Classic Stuffed Turkey With Old-Fashioned Gravy

Roasting a stuffed turkey means two of Thanksgiving’s most important players are prepared simultaneously, a boon for multitasking cooks everywhere. But there’s nuance to the process. No one wants to cut corners only to serve a dry Thanksgiving turkey or woefully undercooked stuffing. One key to a successfully stuffed bird is to slow the cooking of the turkey breast by covering it with aluminum foil so it comes out of the oven juicy and golden brown. Another is to ensure the turkey stuffing is warm before packing it in the bird, giving it a jumpstart on reaching a safe temperature by the time the meat is perfectly cooked.

This recipe is for a 12- to 14-pound turkey serving eight people, but it can be scaled up for a bigger bird. We estimate at least one pound of turkey per person if you want ample turkey leftovers (and who doesn’t?).

Some experts prefer to cook their turkeys to an internal temperature of 165° (rather than 180°, as we do here). Rick Rodgers, who created this recipe, believes dark meat in particular does not achieve optimum flavor and texture until it reaches 180°. If you choose to stuff your turkey and cook it to only 165°, the stuffing will almost definitely not reach a safe temperature. When you remove the turkey from the oven, check the temperature in the center of the stuffing and cook further in the microwave as indicated below.

Letting the turkey stand after it comes out of the oven is an essential part of the roasting process. Letting it rest gives its juices time to redistribute, making for a moister turkey, and provides an excellent opportunity to make the gravy and reheat your Thanksgiving side dishes. There’s no need to cover the bird—it’ll stay warm enough, and covering it would only soften the crispy skin.

Once you’ve learned how to roast a stuffed turkey, customize it by adding diced apples, dried cranberries, or toasted pecans to your stuffing recipe, or swap this one out for a nostalgic stuffing made from boxed seasoned cubes or a Garlicky Sausage Stuffing to give your Thanksgiving dinner an extra kick.