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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Holiday Recipes

    Herb Butter Turkey

    Published: Nov 17, 2022 ยท Modified: Feb 20, 2023 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 25 Comments

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    Branded image of the whole roasted herb butter turkey on a white platter garnished with fresh herbs, cranberries, and orange slices.

    Simple ingredients and minimal prep, this roasted Herb Butter Turkey comes out moist and juicy every time and makes the best gravy too.

    Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two biggest roast turkey days of the year, but our flavorful turkey, just like our Skillet Honey Mustard Glazed Ham is wonderful all year long. Serve our honey glazed carrots, sausage stuffing, and cranberry cashew broccoli with your turkey.

    The whole turkey carved and plated on a white platter garnished with fresh herbs, cranberries, and orange slices.
    Jump to:
    • Recipe ingredients
    • How to make a roasted Herb Butter Turkey
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other Related Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Get the Recipe

    I am not sure what aroma can be more intoxicating than that of a roasting Thanksgiving Turkey. Who doesn't love the smell of the kitchen on Thanksgiving?

    Recipe ingredients

    Ingredients for the recipe: celery, turkey, parsley, butter, rosemary, sage, apple, thyme, carrot, lemon, garlic, salt, pepper, and onion.
    • Turkey —we used a 15 pound turkey. We do not recommend exceeding a 16 pound turkey.
    • Produce —Celery, carrot, onion, lemon, and an apple. These will be roughly chopped and place in the neck and body cavities.
    • Butter — We used salted butter. It needs to be at room temperature or softened in the microwave. If sodium content is an issue for you, use unsalted butter.
    • Seasonings — Garlic, salt and pepper.
    • Fresh Herbs — Fresh is best. Fresh sage, thyme, rosemary, and parsley.

    How to make a roasted Herb Butter Turkey

    Produce for the turkey has been cut and added to a bowl with the herbs, seasonings and knife outside the bowl on a cutting board.
    Step 1
    Herb butter being made: softened butter seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and fresh herbs ready to be mixed together.
    Step 2
    • Step 1 — Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Roughly chop the apple, onion, celery, carrot, and lemon. Pull out several sprigs of the fresh herbs. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chopped produce.
    • Step 2 — Make herb butter by placing the softened butter in a small bowl and smash it with a fork. Add fresh thyme, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix to blend.
    Produce and herbs being inserted into the neck cavity.
    Step 3
    Chopped fruit and vegetables being inserted into the cavity of the turkey
    Step 4
    • Step 3 — Remove the neck and giblets from inside the turkey. Pat dry the whole turkey using paper towels. Place the turkey in the skillet or large roasting pan. Stuff pieces of the chopped fresh produce and some herbs into the neck cavity until full.
    • Step 4 — Add a dollop or two of the herb butter into the turkey cavity then stuff it with the fresh produce and herbs. Place any remaining fruits, vegetables, and herbs around the turkey in the skillet or roasting pan.
    The skin around the breast is being pulled back and away from the flesh.
    Step 5
    The herb butter is being applied on the flesh under the breast skin.
    Step 6

    Should I put butter under the skin of my turkey?

    • Step 5 — Loosen skin around the turkey breast, working it free. This can be done with your fingers, a table knife, or even a chopstick.
    • Step 6 — Work the herb butter under the skin onto the breast meat. Then replace the skin.
    Herb butter has been applied all over the surface of the turkey.
    Step 7
    The turkey in the cast iron skillet resting after cooking.
    Step 8
    • Step 7 — Generously slather the rest of the herb butter all over the entire turkey like I do for my pale skin with SPF One Billion at a water park. If you should have any butter left, drop it into the skillet around the turkey; it will just enhance the flavor of the gravy. Tie the legs together and tuck the wing tips under the bird.
    • Step 8 — Cover LIGHTLY with foil and place in the oven. Bake the turkey 15 minutes per pound, so 4 hours for our 15 pound turkey. Baste periodically as desired. The turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh has an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

    How long should a turkey rest?

    Once your roasted turkey is done, remove it from the oven and transfer turkey to a cutting board and let it rest, one that will catch any released juices.

    The turkey rest time should be at least 30 minutes for smaller birds and up to 45 minutes up to 1 hour for larger ones, like a 16 pound turkey or more. Once rested, carve and place the turkey on a platter and serve.

    The turkey on a platter with cranberries, oranges, and fresh herbs as garnish.

    Recipe FAQs

    Do I need to chicken broth when I roast my turkey?

    If you have a smaller bird and want a lot of gravy, adding broth to the roasting pan or skillet is a good idea. Depending on how much gravy you want to make, add up to 4 cups.

    Why isn't my turkey golden brown?

    The biggest cause of this is having the foil on too tight. When it's on too tight, the turkey will steam more than it will roast.

    What herbs go best with turkey?

    We used parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, but you could also use tarragon, marjoram, or oregano.

