Chef Tim Love's Turkey

Chef Tim Love shares his favorite turkey recipe.

Ingredients

1 fresh 12 lb. turkey
¼ lb. butter
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tbsp. fresh thyme
1 tbsp. smoked paprika
1 tbsp. chili powder
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked pepper
1 large bunch of thyme
1 whole lemon, cut in half
3 whole leeks, split
4 garlic cloves, split

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Melt the butter in a small sauce pan and add the juice of lemon, zest, paprika and chili powder. Set aside.

Remove the giblets out of the turkey and wash with cold water inside and out of the turkey. Remove any excess skin and pin feathers. Pat the outside dry.

Place turkey in a roasting pan and liberally season the inside of the turkey cavity with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, leeks and garlic.

Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture. Liberally season with salt and pepper.

Tie the legs together with butcher twine and tuck wings under the body of the turkey.

Roast the turkey for about 2 3/4 hours or until juices run clear where the leg meets the breast.

Remove and let rest for 20 minutes covered with foil.

Serve & enjoy!