How to Cook a Moist Fall off the Bone Thanksgiving Turkey
The Most Juicy and Moist Turkey Ever
Make Juicy, Fall Off the Bone Thanksgiving Turkey Everyone Craves 🦃
Want a moist, juicy Thanksgiving turkey that’s truly fall-off-the-bone tender—without complicated steps or constant basting? This is the easy Thanksgiving turkey recipe I make when we have a crowd or just a few (plan about 1.25 lbs per person). It’s buttery, gently citrus-herb scented, and stays covered so it basically self-bastes. If this is your first time cooking the turkey, you’re in the right place—simple steps, reliable timing, and delicious results. Get ready to make a fall off the bone Thanksgiving turkey that everyone will want leftovers of!
Round out your menu with our popular Thanksgiving side dishes and Thanksgiving desserts. Leftovers? Try our creamy Turkey Broccoli Casserole.
Why This Works for Moist, Tender Turkey
- Covered roasting (foil tent or oven bag) traps steam so the turkey stays juicy (a true no-baste turkey).
- Butter + simple seasoning for that gorgeous golden skin and balanced flavor.
- Citrus and onion inside the cavity perfume the meat and help keep it moist.
- Low-and-steady heat for tender, fall-off-the-bone texture.
Ingredients & Supplies
- 1 whole turkey (thawed; plan about 1.25 lbs per person)
- 2 medium oranges, quartered
- 2 medium onions, quartered
- Butter, melted (for rubbing)
- Seasoning blend (e.g., Mrs. Dash Original or your favorite salt-free blend)
- Roaster pan + lid, or heavy-duty foil/oven bag
- 4 cups water (for the roaster)
- Instant-read thermometer
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Moist Thanksgiving Turkey
1) Prep & Stuff
Thaw turkey completely (follow packaging). Remove neck and giblets. Stuff cavity with orange and onion pieces. Place turkey in your roaster pan and pour 4 cups water around it.
No lid? Use an oven bag or tightly tent with heavy-duty foil. Covering is the key to a juicy, no-baste turkey.
2) Butter & Season
Pour melted butter over the entire turkey and rub to coat evenly.
3) Add a Simple, Even Seasoning
Sprinkle a balanced seasoning blend over the turkey (top, sides, and a bit inside). Simple really is best here.
How Long to Cook a Turkey
Bake at 320°F. A reliable rule of thumb is about 1 hour per 3 pounds of turkey. For example, a 17-lb turkey will be fall-off-the-bone around the 6-hour mark.
Always verify doneness with an instant-read thermometer: turkey is safely done at 165°F in the innermost thigh, innermost wing, and thickest part of the breast. For food-safety details and carving tips, see the USDA’s guide: Cooking Turkey (USDA).
When and How to Thaw a Turkey Safely
Most Thanksgiving stress starts with forgetting to thaw the turkey! Use this quick chart to plan ahead so your bird is completely thawed and ready to cook on time. Always thaw in the refrigerator or cold water—never on the counter.
🧊 Refrigerator Thawing (Safest Method)
Allow 24 hours for every 4–5 pounds of turkey. Keep the bird in its original wrapper on a tray to catch any juices (fridge at 40°F or below).
| Turkey Weight | Days to Thaw in Fridge |
|---|---|
| 4–12 lb | 1–3 days |
| 12–16 lb | 3–4 days |
| 16–20 lb | 4–5 days |
| 20–24 lb | 5–6 days |
Pro tip: For birds 16 lb+, move it to the fridge the Friday before Thanksgiving.
💧 Cold-Water Thawing (Faster Option)
Submerge the sealed turkey breast-side down in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. Allow 30 minutes per pound. Cook immediately after thawing.
| Turkey Weight | Approx. Cold-Water Thaw Time |
|---|---|
| 8–12 lb | 4–6 hours |
| 12–16 lb | 6–8 hours |
| 16–20 lb | 8–10 hours |
| 20–24 lb | 10–12 hours |
📅 Smart Reminder
Don’t forget! Set a calendar event or smart-home reminder to start thawing your turkey on time—especially if you buy a larger bird. Voice-assistant tip: say, “Hey Siri/Alexa, remind me to put the turkey in the fridge on Sunday morning at 9 am.”
For full food-safety guidance, see the USDA: How to Safely Thaw Turkey.
Pro Tips for Juicy, Fall-Off-the-Bone Results
- Keep it covered. Foil tent, oven bag, or a roaster lid is the secret to a juicy, no-baste turkey.
- Butter = golden skin. Don’t skip the full rub for color and flavor.
- Thermometer wins. Pull at 165°F in the right spots for tender, safe turkey.
- Rest before carving. Give it 15–20 minutes so juices redistribute.
- Roaster oven option. Great for freeing up oven space; timing is similar.
Carving & Serving Tips
- Rest 15–20 minutes before carving so juices redistribute.
- Remove legs/thighs first, then slice the breast against the grain.
- Warm your platter and ladle a little pan jus over slices to keep them tender.
Turkey Size & Timing Quick Chart (1 hour per 3-lbs)
| Turkey Weight | Approx. Cook Time @ 320°F | Notes for Success |
|---|---|---|
| 10–12 lb | 3.5–4 hrs | Check temp early |
| 12–14 lb | 4–4.75 hrs | Juices should be mostly clear |
| 14–16 lb | 4.75–5.5 hrs | Foil tent = no basting needed |
| 16–18 lb | 5.5–6 hrs | Verify 165°F in breast and thigh |
| 18–20 lb | 6–6.75 hrs | Rest before carving! |
Turkey FAQs (Juicy, Tender, No-Baste, Roaster Oven)
How do I keep turkey moist while it cooks?
