Description
This compound butter & herb roast turkey recipe delivers a juicy, flavorful bird with golden crispy skin using a simple herb-infused butter and a graniteware roasting method that locks in moisture.
Ingredients
- 1 garlic clove
- Pinch of kosher salt (for crushing garlic)
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed
- 3 fresh sage leaves, chopped
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 pound (2 sticks) salted butter, room temperature
- 1 whole turkey (18 to 20 pounds)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Olive oil, for rubbing
Instructions
- In a mortar and pestle, crush garlic with a pinch of salt. Add thyme, sage, and lemon zest, and pound into a paste.
- Transfer to a bowl and mix with softened butter to create compound butter. Keep at room temperature or refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
- Pat turkey dry and loosen the skin over the breast meat gently.
- Spread compound butter evenly under the skin on both sides of the breast, reserving some for basting.
- Tie the legs with kitchen twine and place the turkey on a rack in a graniteware roasting pan.
- Rub skin with olive oil, season generously with salt and pepper, and cover with lid (or foil).
- Roast for about 3 hours. When the thigh reaches 150°F (65°C), remove the lid, brush with remaining butter, and increase oven temperature to 450°F (232°C).
- Continue roasting uncovered until skin is golden and internal temp is 160°F (71°C).
- Remove from oven and tent with foil to rest for at least 30 minutes. Final internal temperature should reach 165–170°F (74–77°C).
Notes
- Add rosemary or orange zest to compound butter for variation.
- Letting the turkey air-dry in the fridge overnight can help achieve crispier skin.
- Start checking internal temperature early, especially if using a graniteware pan which cooks faster.
- Compound butter can be made up to 3 days in advance.
- If no graniteware pan, use a regular roasting pan with tightly sealed foil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 4.5 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 6 oz cooked turkey)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
