3-Ingredient Thanksgiving Turkey with Orange and Sage

A beautifully simple spatchcocked turkey flavored with fresh oranges, sage, and a citrus-herb rub. This recipe produces a crispy-skinned, perfectly roasted turkey that's ideal for Thanksgiving dinner.

8 servings

3 hr 40 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•2 whole navel oranges
•2 tablespoons kosher salt
•1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
•1 tablespoon sage
•1 whole turkey
•¼ cup olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1.
Finely grate 1 orange to yield 1 Tbsp. zest; transfer to a small bowl. Slice oranges into 1/2"-thick rounds; transfer to a resealable plastic bag and chill until ready to use. Add salt, pepper, and chopped sage to zest and stir to combine.
10 min
2.
Place turkey, breast side down, on a large cutting board. Cut along each side of backbone with kitchen shears-this will take some force (you can ask your butcher to do this). Discard backbone or reserve for another use.
10 min
3.
With turkey skin side down, use a knife to score down the long oblong bone in center of breast. Turn turkey skin side up, then firmly press down with both hands on breastbone until you hear a cracking sound. Rub zest mixture all over turkey, under skin, and inside cavity. Transfer turkey skin side up to a rimmed baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and chill 6-18 hours.
15 min
4.
Arrange a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 450°F. Tuck sage sprigs and reserved orange slices in an even layer under turkey. Let sit at room temperature 30-60 minutes to air dry.
60 min
5.
Brush turkey with oil, add 1/2 cup water to pan, and roast 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Rotate pan, add 1/2 cup water to pan, and brush turkey with more oil. Continue to roast, brushing with oil after 30 minutes, until skin is deep golden brown and crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast right against breastbone registers 160°F, 55-65 minutes more.
95 min
6.
Transfer turkey to clean cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving.
30 min

Cooking Instructions

Finely grate 1 orange to yield 1 Tbsp. zest; transfer to a small bowl. Slice oranges into 1/2"-thick rounds; transfer to a resealable plastic bag and chill until ready to use. Add salt, pepper, and chopped sage to zest and stir to combine.

10 min

Place turkey, breast side down, on a large cutting board. Cut along each side of backbone with kitchen shears-this will take some force (you can ask your butcher to do this). Discard backbone or reserve for another use.

10 min

With turkey skin side down, use a knife to score down the long oblong bone in center of breast. Turn turkey skin side up, then firmly press down with both hands on breastbone until you hear a cracking sound. Rub zest mixture all over turkey, under skin, and inside cavity. Transfer turkey skin side up to a rimmed baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and chill 6-18 hours.

15 min

Arrange a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 450°F. Tuck sage sprigs and reserved orange slices in an even layer under turkey. Let sit at room temperature 30-60 minutes to air dry.

60 min

Brush turkey with oil, add 1/2 cup water to pan, and roast 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Rotate pan, add 1/2 cup water to pan, and brush turkey with more oil. Continue to roast, brushing with oil after 30 minutes, until skin is deep golden brown and crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast right against breastbone registers 160°F, 55-65 minutes more.

95 min

Transfer turkey to clean cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

30 min