The Trick to Roasting a Perfect Turkey Without a Roasting Pan

Having worked in a number of test kitchens over the course of my career, I’ve learned almost nothing scares home cooks more than the idea of roasting the Thanksgiving turkey. I get it, for many it’s the centerpiece of the whole meal. Personally, I always focus on the pecan pie, especially if it’s laced with bourbon and loaded with chocolate.

But if you’re worried about the turkey, don’t fret! We’ve got tips on how to keep the turkey moist and flavorful—and what you can do if you forget to defrost the bird. What if, though, you don’t have all the tools you need for Thanksgiving like a roasting pan? You don’t need to worry another moment. You can grab that broiler pan that came with your oven and make an amazing centerpiece of a turkey.

The Benefits of a Broiler Pan

You’ve all heard the phrase, “use the right tool for the job” so naturally, it would seem logical the right tool to roast a turkey would be a roasting pan, right? Well, I disagree. First, most roasting pans are three to four inches deep but think of your turkey sitting in it. At least one-third to one-half of the turkey is shielded by the sides of the pan while the rest of the turkey is wide open to the oven. What does that mean? The part that’s more exposed tends to cook faster, and that’s usually the delicate breast meat. The part that are more protected by the pan are the thighs and legs. Since we like to cook the breast to no more than 165ºF but we like the legs and thighs between 170 and 175ºF, do you see the first problem?

I will argue the best tool for this job is the broiler pan that probably came with your oven. It has two pieces that fit together and the top piece has holes in it. The reason I like this is because when they are fitted together there is usually a lot of room between them, which you can fill up with lots of onions, carrots, celery and even the turkey neck. As the turkey cooks, the juices will drip down into the pan where the veggies will help flavor and protect the precious drippings from evaporating. This helps get you the most drippings for lots of homemade gravy. If you don’t have a broiler pan, grab a heavy-duty cookie sheet that has sides.

What this shallow pan also does is expose every part of the turkey to the heat of the oven. This ensures your legs and thighs are exposed to the same heat as the breast meat. The beauty of this is since the breast is much bigger than the legs and thighs, it will reach 165ºF at the same time the rest of the bird reaches 170ºF.

How to Roast Turkey with a Broiler Pan

Step 1: Prep the Aromatics

Place 2 cups of chopped onions, 1 cup of chopped carrots and 1 cup of chopped celery in the bottom piece of your broiler pan. Add the neck and giblets, if desired. Cover with the top piece. If you’re using a rimmed cookie sheet, spread the veggies evenly across it.

Step 2: Season the Turkey

Place your thawed turkey on top of the broiler rack, or directly on top of the veggies if using a cookie sheet. Pat the skin dry and rub it with olive oil or vegetable oil. Oil helps you get beautiful golden brown crispier skin than you would get with butter. Sprinkle with plenty of salt and pepper, both inside and out.

Step 3: Roast

Slide the turkey into the oven legs first. We do this because oven temps are usually warmer in the back of the oven. This helps the thighs get the higher heat they need. Start out at 425°F; this not only jump-starts the cooking but you’ll find the legs and thighs get extra crisp this way. After 40 minutes reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.

Step 4: Rest Before Carving

Remove the turkey from the oven when the internal temperature is five degrees below the desired doneness. All large items continue to cook after being removed from the oven. This is called carryover cooking. Taking it out of the oven before it reaches 165ºF helps ensure it doesn’t overcook or dry out.

Now that it’s out of the oven you want to let it sit on the cutting board for about 20 to 30 minutes before you even think about cutting it. If you slice it right after you take it out of the oven, all the juices will come pouring out and you’ll end up with pretty dry meat. Don’t worry, the turkey won’t cool down in that amount of time.

Step 5: Use Those Drippings

As your turkey is chilling out on the counter, now is the time to collect all the delicious pan drippings. Be careful, there may be a lot of hot liquid in the bottom of the pan. Pour the contents through a strainer, pressing out as much liquid from the vegetables as possible. This then is the base for your gravy.

For those of you who got a roasting pan as a wedding gift from your Great Aunt Edna, and you know she’s going to be looking for it when she comes over, don’t worry! You can use it to make all these delicious recipes.

What Thanksgiving Looked Like Through the Decades

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1920s

Thanksgiving Frolic

Before joining the clan in an after-dinner frolic, 9-year-old Areldene Jenkins posed for a picture with her sister, Alice Jo, mother, Nellie, and father, Maynard, on Thanksgiving in 1922. Travel through time with vintage holiday recipes from every decade.

1930s

Singing Siblings

“We four children, Tom, Irving, Mary Frances and I, gathered around the table to sing hymns on Sunday night in November 1934. We brightened our home with our singing, even though times were tough for our family,” says Cora Owen of Wiscasset, Maine. This is how much groceries cost the year you were born.

