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! Serve your turkey with Thanksgiving stuffing and slow cooker cranberry sauce for a memorable 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
You can also choose to brine your turkey before you roast it for extra flavor. Check out my guide on how to brine a turkey!
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.
More recipes for your holiday meal
- Ham with Pineapple and Cherries
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
- Green Bean Bundles
- Butterflake Rolls
- Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots
- Southern Cornbread Dressing
Herb Roasted Turkey
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
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Remove the turkey from the refrigerator; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Tuck the turkey wings under the body.
- Place the butter, garlic, sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley and salt and pepper to taste in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper, then stuff with the onion, lemon and assorted herbs. Tie the turkey legs together with kitchen twine.
- Rub the herb butter all over the outside of the turkey and under the skin of the breast. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken broth in a medium saucepan on the stove and keep warm over low heat.
- Place the turkey in a roasting pan and bake for 45 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue roasting, basting the turkey every 30 minutes with the chicken broth, until the turkey is done. This will take approximately 3 hours and you'll know that the turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey thigh registers 165 degrees F.
- If the turkey seems like it's getting overly browned during the cooking process, cover it with foil.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and tent loosely with foil. Let the turkey rest for 25 minutes. Slice, then serve.
Notes
- Recipe adapted from Bobby Flay
- You can make this recipe with a turkey larger than 15 lbs, simply add 15 minutes more to the cooking time per pound.
- It's best to cook your turkey on a rack or on a bed of vegetables to help keep it from sitting in all the juices in the bottom of the pan.
If you want to brine a turkey that’s been purchased frozen (say 16lbs), do you thaw in fridge for 3 days, then soak in brine solution on the 4th day? Or thaw for 4 full days, then brine on the 5th day (before the big Thanksgiving dinner day)? Can you then follow with this recipe?
I’d thaw it completely, then brine it. You can brine a turkey and then use this recipe, you’ll just want to cut the salt in this recipe in half. Here is my super popular brine recipe! https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/turkey-brine-recipe/
How long do u cook if adding stuffing to the turkey?
It will take significantly longer to cook with stuffing, be sure to use a thermometer to make sure the meat is cooked to the proper temperature!
This was the first time I’ve ever cooked a Turkey and it was SO GOOD and really easy!
All of the tips were super helpful as well.
Everyone enjoyed. Thanks for sharing!
I’m excited to try this recipe. I have a few questions instead of basting your turkey can you inject it? And is it best to use a roasting pan?
You could inject your turkey if you prefer and that should be fine. Yes, you’d want to use a roasting pan!
Hi! What kind of veggies can I use to make a bed of vegetables? I don’t have a rack.. thanks
Potatoes would work!
Made this for Thanksgiving this year, first time, was AMAZING! Everyone loved it, what a great recipe.
Do you use salted or unsalted butter? Thank you!
Either works great!
Can I add potato’s, carrots and corn on the side
Yes that’s fine, add them during the last 45 minutes!
What does the lemon do for the turkey? I use the juice from turkey for the dressing and wasn’t sure if I would be able to taste the lemon.
Also can a bag be used instead of basting?
You won’t taste the lemon in the dressing! I don’t typically cook with turkey bags, so I can’t say for sure but I think it would work fine.
I am SO excited to try this. Similar to what I’ve done in the past but I have never filled the cavity, so very excited for this!! I have to use an electric roaster this year. Do you know if I would keep the temperatures the same? 450 for first 45 minutes and then 350 for remainder of the time? Thank you in advance!
Yes you can keep the temperatures the same! Just watch it during 450 to make sure it doesn’t get overly brown, it could brown faster since an electric roaster is a smaller device than an oven.
Has anyone tried this recipe but used a smoked instead of their oven?
Here is my smoked turkey recipe: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/smoked-turkey-recipe/
I stuff my turkey can I still do this
I made this is oven 2 years ago it was wonderful. I was wondering if I can use an electric roaster.
That should work fine!
Delicious turkey! Best turkey I’ve ever had! Made it yesterday and really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to dig it into it again today.
Added a little lemon zest to the butter mixture but followed every thing else as is.
Thanks!
I made this for Christmas Day….it looks absolutely amazing!!!! Can’t wait to try it. Thank you & Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 ❄️⛄️✝️🎅
is there a way to do the herb butter with out a food processer?
Yes just finely mince everything and mix it together, the pieces of herbs will just be larger.
Made this for Thanksgiving yesterday!!! Everyone LOVED it!! It was so moist and flavorful!! I had to buy a food processor for the recipe, but it was definitely worth it. Thank you for sharing this!!
Turkey was excellent!!! Moist and flavorful!!!
Best recipe! I used Kerrygold garlic and herb butter stick, a poultry blend of fresh herbs package, a package of parsley, and a extra package of rosemary! Fresh ground pepper and sea salt. I load the cavity with extra rosemary and any left over herbs. This is my third year doing this recipe, it is the best! Last 20 minutes or so I remove foil to make sure I get a good brown on the bird!
Does this have to be basted? I’ve made your breast recipe and it’s wonderful and I didn’t baste it. Does the whole bird need it?
Yes this recipe does call for basting.
Can I make the herb butter a day or two ahead of time?
Yes that is fine!
This may be a silly question but do I need to peel the lemon? This will be my first ever Turkey attempt.
You do not peel the lemon!