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Herb Butter Roasted Turkey

Juicy Roasted Herb Butter Turkey Recipe

Celebrate Thanksgiving with this juicy, herb-butter roasted turkey—crispy on the outside, tender inside, and packed with festive flavor everyone will love.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Course Thanksgiving-Classic
Cuisine American
Servings 10 people
Calories 1560 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Roasting pan
  • 1 Roasting rack
  • 1 Meat thermometer
  • 1 Kitchen twine
  • 1 Mixing bowl
  • 1 Spoon or spatula
  • 1 Brush (optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pcs whole turkey (10–12 lbs) thawed
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 4 ccloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tbsp fresh sage chopped
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 2 pcs large onion quartered
  • 2 pcs carrots roughly chopped
  • 2 pcs celery stalks roughly chopped
  • 1 pcs lemon halved
  • cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 cup olive oil extra vargin
  • 1 tbsp paprika or Dijon mustard for extra depth

Instructions
 

  • 1. Prep the Turkey
    Remove the giblets and pat the turkey completely dry, inside and out.
    Let the turkey sit at room temperature for 30 minutes — this helps it cook more evenly.
  • 2. Make the Herb Butter
    In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, herbs, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
    Mix thoroughly until well blended.
  • 3. Butter the Turkey
    Gently loosen the skin over the breast with your hands — don’t tear it.
    Rub half the herb butter under the skin, and the rest all over the outside of the bird.
  • 4. Stuff and Arrange
    Stuff the cavity with onion quarters and lemon halves.
    Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the body to prevent burning.
  • 5. Prepare the Roasting Pan
    Scatter carrots and celery on the bottom of the pan.
    Set the turkey breast-side up on top of the vegetables.
    Pour the broth into the bottom of the pan to keep everything moist.
  • 6. Roast the Turkey
    Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
    Roast the turkey for 3 to 3.5 hours (roughly 13–15 minutes per pound).
    Baste every 45 minutes with pan juices.
    If the skin browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
  • 7. Let It Rest
    Remove the turkey from the oven and tent with foil.
    Let it rest for 20–30 minutes before carving — this step is crucial for juicy meat.

Video

Notes

Pro Tips for Tasty Herb Butter Turkey Recipe

  • Dry = Crispy: Pat the skin dry again before buttering for ultra-crispy results.
  • Flavor Boost: Add a splash of white wine or apple cider to the broth.
  • Don’t Toss the Drippings: Use them to make an incredible homemade gravy.
    “The video below isn’t exactly my recipe, but it’s similar and can give you a good idea of the cooking steps.”
Keyword Thanksgiving Dinner, Thanksgiving Launch, Thanksgiving turkey, thanksgiving-classics