    Other Related Thanksgiving Recipes

    • Close up of turkey gravy in the skillet garnished with fresh herbs.
      Easy Turkey Gravy
    • Freshly made cranberry sauce garnished with orange zest.
      Homemade Cranberry Sauce
    • A large portion of sausage stuffing served on a blue plate with a fork.
      Skillet Sausage Stuffing
    • Two turkey and stuffing meatballs served over mashed potatoes with gravy and a dollop of cranberry sauce on top.
      Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs With Gravy

    If you tried this Herb Butter Turkey  or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    Glistening breast portion of the turkey on a platter garnished with herbs, oranges, and cranberries.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 20 votes

    Herb Butter Turkey

    Simple ingredients and minimal prep, this Herb Butter Turkey comes out moist and juicy every time and makes the best gravy too.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time4 hours hrs
    Resting Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time4 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 8672kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 15-inch cast iron skillet (or other roasting pan)

    Ingredients

    • 15 lb turkey 12-16 lbs
    • 1 gala apple into wedges
    • 1 lemon into wedges
    • 1 onion chopped
    • 1 celery rib chopped
    • 1 large carrot chopped
    • 4 plump garlic cloves divided, minced and chopped
    • 4 fresh rosemary sprigs
    • 10 fresh thyme sprigs
    • 1 small bunch fresh parsley
    • 6 fresh sage sprigs
    • ½ lb salted butter
    • 1 teaspoon salt +/- to taste
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper +/- to taste
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 325°F. Roughly chop all the produce. Pull out several sprigs of the fresh herbs. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chopped produce.
    • Make herb butter by placing the softened butter in a small bowl and smash it with a fork. Add de-stemmed fresh thyme, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix to blend.
    • Remove the neck and giblets from inside the turkey. Pat the whole turkey dry. Place the turkey in the skillet or large roasting pan. Stuff pieces of the chopped fresh produce and some herbs into the neck cavity until full.
    • Add a dollop or two of the herb butter into the turkey cavity then stuff it with the fresh produce and herbs. Place any remaining fruits, vegetables, and herbs around the turkey in the skillet or roasting pan.
    • Loosen skin around the turkey breast, working it free. This can be done with your fingers, a table knife, or even a chopstick. Work the herb butter under the skin onto the breast meat. Then replace the skin.
    • Generously slather the rest of the herb butter all over the entire turkey. If you should have any butter left, drop it into the skillet around the turkey. Tie the legs together and tuck the wing tips under the bird.
    • Cover LIGHTLY with foil and place in the oven. Bake the turkey 15 minutes per pound, so 4 hours for our 15 pound turkey.
    • Baste periodically as desired. The turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh has an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
    • Once the turkey is done, remove it from the oven and place the turkey on a cutting board, one that will catch any released juices, and let it rest for 30-60 minutes. Carve, serve, and enjoy.

    Notes

    If you have a smaller bird and want a lot of gravy, adding broth to the roasting pan or skillet is a good idea. Depending on how much gravy you want to make, add up to 4 cups.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 8672kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 1052g | Fat: 458g | Saturated Fat: 188g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 78g | Monounsaturated Fat: 136g | Trans Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 3966mg | Sodium: 9253mg | Potassium: 11755mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 19394IU | Vitamin C: 99mg | Calcium: 760mg | Iron: 45mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

    More Holiday Cast Iron Recipes

    • Freshly steamed corn on the cob in a dutch oven with butter and chopped parsley.
      Steamed Corn on theย Cob
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 20 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Spencer Adams

      October 31, 2024 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      Dutch Oven Daddyโ€™s Herb Butter Turkey recipe delivers a flavorful and moist turkey. The recipe is easy to follow! I love it so much!

      Reply
    2. Gina

      November 12, 2023 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is absolute perfection and will be a family favorite on Thanksgiving! LOVE IT!

      Reply
    3. Gianne

      November 12, 2023 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      It was absolutely divine and bursting with flavor. The combination of savory herbs and creamy, buttery goodness was simply sensational. A definite must-try!

      Reply
    4. Anjali

      November 12, 2023 at 3:20 pm

      5 stars
      Love this turkey recipe!! So perfect for Thanksgiving and a great way to switch up the recipe I typically make during the holidays!

      Reply
    5. Andrea

      November 12, 2023 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      I am loving the herb butter and all the flavors you stuffed the turkey with. It looks beautiful and sounds delicious.

      Reply
    6. Kristine

      November 12, 2023 at 1:24 pm

      5 stars
      Love, love, love the flavors of this turkey! I've been searing for a new (more exciting) recipe and THIS IS IT! 10/10 recommend this one. Delicious!

      Reply
    7. Renee

      November 12, 2023 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      That herb butter adds so much flavor to the turkey! Really appreciate your tips on how to get under the skin, too. A chopstick is a great tool for the job.

      Reply
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    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

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