Best 8 Easy Herb Roasted Turkey Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary masterpiece with our Herb Roasted Turkey, a delectable dish that embodies the essence of Thanksgiving. This exceptional turkey is meticulously seasoned with a vibrant blend of aromatic herbs, including thyme, rosemary, and sage, which infuse every succulent bite with a symphony of flavors. Perfectly roasted to achieve a golden-brown exterior and a tender, juicy interior, this turkey takes center stage as the crown jewel of your festive table. Accompanying the main event are three exceptional recipes that elevate the dining experience. Prepare a flavorful Herb Butter, a zesty Cranberry Sauce, and a classic Turkey Gravy, each adding unique dimensions of taste to complement the roasted turkey. Embark on a culinary journey with our Herb Roasted Turkey and its accompanying recipes, transforming your Thanksgiving feast into an unforgettable celebration.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

JUICY HERB-ROASTED TURKEY



Juicy Herb-Roasted Turkey image

Add wonderful flavor to your turkey dinner through the use of delicious herbs. Make sure you use the drippings for a delicious gravy!- Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 3h20m

Yield 18 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

8 fresh sage leaves plus 4 fresh sage sprigs, divided
6 fresh thyme sprigs, divided
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
4 medium onions
5 celery ribs
5 medium carrots
3 medium parsnips

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°. Chop 8 sage leaves and leaves from 2 thyme sprigs. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup oil, garlic, salt and pepper with chopped herbs. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub mixture under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks., Cut onions into wedges and the celery, carrots and parsnips into 2-in. pieces. Place about a fifth of the onions, celery and carrots in the turkey cavity; add 4 sage sprigs and remaining 4 thyme sprigs to cavity. Arrange remaining vegetables evenly in a roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, over vegetables. Brush with remaining 1/4 cup oil., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 170°-175°, 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand 20 minutes before carving. Discard vegetables. If desired, use drippings to make gravy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 466 calories, Fat 25g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 191mg cholesterol, Sodium 266mg sodium, Carbohydrate 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 56g protein.

EASY ROASTED THANKSGIVING TURKEY RECIPE



Easy Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe image

Learn how to make the best herb roasted turkey recipe - complete with tips on how to brine turkey, a chart for how long to roast turkey, easy herb butter turkey rub, and more.

Provided by Maya Krampf

Categories     Main Course

Time 3h10m

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 gallons Water (*)
2 1/2 cups Kosher salt (*)
12 lb Whole turkey (*)
1/2 cup Unsalted butter ((softened; use ghee for dairy-free, paleo or whole30))
1 tbsp Fresh sage ((chopped finely))
1 tbsp Fresh rosemary ((chopped finely))
1 tbsp Fresh thyme ((leaves only))
4 cloves Garlic ((minced))
1 tsp Lemon zest
1/2 tbsp Sea salt
1/2 tsp Black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large stock pot large enough to fit the turkey, stir together 2 gallons (7.5 L) of water and 2 1/2 cups (128 g) kosher salt. Submerge the turkey in the brine. Refrigerate for 10 to 12 hours.
  • When the turkey is done brining, drain the water and pat dry. Place the turkey onto a roasting pan with a roasting rack.
  • In a small bowl, mash together the softened butter, sage, rosemary, thyme, minced garlic, lemon zest, sea salt and black pepper.
  • Use your hands under the skin of the turkey to separate the skin from the meat underneath. (Be careful not to tear the skin.)
  • Spread half of the butter all over the turkey underneath the skin. Spread the other half over the skin all over.
  • Position the oven rack on a low position, so that there is enough room for the turkey. The top of the turkey should end up just slightly higher than the middle when placed in the oven later. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees F).
  • Place the turkey in the oven and roast. Check the roasted turkey time chart in the blog post for the amount of time to roast without foil and the remaining time with foil. For a 12 lb turkey, that's 45 minutes uncovered followed by about 2 1/4 hours covered. To cover, tent the top of the turkey with foil, shiny side out, making sure no turkey is peeking out, and return to the oven.
  • Check that the roasted turkey is done with a meat thermometer - it should read 165 degrees for the safest option. For the most juicy turkey, aim for 150-155 degrees, and then cover in foil immediately after removing from the oven. Let the turkey rest, covered in foil, for about 20 minutes to come up to 165 to 170 degrees before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 241 kcal, Protein 26 g, Fat 14 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 107 mg, Sodium 24103 mg, ServingSize 1 serving

HERB-ROASTED TURKEY THIGHS



Herb-Roasted Turkey Thighs image

If you are having a smaller Thanksgiving this year, oven-roasted turkey thighs is the way to go.

