How to Roast a Split Turkey. For small gatherings, a split (half) turkey is ideal. This recipe serves four to six people.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Rinse the turkey; pat dry with paper towels.
Salt and pepper the turkey on each side.
Stuff the breast cavity with the stuffing of your choice.
Place the turkey cut side down in a roasting pan.
Mix soy sauce and maple syrup together in a small bowl. Spread the mixture over the flesh of the turkey using a pastry brush.
Bake the turkey for 15 minutes.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and roast 1 hour, basting every 15 minutes with melted butter.
Remove turkey from oven when a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the turkey breast registers 170 degrees F.
Let turkey rest 15 minutes.
Lift turkey from roasting pan, carve and place on a serving dish.
Remove any stuffing that is left in the pan and serve it as well.
- You can split a turkey yourself from the breast bone to the tail, but it's much easier to ask a butcher to do it for you.