PERFECT Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

Jump to Recipe

The Best Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe is so easy to make, and the turkey turns out perfect every time. It’s so easy to make and flavorful. Lemon herb butter is what makes this recipe so good.

If you’re looking for more delicious turkey recipes, The Best Turkey Brine Recipe and Slow Cooker Turkey Broth will keep your taste buds happy.

PERFECT Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe | Montana Happy (1)

You’re going to love this recipe because it makes roasting a turkey seems so simple and tastes delicious at the same time. The bonus of this recipe is how good the gravy will be because of the turkey drippings!

I’ve been using this recipe for years, and the turkey ALWAYS comes out perfect! You’ll love it. I don’t know what I love more, the taste of lemon, butter, or the fresh herbs used in the recipe.

Creating a Cozy Life Group

Since you found this recipe on How to Make Herb Roasted Turkey, I’m guessing you love all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 90,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the cozy virtual cottage.

PERFECT Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe | Montana Happy (2)

Here’s How to Make Herb Roasted Turkey

Ingredients for Roasted Herb Turkey

1 stick unsalted butter (1/4 pound), room temperature

1 lemon, juiced and zested

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped

1 teaspoon fresh sage leaves, chopped

10-12 pound turkey

Kosher Salt

Fresh ground black pepper

1 bunch fresh thyme

1 bunch fresh sage

1 whole lemon, quartered

1 yellow onion, quartered

1 head garlic, crosswise halved

PERFECT Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe | Montana Happy (3)

Directions for making Herb Roast Turkey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together the softened butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, one teaspoon thyme leaves, and one teaspoon sage leaves. Set aside.

Take the giblets out of the turkey. Wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any leftover pinfeathers or excess fat. Pat the outside of the turkey dry.

Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Lift the turkey’s skin near the cavity and spread the butter mixture as far as you can under the skin without breaking it. Rub the remaining butter mixture on top of the skin. Season the turkey with Kosher salt and fresh black pepper.

Add salt and black pepper to the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the hole with the onion, quartered lemon, halved garlic, a bunch of thyme, and a bunch of sage.

Tie the turkey legs together with string. You will also want to tie the wings to the turkey. Wrap the string around the turkey and ensure the wing tips are tucked inside.

Roast the turkey at 350 degrees for about 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh.

Place the turkey on a cutting board and cover it with aluminum foil. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes before serving.

Carve the turkey and serve.

Tips for Making Roasted Herb Turkey

You can substitute other fresh herbs like rosemary, tarragon, or parsley for the sage and thyme.

Make sure you use Kosher salt in this recipe. It makes a big difference in taste.

What to Serve with Lemon Butter Herb Roasted Turkey?

Now that you have the perfect herb roasted turkey recipe, you’ll need some side dishes. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

  • Perfect Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Rustic Candied Sweet Potatoes and Apples
  • Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
  • Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
  • Fresh Cranberry Relish with Pecans
  • Cranberry Rice with Caramelized Onions

How Long does Roasted Herb Turkey last in the refrigerator?

When properly stored, herb roasted turkey will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze Butter Roast Turkey?

Yes, this herb roasted turkey will last six months in the freezer when stored in an airtight container. Make sure you freeze the turkey in the deepest part of the freezer.

PERFECT Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe | Montana Happy (4)

Yield: 8 Servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Additional Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

If you're looking for the perfect herb roasted turkey recipe, you found it! This recipe will leave your taste buds dancing!

Ingredients

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, (1/4 pound), room temperature
  • 1 lemon, juiced and zested
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh sage leaves, chopped
  • 10-12 pound turkey
  • Kosher salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme
  • 1 bunch fresh sage
  • 1 whole lemon, quartered
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1 head garlic, halved crosswise

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix together the softened butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves, and 1 teaspoon chopped sage leaves.
  3. Take the giblets out of the turkey. Wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any leftover pinfeathers or excess fat. Pat the outside of the turkey dry.
  4. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Lift the skin off the turkey near the cavity and spread some of the butter mixture under the skin as far as you can go without breaking it. Rub the remaining butter mixture on top of the skin. Season the turkey with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
  5. Add salt and pepper inside the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the quartered lemon, quartered onion, halved garlic, bunch of thyme, and bunch of sage leaves.
  6. Tie the turkey legs together with string. You'll also want to tie the wings to the turkey. Wrap the string around the turkey to tie and make sure the wings are tucked inside.
  7. Roast the turkey at 350 degrees for 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and thigh.
  8. Place the turkey on a cutting board and put a piece of foil on top of it. Let it rest for 20 minutes.
  9. Carve the turkey and serve.

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

8

Amount Per ServingCalories 195Total Fat 62gSaturated Fat 22gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 36gCholesterol 772mgSodium 743mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 195g

We’ve reached the end of The Best Herb Roasted Turkey recipe. I hope you enjoyed it!

Don’t forget to join the Creating a Cozy Life Group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is!

I created a pin for you to add this herb roasted turkey to your Pinterest food board so you can refer back to it.

Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!

More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love

  • The Best Salt Encrusted Prime Rib Recipe
  • Old Fashioned Skillet Ham Steak
  • The Best Meatloaf Recipe You’ll Ever Have
  • Delicious Turkey Noodle Soup
  • The Best Leftover Turkey Chili Recipe
  • Honey Glazed Bone-In Turkey Breast Recipe
PERFECT Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe | Montana Happy (5)
PERFECT Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

FAQs

What does putting butter under the skin of a turkey do? ›

Impart rich flavor and add moisture to your Thanksgiving turkey by adding a layer of butter under the skin before roasting. Learn how to do this simple (but genius) technique for a delicious Thanksgiving turkey.

