- Make the homemade seasoning in advance for extra ease. You can also substitute 2 packages of store-bought Shake and Bake, but it is not low carb.
Nutrition
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