Savory Herb Roasted Turkey

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning
• 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (12- to 14-pound) whole fresh turkey*
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• Apple-Bourbon Gravy

Preparation

1. 1. Stir together first 5 ingredients.
2. 2. Remove giblets and neck, and rinse turkey with cold water. Drain cavity well; pat dry. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons seasoning mixture inside cavity of turkey. Loosen and lift skin from turkey with fingers, without totally detaching skin; spread 1 tablespoon seasoning mixture evenly underneath. Carefully replace skin. Brush turkey with melted butter. Rub remaining seasoning mixture on skin. Tie ends of legs together with string; tuck wing tips under. Place turkey on a wire rack in a roasting pan, breast side up. Add 3 1/2 cups water to pan; cover turkey loosely with aluminum foil.
3. 3. Bake at 325° for 1 hour. Remove foil, and bake 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of thigh registers 165°, basting occasionally with pan juices and covering loosely with foil after 2 hours to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Remove turkey from oven, reserving 2 cups pan juices for Apple-Bourbon Gravy. Let stand 20 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter. Serve with Apple-Bourbon Gravy.
4. *1 (12- to 14-pound) frozen whole turkey, thawed, may be substituted.