Every time you baste, you’re increasing the overall cooking time of your turkey. Katie is an Associate Editor for Taste of Home, specializing in writing and email newsletters. Need to skip homemade this year? That’s all the endorsement I need. Remove the rack from the roaster oven. She devours it just about as fast as I can make it. Prep Your Oven. The day before Thanksgiving, remove the bird from its packaging and take out the giblets. Preheat oven to 500. Learn how to cook a turkey with help from our Test Kitchen. But before you nail down your Thanksgiving game plan, don’t forget to factor in these other time-consuming steps. With Italian sausage and a blend of so many great flavors, it's almost a meal in itself. —Hope Wasylenki, Gahanna, OhioGet RecipeTaste of HomeGarlic and Herb Mashed PotatoesCream cheese is the secret ingredient in these comforting spuds. And more time in the oven leads to dry, tough meat. —Gayleen Grote, Battle View, North DakotaGet RecipeTaste of HomeParmesan Creamed SpinachThis rich and creamy spinach dish takes minutes to make. Others advocate a roasting pan and tinfoil or cheesecloth. Great—you know your roasting time. For that last-minute forgotten ingredient! Cook the turkey for 20 minutes per pound at 325°F —Jessica Conrey, Cedar Rapids, IowaGet RecipeTaste of HomeTriple Cranberry SauceCranberry fans will ask for this sauce again and again. There should be ample flow of air around the bird, and it should not be touching the sides of the oven. How long do you cook a turkey in a roaster? Most electric roasters range in size from 16-quart-capacity to 22-quart-capacity. Plus some clever products that will help with set-up and keep guests (and food!) —Katherine Franklin, Carbondale, IllinoisGet RecipeTaste of HomeRoasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Maple VinaigretteThis salad makes a beautiful presentation for the holidays with the bright colors of the sweet potatoes, cranberries and spinach. Mom never hesitates to whip up a batch of these from-scratch rolls, since they're a delightful way to round out a meal. Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Maple Vinaigrette, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries, Christmas Tree Delivery Is a Thing and We’re So on Board, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Serving! Below, we’ve broken down everything you need to know if you want to make Thanksgiving dinner a snap this year. You'll love the fact you can make it in your slow cooker. We also like the colorful ThermoPop. —Margaret E. Kendall, McConnelsville, OhioGet RecipeTaste of HomeJazzed-Up Green Bean CasseroleThis is not your mama's green bean casserole, but she'll still be raving about it! Send these delicious treats to a loved one — or order one for yourself. I suggest preparing it ahead of time so the flavors can get to know each other. Our Test Kitchen recommends the top-of-the-line Thermapen Mk4 thermometer for its accuracy and easy-to-read display. Place the turkey, breast side up, on top of the roasting rack, inside the roasting pan. —Linnea Rein, Topeka, KansasGet RecipeTaste of HomeSlow Cooker Bacon-Mushroom DressingMy favorite stuffing uses a slow cooker, which helps when your oven's busy. Once the turkey is finally done remove from the roaster, tent with tin foil, and let rest 15 to 20 minutes prior to serving as this locks the juices into the meat. After trying many variations, I decided to give this old standby extra kick. Sometimes I use golden or red potatoes, with skins on. Eating them with a slice of buttermilk cornbread is pure bliss. —Sherri Williams, Crestview, FloridaGet RecipeTaste of HomeParsnips & Turnips au GratinThis is a delicious variation on au gratin that features something besides potatoes. At lunchtime, my mom and aunts delivered the formed rolls. Nowadays, I make this creative casserole simply because we love it! Roaster Oven | Livestrong.com Taste it again combined with flavorful herbs and crisp veggies in this family-favorite dressing. But, even if you’re a seasoned pro in the kitchen, you’ll benefit from a shorter oven waitlist. Cover the roasting pan with a lid. This temperature is low enough that you don’t need to worry about moisture evaporating quickly and drying out the turkey, but it’s also warm enough to cook the bird all the way through at a quick pace. She always made extra rolls for the neighbors to bake in their own ovens. —Ane Burke, Bella Vista, ArkansasGet RecipeTaste of HomeThyme-Roasted CarrotsCutting the carrots lengthwise makes this dish look extra pretty. How to Cook a Turkey in a 16-Qt. It's perfect for large family gatherings, but you can also save some for later. It's loaded with their favorite fruit—in fresh, dried and juice form. You can make it before any guests arrive and refrigerate it until it’s ready to bake. —Leann Ross, San Tan Valley, ArizonaGet RecipeTaste of HomeRaisin-Studded Apple StuffingThis is the only stuffing my family will permit on our holiday table. It’s a well-guarded recipe in my collection. Use this chart to figure out how long to cook a turkey, according to its size: Note: All times are accurate for a 325°F oven. warm. —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, WisconsinGet RecipeTaste of HomePerfect Dinner RollsThese rolls melt in your mouth. Sometimes I’ll substitute broccoli for all or half the cauliflower, and The general rule is 15 to 20 minutes per pound of turkey when cooking an unstuffed turkey. Whenever I serve it, people ask Learn more about how to season a turkey. No—and it all has to do with temperature. —Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, WisconsinGet RecipeBrussels Sprouts in Rosemary Cream SauceBrussels sprouts in a rosemary-infused cream sauce have the power to bring friends together – but watch out for fights over who gets the last of the sauce. Cover the roaster and cook at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Cooking butternut squash, with its hard, thick shell, can seem daunting. These gadgets are great for baking, steaming, roasting and even braising. Use butternut squash in soups and pasta dishes, or just serve it baked in its shell with a pat of butter and a drizzle of honey. All the planning often centers around the main event—that giant, glistening turkey.