Cover it (foil tent, roaster lid, or oven bag) so steam stays in. Butter + citrus/onion also help retain moisture. Don’t open the oven until time to check it.
Do I need to baste this turkey?
No. When covered, it effectively self-bastes and stays juicy without opening the oven.
Can I cook this turkey in an electric roaster?
Yes. It’s an easy way to keep the turkey moist and free up your oven for sides. Timing is usually similar.
What internal temperature is safe for turkey?
165°F in the thickest part of the breast and the innermost thigh and wing. Verify with an instant-read thermometer. See USDA turkey guidance.
What’s the secret to fall-off-the-bone turkey?
Low-and-steady heat and keeping it covered so moisture stays trapped.
Final Thoughts
If you want a juicy, tender, no-stress Thanksgiving turkey, keep it covered, cook low and steady, and trust your thermometer. Pair it with a few simple sides, let it rest before carving, and finish with a splash of pan juices. You’ll get that fall-off-the-bone wow factor—without babysitting the oven all day.
More Turkey Ideas
Ready to level up? Try our citrus-herb smoked turkey. Feeding a smaller crowd? Make tender turkey breast in the air fryer.
How to Cook the Best, Juicy Fall-off-the-Bone Turkey
Equipment
- Roasting pan
Ingredients
- Turkey about 1.25 pounds per person
- 2 Medium oranges
- 2 medium onions
- 1 ½ cups butter 3 sticks
- Seasoning Mrs. Dash, if preferred
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Cut oranges and onions into quarters or eighths
- Remove neck & giblets
- If your roasting pan has no lid, then place turkey in an oven bag or prepare a tinfoil tent to retain moisture throughout baking time
- Stuff with orange and onion pieces
- Pour 4 cups water into bottom of roast pan
- Melt & pour butter over entire turkey
- Using hand, rub the butter evenly over entire turkey
- Sprinkle turkey with seasoning of choice (Mrs. Dash original)
- Bake @320 degrees for 1 hour for every 3 pounds of turkey (see note)
- Baste hourly if using a tin foil tent.
- If desired, use some pan drippings to create gravy by whisking in flour until desired consistency.
Recipe Notes
Use an instant read meat thermometer to ensure the turkey is done. It should read 165˚ in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the turkey breast.
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What if I do not have a roaster … can you still use this recipe in the oven? If so, what temp. and how long? Thank you …
Yes you can still cook it in your oven! Same temp same amount of time. Just watch the racks on your oven to make sure that you don’t hit the top. In the case of putting it in your oven the changes I would make is to put the turkey in a turkey bag before placing in the pan. Unless you have a roaster with a lid that goes in your oven. The purpose of the bag would be to keep it ‘covered’ while it’s cooking You can dump the 1/2 the amount of water in the bag to keep it moist but the bag on it’s own will help. You also could cover your pan with tin foil really good if you don’t have turkey bags. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any more questions. My husband has been so excited that I cooked a turkey early this year (to blog about it) he’s been eating turkey sandwiches non stop!
I have a question. I have a Roaster that says if the turkey is 19-24lbs I should cook it for 2-3 hours. You say to cook it for 8. If I leave it in there for 8 is that going to burn the turkey?
Put the water in there (this will make it not dry out) make sure your turkey isn’t touching the edges (it will make it really dark if it does). You can cook the turkey for 8 hours and not burn it. After about 4 hours you can check it if for some reason you think it’s getting to dark turn it down to 275 degrees. I have cooked 10 turkies at once in different roasters (church dinner) every roaster cooks just a little different, one I even had to add a little more water to. Though every single one I cooked for 8 hours and had no problems with any one burning. The turkey really just falls off the bone by cooking it this long. I do it year after year and love it! I will check my emails tomorrow throughout the day so if you have any questions post them & I will get back to you as fast as I can. (though be aware I am a black friday shopper so after about 6pm I will be shopping! hehehe)
Hey I am cooking my first turkey this Thanksgiving. I am only cooking for a few people so I’m planning on getting a small turkey (10-12 lbs). Would you suggest changing the cooking time since the bird is smaller?
The reviews on the product say it can vary a lot… So I would test it out first! 😀
I would recommend that you cook it at 375 for 3-3.5 hours unstuffed or 4-4.5 hours for stuffed. Hope it turns out fabulous!
Hi,
Thanks for the recipe! I was just curious…my roaster has two small holes in the lid for steam escape (I guess). Does your roaster have these holes too? Really want to cook my bird in the roaster to free up oven this year:) Thanks for reading!!!
No mine does not have the holes on the top. It does have rings to keep steam in. It looks like this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00400QBJA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00400QBJA&linkCode=as2&tag=mofab-20&linkId=AL5VJ724KQZ2IBD4
I can’t Thank you enough for sharing this excellent recipe. Thanksgiving 2024 I followed your instructions for roasting and my turkey was very moist and falling off the bone.It was so darn good!!! I was proud of myself. Do you have a recipe for a moist whole oven roasted chicken recipe.?