This tender and juicy oven roasted turkey gets a little heat thanks to a basting of spiced up, buttery buffalo hot sauce and is a refreshing deviation from the traditional Thanksgiving turkey.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword buffalo turkey
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 3 hourshours
Total Time 3 hourshours20 minutesminutes
Servings 12-14 servings
Calories 405kcal
Ingredients
1-12 to 14-pound turkey, giblets and neck removed; bird rinsed and patted dry, at room temperature
12tablespoonsbutter, softened
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Aromatics, such as onion quarters, celery stalks, carrots, and fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme or parsley
Place turkey (breast side up) on rack placed inside a roasting pan. Pry your fingers in between the skin and meat of the turkey and work 3 tablespoons of butter under skin on breast and legs. Rub 1 additional tablespoon butter on the outside of the skin. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Tuck wing tips under body and stuff the cavity of turkey with aromatics if desired. Tie legs together with kitchen twine.
Place the turkey into the preheated oven and pour 1 ½ cups water into the roasting pan. Roast for 30 minutes.
Lower the heat to 350°F and roast for 30 more minutes. Butter 1 side of a large piece of aluminum foil and tent the turkey breast with the foil, butter side down. Rotate the turkey and baste with juice in the pan every 30 minutes, or for about 1 hour.
Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter in small sauté pan and whisk in the hot sauce. Use a large spoon to baste the turkey liberally with the sauce and roast for another 30 minutes. Baste again and return to oven for 30 minutes more or until instant read thermometer reads 165°F when inserted into the inner thigh.
Total cooking time should be about 3 hours depending on your oven.
Transfer to a carving board and tent loosely with foil for 30 minutes before carving. Serve with additional sauce if desired.