December 3, 2017 By Sara 51 Comments

Herb Roasted Turkey

Name: Herb Roasted Turkey
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 260 min
Ingredients: 15 lb turkey; 10 tablespoons butter (softened); 2 teaspoons minced garlic; 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage leaves; 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary; 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves; salt and pepper to taste; 1 onion (peeled and quartered); 1 lemon (quartered); 1 cup assorted herbs (whole sprigs to stuff inside the turkey); 3 cups chicken or turkey broth; optional garnishes: assorted herbs, fresh cranberries, seckel pears

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This herb roasted turkey is slathered in an herb and garlic butter, then baked to golden brown perfection. An easy turkey recipe that’s sure to be a hit on Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other holiday!

This is THE BEST turkey I have ever had, it’s packed with flavor and so easy to make that even a beginner cook can put together an impressive meal!

I know exactly what you’re thinking. Why is she sharing an herb roasted turkey recipe two weeks after Thanksgiving is over?

I’m sharing this recipe now because I made it for Thanksgiving, and it’s just too delicious to wait a whole year to share on this site. This turkey is tender, juicy, full of flavor and super easy to make. Making a turkey for Christmas? This is the recipe you need to try!

How to thaw a turkey

Let’s talk turkey basics first. I typically use frozen turkeys simply for the convenience factor, although this recipe works with either fresh or frozen birds. If you’ve got a frozen turkey, the best way to thaw it is in the refrigerator, but you do need to plan in advance. Typically you’ll need to thaw for one day per 4 pounds of turkey. I had a 15 pound turkey and it took a full 4 days for it to thaw.

How to prep a turkey

To prepare a turkey for roasting you’ll need to do the following steps:

remove the neck from the turkey cavity
tie the legs together with kitchen twine
fold the ends of the turkey wings under your bird
remove the giblet bag

How to make herb roasted turkey

This turkey is flavored with an herb and garlic butter which is super easy to make in the food processor. You’ll want to cover every inch of the turkey in the butter, and be sure to smear it under the skin too for maximum flavor.

After the turkey is coated in butter, it goes into a super hot oven to brown up. This step is what gives you that amazing deep golden brown crust. After that, you’ll lower the temperature to cook the turkey all the way through.

If you feel like your turkey is browning too quickly, simply cover it with a piece of foil.

How long to cook turkey

Generally speaking, a turkey needs to cook for 15 minutes per pound of bird that you have. This assumes that you’re starting with a fresh or fully thawed turkey. The only way to know for sure that your turkey is cooked through is to use a thermometer to check the temperature of the turkey.

What temperature to cook turkey

The minimum internal temperature of a turkey should be 165 degrees F. You can check to see if your turkey is done by inserting a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh and breast. Make sure to avoid touching bone as this will give you an inaccurate temperature.

I just love the flavors of this herb roasted turkey, which is why I just couldn’t wait a whole year to share it with you. That skin is crispy perfection, the meat is full of herb flavor, and this recipe is simple enough for a beginner to perfect. No messy brines or exotic spices, just some fresh ingredients, a little basting and a trip through a hot oven.

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5 from 16 votes