Is it better to use olive oil or butter on your turkey? ›

on your turkey instead of butter will yield a much. crispier skin than butter. It's simply the best oil for.

How does Gordon Ramsay keep the turkey moist? ›

Ramsay's key for a guaranteed delicious and juicy turkey is a parsley and garlic butter that gets generously slathered both under the skin and on top of the turkey. While the turkey is cooking, you'll want to baste the bird with the melted butter pan juices to ensure a crispy skin while cooking.

Can I butter and season my turkey the night before? ›

Yes! You can season, stuffed and butter up the turkey the night before and place it onto a roasting pan, then into the refrigerator. Can I make the garlic butter ahead of time? Yes, I recommend making the garlic butter ahead of time to save time the day of, especially if you have lots of other dishes to prepare.

Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey? ›

Place roast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in 2-inch deep roasting pan. Do not add water to pan. Roast uncovered according to Cooking Schedule or until meat thermometer in center of breast roast reaches 170° F and in center of turkey roast reaches 175° F.

Should I inject my turkey and put butter under the skin? ›

Inject the turkey with melted butter seasoned with salt, ground black pepper, and ground rosemary to achieve the moistest meat. Cranberry BBQ Glazed Whole Turkey: This glazed turkey is heavenly, but you can make it even better by injecting it with your cranberry BBQ glaze before cooking.

Should you bake a turkey covered or uncovered? ›

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil? ›

Want to ensure your bird is juicy and delicious yet speeds up the cooking time so everyone can watch the game? Foil wrapping is the answer! This technique helps speed the cooking process and locks in the turkey's natural juices. It helps prevent turkeys from drying out without basting, especially those over 24 pounds.

What do you put in the bottom of a turkey roasting pan? ›

Place chopped onions, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. Pick a few herbs off the stalks and add to the vegetables. Set aside. Pat dry the turkey with paper towels.

How does Bobby Flay roast a turkey? ›

Put the turkey on top of the vegetables, put in the oven and roast in the oven for 45 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Reduce the heat to 350 and continue roasting, basting with the warm chicken stock every 15 minutes until basting with some of the chicken stock every 15 minutes, about 2 to 2 ¼ hours longer.

How long should a turkey sit out before cooking? ›

Your turkey will cook more evenly and faster if you start it out at room temperature so remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. If you plan to stuff your turkey, wait until you're ready to put it in the oven before putting the stuffing in the turkey.

How does Martha Stewart cook a turkey in the oven? ›

Roast 1 hour, then baste every 30 minutes with pan liquids, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh (avoiding bone) registers 125°F, about 3 hours. Remove foil; raise oven heat to 400°F. Continue roasting, basting occasionally, until thigh reaches 180°F, 45 to 60 minutes more.

What should I put in the cavity of my turkey? ›

Add halved onions, carrot chunks, celery and fresh herbs to the cavity of your turkey, inserting them loosely. These flavor builders are the base of stock and most soups. As your turkey cooks, they'll steam and infuse your bird with moisture and flavor.

How do you get butter to stick to turkey? ›

Cut a 20-inch piece of cheesecloth and fold twice, creating 4 layers. Submerge the cloth in the melted butter, making sure it is completely saturated with it. Gently squeeze the cloth, then re-form so there are 4 layers and place on top of the turkey, covering it completely.

Why is my butter not sticking to my turkey? ›

Why isn't the butter sticking to the turkey? The bird may be condensating or your butter may be too cold and firm. Make sure the turkey comes to room temperature for an hour and pat it with paper towels to remove moisture before you butter it.

When should I put butter on my turkey? ›

4 ½ to 5 hours before dinner: Remove the turkey from the fridge so it has some time to take off the chill. This will help it cook more evenly. This is also when you can rub the bird with the garlic herb butter and tie up the legs with twine if you didn't do that the day before.

How often should I butter my turkey? ›

How Often to Baste a Turkey. Most recipes will tell you to baste your turkey every thirty minutes. But our rule of thumb is actually every forty minutes, and here's why. You don't want to open the oven too many times, or else the whole bird will take much long to cook, and that's a huge inconvenience.

Should I put a stick of butter inside my turkey? ›

Just soften a stick of butter (or two, if your turkey is bigger than 15 pounds) and massage it over every square inch of turkey right before roasting. Really go for it: the skin is important, but don't neglect the cavity, and be sure to get as much butter under the skin as you possibly can.

Is it better to put butter or oil on turkey skin? ›

Once you've carefully dried off the skin, the next step you can take to guarantee perfectly crispy turkey skin is to rub it with a fat, like butter or oil. Oil will yield a crispier skin than butter because butter is at least 20 percent water, while oil contains no water.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Zonia Mosciski DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6562

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Zonia Mosciski DO

Birthday: 1996-05-16

Address: Suite 228 919 Deana Ford, Lake Meridithberg, NE 60017-4257

Phone: +2613987384138

Job: Chief Retail Officer

Hobby: Tai chi, Dowsing, Poi, Letterboxing, Watching movies, Video gaming, Singing

Introduction: My name is Zonia Mosciski DO, I am a enchanting, joyous, lovely, successful, hilarious, tender, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.