From the Farm

“This is my dad, Don Kretzer, at the family farm in Ross County, Ohio, in about 1938. I suspect the turkey was soon to be dinner,” says Becky Ward of Bainbridge, Ohio.

Gather Together

“Pearl and Ernest Leland Fielden, seated at the head of the table, enjoyed a 1930s Thanksgiving with their children and grandchildren in Knoxville, Tennessee,” writes Regina Pacheco. “My father, Ernest James, is the boy at the far right.” These fun Thanksgiving recipes will make you feel like a kid again.

Turkey Trouble

Hubert Tish Jr. is pictured with his mother, Lottie, in the 1930s, around the time when her husband’s company gave each employee a live turkey for Thanksgiving. Lottie, a new mom with little cooking experience, wasn't sure what to do next! Don't make these common mistakes when cooking your turkey.

Take a Drumstick

At holiday feasts with family, no one needs to be shy about taking seconds. This snapshot comes from Bob Spring of Bellingham, Washington. “The photo is of my mom clowning around with the turkey leg. It was taken in 1939,” he says.

1940s

Dad Carves the Turkey

Bob Spring shared another Thanksgiving photo from 1941. "I was engaged to Norma Johnson. Her dad, Norman, is carving turkey for his grandson Edwin,” says Bob Spring. These Thanksgiving dishes are ready in 30 minutes or less.

Give Thanks for Freedom

Vilma’s dad carved the turkey for the annual Thanksgiving celebration honoring their new life in this country. Bring back these nearly forgotten Thanksgiving side dishes.

Mom's New Dishes

Judy’s mother, Mary Schultz, was delighted to serve Thanksgiving dinner on her new dishes, courtesy of a thoughtful Ladies Home Journal photographer, when the family was selected for an article in the magazine in 1948. Judy still uses the dishes for Thanksgiving today. These heirloom recipes are passed down from Grandma.

Presidential Pardon

In 1949, President Harry Truman received a gift turkey that likely became dinner. Today, two turkeys (one each for the president and vice president) get a Thanksgiving pardon. The birds usually go to a farm to live out their lives. Do you know the history of these popular Thanksgiving foods?

1950s

Helping Hands

This 1952 ad for S.O.S. reminds Moms to get everyone in the family involved in preparing the big turkey dinner. And cleaning up will be so much easier with these magic scouring pads. Douglass Crockwell, a famous illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post, designed the heartwarming image. These tried-and-true cleaning tips actually work.

Thanksgiving Parade

Like parades across the country, the Christmas parade in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 1952, starred the colorful balloon creations of Jean Gros. The parade featured more than 40 large balloons, including a smiling snowman. Learn incredible facts about the Macy's Day Parade.

Holidays in a New Home "This photo was taken in 1952, after my family had moved to Fort Worth, Texas. That is me on the left, with my dad and sister at Thanksgiving," says Joan Hallford.

Better Days

“Our family moved to California in the spring of 1948, and for the next few years, things were rather tough,” says Gordon Kellen of Fontana, California. “But by Thanksgiving 1953, things had become a bit better, and for the first time ever, our 3-year-old daughter, Susan, saw a cooked turkey. She could hardly wait for the feast, which we all enjoyed.” Stretch your dollars with budget-friendly dinners that are big on taste.

Generations Together

This 1953 scene is from Larry Miller of Muncie, Indiana. “Every Thanksgiving, three generations gathered at my folks’ house in Summitville,” he says, “and a group photo was a must. My sister Judy is at the center, our mother, Anna, is third from left, and I’m the handsome young man in back.” Serve these Thanksgiving dinner recipes to feed a crowd.

The Dynamic Duo

Ken Kwilosz’s dad, Rudolph, carves the turkey in their kitchen while Mom, Frances, oversees the operation in 1954. The family lived in Chicago, Illinois, at the time. These tips make it easy to carve a turkey.

Holiday Crafts

“My brother Paul waits by the table on Thanksgiving 1954 at our home in Elmira, New York. Our usual centerpiece, a wax turkey, holds the spot where the meat platter will sit. Mom had us make paper pilgrims and a log cabin to bide the hours while the turkey cooked.” Keep the kids entertained with easy fall crafts.

To Grandmother's House

Ellen Baize and her sister were thankful to be at Grandma’s for the holidays in 1955. “Besides cooking the scrumptious dinner, she made our jumpers,” Ellen writes from Fort Davis, Texas. Bring back memories with Grandma's best fall recipes.

Thanksgiving in the Service

“In 1955, I was a private first class at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where specialties on the Thanksgiving menu included shrimp cocktail, candied sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie,” says Carl Gallagher of Haslett, Michigan. Check out more recipes to honor our troops in the military.

