Ingredients
– 10-12 pounds whole turkey thawed giblets and neck removed
– 2-4 cups chicken stock or water more as needed
– 1 cup unsalted butter softened
– 8-10 cloves garlic minced
– 7 tablespoons jerk marinade homemade or store-bought mild or hot
– 5 sprigs fresh thyme
– 2 teaspoons seasoning salt (use 4 teaspoons if not brining)
– 1 teaspoon black pepper
– 4 tablespoons light sodium soy sauce (regular soy sauce if not brining)
– 16 cups water or enough to fully submerge turkey
– 1 cup kosher salt
Instructions
1-Step 1: Brine the Turkey Dissolve 1 cup kosher salt in 16 cups water in a large container. Submerge the turkey fully and refrigerate for at least 12 hours. Remove turkey from brine, discard brine, and pat dry.
2-Step 2: Prepare the Jerk Butter Combine softened butter, minced garlic, jerk marinade, thyme, seasoning salt, black pepper, and soy sauce until well mixed. This mixture adds that signature spicy kick and keeps the turkey moist during roasting.
3-Step 3: Season the Turkey Gently loosen the skin over the breast and thighs. Spread half of the jerk butter evenly under the skin, then rub the remaining jerk butter all over the outside and inside the cavity. Let it marinate for a few hours or overnight for deeper flavors.
4-Step 4: Roast the Turkey Preheat oven to 325ยฐF (163ยฐC) and let the turkey sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Place it on a roasting rack in a pan and pour 2-4 cups chicken stock or water into the bottom. Cover tightly with foil and roast for 15 minutes per pound, about 2.5 to 3 hours for a 10-12 pound turkey. Baste every 30-45 minutes after the first 1.5 hours. Remove foil halfway through to brown the skin, covering again if it browns too fast. Use a meat thermometer to check for 165ยฐF (74ยฐC) in the breast and 175ยฐF (79ยฐC) in the thigh. Let it rest for 30 minutes before carving.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
๐ก๏ธ Allow turkey to reach room temperature before roasting to promote even cooking and prevent dryness.
๐ง Loosen skin carefully to enable better butter application and flavor penetration.
๐ฝ๏ธ Cover turkey with foil during initial roasting to retain moisture, removing it halfway through to crisp the skin.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Brining Time: 12 hours
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Caribbean
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approximate)
- Calories: 204 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 859 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
