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Herb crusted turkey roast garnished with fruit and placed on a table.
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5 from 2 votes

Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe

Seasoned with the best herbs for turkey, this Herb Roasted Turkey recipe is simple yet flavorful. Follow our step by step instructions for the best Thanksgiving turkey recipe anyone can make.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Resting time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time3 hours 45 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 Whole Turkey 12-16 pounds – fully thawed if frozen
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped plus two sprigs for cavity
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage chopped plus one small sprig for cavity
  • 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary chopped plus one small sprig for cavity
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt divided
  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper divided
  • 2 stalks celery roughly chopped
  • 2 carrots roughly chopped
  • 1 onion roughly chopped
  • 1 lemon cut in half
  • 3 cups chicken stock or turkey stock, more as needed - divided

Instructions

  • Remove the turkey from the fridge an hour before roasting. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and use a few sheets of paper towels to dry it as much as possible.
  • Thirty minutes before roasting, preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. (232 C). Remove the top rack from the oven and place the other rack in the lowest position.
  • To make the butter herb mixture, place softened butter, brown sugar, fresh thyme, fresh sage, fresh rosemary, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, one tablespoon of kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper in a bowl. Mix well to combine. Set it aside.
  • Season the turkey's cavity with the remaining one tablespoon of kosher salt and one teaspoon of ground black pepper.
  • Using your fingers, gently separate the breast meat from the skin, being careful not to tear the skin. Do not rush this process.
  • Using your fingers, evenly spread two tablespoons of the butter and herb mixture underneath the skin.
  • Distribute the remaining butter herb mixture evenly throughout the turkey, including drumsticks, thighs, and breasts.
  • Place half of the celery, carrots, onion, half lemon, and fresh sprigs of thyme, sage, and rosemary inside the bird's cavity.
  • Place the other half of the lemon in the neck of the bird round cut side up, pull skin over, and secure with a toothpick. This will help the skin remain in place without shrinking.
  • Add the veggies and one cup of the stock at the bottom of the roasting pack.
  • Transfer the turkey (breast side up) to a V-rack fitted in a roasting pan (please read notes as to what to do if you do not have a V-rack).
  • Tuck the wings under and tie the drumsticks with kitchen twine.
  • If you have a temperature probe for continuous monitoring, insert the probe in the thickest part of the breast, making sure that it does not touch the bone. (Please read the notes about what to do if you do not own a meat thermometer probe.)
  • Set the probe temperature to 155 degrees F. (68 C).
  • Place the turkey in the preheated oven and roast for 30 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 325 degrees F (163 C) and roast for 2 to 2 ½ hours or until it reaches 155 degrees F. (see times, temp below)
  • While the turkey is roasting, place the remaining two cups of chicken (or turkey) stock in a small saucepan over low heat and keep it warm. Baste turkey every 30-45 minutes.
  • If the turkey seems like it's getting overly browned during the cooking process, cover it with aluminum foil.
  • Once the internal temperature is achieved, remove from the oven and tent with foil for 30 minutes. Do not remove the temperature probe until you are ready to carve. It should reach the safe 165 degrees F (74 C) as it sits, which should happen in about 15-20 minutes. Transfer it to a cutting board and let it rest.
  • While the turkey is resting, prepare your favorite gravy. The juices in the roasting pan will be a perfect addition to flavor!
  • Carve and serve.

Notes

  • Yields: When serving turkey the general rule of thumb is to serve 1 1/2 pounds per person. Our turkey was just over 12 lbs which serves comfortably for 8 servings. However, this recipe would work for a turkey that is up to 16 pounds. The nutritional values below are per serving.
  • Remove from fridge: It’s important to remove the fully-thawed turkey from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before roasting. This not only helps to prevent overcooking the turkey, but it makes the butter much easier to spread.
  • Check doneness: Nowadays most turkeys come inserted with a pop up timer, which pops when it reaches a preset temperature. If you do not have thermometer you can rely on that, but a better way measure doneness is a Probe Thermometer (affiliate link). We think that it works best because it takes the guesswork out of knowing when the turkey reaches the optimal temperature. With that said, you can use an instant read thermometer (affiliate link). If you do so, do not stick the breast multiple times. Instead, follow the timing listed on the recipe and check once or twice measuring both the breast and thigh. Also, as you are measuring, avoid touching a bone.
  • Leave the pop up timer in: Even if you have a thermometer, leave the pop up timer in and remove it after the roasting process is complete.
  • Roasting vessel: A Roasting Rack (affiliate link) elevates the turkey, allowing hot air in the oven to circulate. If you don’t have a rack, you can lay the turkey on top of the vegetables, which helps lift them a bit for the air to circulate throughout the bird. It also helps infuse flavor into the vegetables and makes an excellent base for gravy.
  • Basting: Basting is a wonderful method to prevent the herb-crusted turkey roast from drying out. Do so every 30 - 45 minutes with a turkey baster or large spoon.
  • Roasting temperature: If you have ever roasted turkey, you know that it can go from perfectly moist to terribly dry very quickly. While the FDA recommends roasting turkey to 165 degrees F, we intentionally take it out when it reach 155 degrees F. because the roasting process continues even after you take your bird out of the oven. During our testing, we found that it should reach to the safe temperature (165 F.) within 20-30 minutes of resting while proving a super moist and juicy turkey.
  • Garnish for presentation: Although optional, feel free to get creative and impress your guests with a beautiful presentation. We finished the turkey with an assortment of in-season produce, like pomegranate, blood orange, black grapes, and plenty of those flavorful fresh herbs for roasted turkey.
  • Storage: Bring the leftovers to room temperature. Transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a low-heat oven (330 F.) with a splash of chicken stock.

Nutrition

Calories: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 73g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 265mg | Sodium: 2256mg | Potassium: 982mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3609IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 4mg

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