Baby's First Turkey

“On my son Mike’s first Thanksgiving, in 1955, he was hamming it up with his drumstick while his cousin, a month older, kept shying away from the camera,” writes Lucille Duh. This is when to start giving solid foods to your infant.

The Biggest Bird

“This picture was taken on Thanksgiving Day in 1956. My mother always cooked the biggest turkey she could find,” says Phyllis Bebee. “From the built-in buffet to the lazy Susan on the table, this picture depicts the wonderful 1950s.” These vintage colors are straight out of Mom's kitchen.

Dressed for the Weather

Her eyes closed to the bright sun and her hands protected in a gigantic muff, Paula Mohr, now of Millington, Michigan, braves the brisk weather to pose next to the family’s Chevy on Thanksgiving in 1958. Her mother, Barbara, snapped the picture. These holiday recipes from the 1950s are worth trying today.

A Special Gift

“In 1958, Thanksgiving was an especially happy day for the Stevens family living at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri,” relates M.R. Stevens. “Annemarie, 3, got her Thanksgiving turkey and a baby sister on the same day!”

Ready to Feast

“We gathered at the table just before eating in 1959 in Elmira, New York. I’m in the red-striped shirt between my maternal grandmother and my mother, Jean,” says Tom Huonker of Rochester, New York.

Turkey Farmers

“In the late 1950s, I got the crazy idea to move my family from Nebraska to Oregon—which seemed like the wild west back then. I’d raised turkeys in Nebraska, so I bought a turkey ranch south of Portland. We raised about 20,000 birds a year!” said Marcia Petrick’s dad, Phil Snyder. We found delicious recipes straight from the farm.

1960s

Baking Disaster

“When faced with this scene in November 1960, all we could do is laugh and take a picture,” writes Jean Dentler of Ann Arbor, Michigan. “Our son, Scott, loved to play with his trucks and had found the perfect media to move about—a mess of flour and sugar!” Try these easy recipes you can bake with your kids.

Mama's Recipes

“Every year, the rayon mill where Daddy worked gave its employees a turkey or ham for the holidays,” says Ina Briggs of Elizabethtown, Tennessee. “Mama was the best cook, and here she is in 1963 preparing the turkey. We also had sage dressing, gravy, and every vegetable she had preserved in the cellar, along with several different pies.” Psst—here's the best ever Thanksgiving pie recipes!

Family Fun

“My sister was just over 2 years old when my folks made her the 'turkey' in 1964,” says Ann Marie Eberhart. Add some fun to the menu with these fall treats.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Ralph and Nancy Bell, pictured with their kids John, James and Martha in about 1965, retired to rural Washington to live closer to nature. They raised three turkeys for the holidays. But when the time came, Mom had a change of heart. “How can we possibly eat the turkeys that ran up to greet us every morning?” Nancy asked. So the family had Thanksgiving without a turkey. With these delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes, you'll never miss the meat.

Electric Knife

“Holiday tradition in our house meant that I carved the turkey. Here, getting directives from my wife, Joyce, I buzz into the bird with an electric knife—state of the art equipment in 1965,” says Bruce Thompson of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Check out these vintage kitchen tools Grandma couldn't cook without.

Soup Tradition

Else Wilson, the family chef, celebrated with her relatives at Thanksgiving around 1966. Vichyssoise, a cold potato soup, was a holiday tradition that the children weren't so sure about. Everyone will love these tasty Thanksgiving soups.

Retro Kitchen Style

“Janet and Craig Hutchens, my niece and nephew, were ready to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner at their Aunt Bea’s house in Renton, Washington,” says Beatrice Bard of Enumclaw, Washington. Check out those 1960s drapes and knotty pine paneling.

Thanksgiving at the Cabin

“In 1966, my family celebrated Thanksgiving at a cabin near Yosemite in California, where we traveled for vacations,” says Ann Marie Eberhart. Learn how to grill a turkey.

Holiday Hot Pants

As married 20-somethings with children, Rosemary Campbell (left) and her sisters Deanna and Maureen dressed up to celebrate Thanksgiving at Deanna’s house in Camarillo, California, in 1969. Make the holiday stress-free with these make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes.

1970s

The Old Ways

Even well into her 80s, Mary Ann Constanzer’s Aunt Clara used her old coal stove to make traditional Polish family recipes. Check out Grandma's secret last-minute holiday recipes.

Perky Pilgrims

Pilgrim hats worn by siblings Don and Kathy were a fitting part of Thanksgiving festivities at their parents’ home in Albion, Pennsylvania, in 1979.

1980s

Thanksgiving Joy

Molly Jasinski shared this photo of her as a child in 1988 having some Thanksgiving fun at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Add these fall activities to your seasonal bucket list.

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