Provided by Lauren Magenta

Time 1h15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 13

½ cup salted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and ground black pepper to taste
4 thigh, bone removeds Turkey thigh, pre-basted, meat and skin, cooked, roasted
1 pound baby potatoes
2 large onions, roughly chopped
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 drizzle olive oil
1 medium lemon, zested and juiced

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • Combine room temperature butter with thyme, rosemary, parsley, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • Pat turkey thighs dry with a paper towel; season with salt and pepper.
  • Place potatoes, onions, and garlic on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Add turkey thighs and rub herb butter over the meat and under the skin. Top with lemon zest and juice.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Continue to bake, basting turkey with its own juices after 15 minutes, until no longer pink in the centers, about 30 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 849.3 calories, Carbohydrate 33.7 g, Cholesterol 255.7 mg, Fat 51.6 g, Fiber 5.9 g, Protein 63.5 g, SaturatedFat 23.2 g, Sodium 1549.4 mg, Sugar 4.6 g

ROASTED BUTTER HERB TURKEY



Roasted Butter Herb Turkey image

Provided by Sandra Lee

Categories     main-dish

Time 4h

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
2 tablespoons garlic herb sauce mix (recommended: Knorr)
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed garlic
1 (32-ounce) bag celery and carrot party sticks
2 large onions, large dice
1 (32-ounce) container low-sodium chicken broth
12-pound turkey, thawed if necessary
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
3 (3/4-ounce) packets fresh herbs poultry herb blend (sage, thyme and rosemary)
1 lemon, thickly sliced

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine softened butter, poultry seasoning, garlic herb sauce mix, and crushed garlic. Use a fork to mix together until well combined. Cover and put in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes, until firm but not hard.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Arrange celery, carrots, and half of the diced onions in the bottom of a roasting pan. Add chicken broth and set aside.
  • Rinse the thawed turkey and pat dry. Use your finger to carefully loosen the skin around the entire bird. Take the butter mixture and cut into large pieces. Place the butter pieces under the skin of the entire turkey. Rub the remaining butter pieces on the outside of the skin and season with salt and pepper. Stuff the inside of turkey cavity with remaining onions, fresh herb poultry blend, and lemon slices. (Truss if necessary.) Insert the pop-up thermometer at an angle about 3-inches down from the neck cavity and 2-inches from the breast bone, in the thickest part of the breast.
  • Place turkey on the bed of vegetables in roasting pan. Place in the oven and reduce temperature to 325 degrees F. Roast for 1 hour, then baste with pan juices every 20 minutes until thermometer pops up or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 180 degrees F, about 3 hours.

EASY HERB-ROASTED TURKEY



Easy Herb-Roasted Turkey image

This is an easy and delicious recipe for a turkey that is perfectly browned on the outside while being both tender and juicy on the inside!

Provided by LISAKHAMM

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Turkey     Whole Turkey Recipes

Time 4h15m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (12 pound) whole turkey
¾ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon ground sage
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 cups water

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Clean turkey (discard giblets and organs), and place in a roasting pan with a lid.
  • In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, dried basil, ground sage, salt, and black pepper. Using a basting brush, apply the mixture to the outside of the uncooked turkey. Pour water into the bottom of the roasting pan, and cover.
  • Bake for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh measures 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove bird from oven, and allow to stand for about 30 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 596.8 calories, Carbohydrate 0.9 g, Cholesterol 198.3 mg, Fat 33.7 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 68.2 g, SaturatedFat 8.3 g, Sodium 311.3 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

THANKSGIVING PIONEER-STYLE HERB ROASTED TURKEY



Thanksgiving Pioneer-Style Herb Roasted Turkey image

Crown your holiday feast with this Thanksgiving Pioneer-Style Herb Roasted Turkey recipe from Throwdown with Bobby Flay on Food Network.

Provided by Bobby Flay

Categories     main-dish

Time 5h35m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 (17-pound) whole fresh turkey, rinsed well and patted dry
1 1/4 stick unsalted butter, slightly softened
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 large stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large onions, quartered
8 cups homemade chicken stock, divided, plus more if needed for gravy
Turkey neck
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup white wine
4 cups sage-infused stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage

Steps:

  • For the turkey: Remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.
  • Combine the butter, sage, rosemary, thyme, and parsley in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper and fill the cavity with half of the carrots, celery, and onion. Rub the entire turkey with herb butter and season liberally with salt and pepper.
  • Put 4 cups of the chicken stock in a medium saucepan and keep warm over low heat.
  • Place the remaining vegetables on the bottom of a large roasting pan. Put the turkey on top of the vegetables, put in the oven, and roast in the oven until lightly golden brown, 45 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue roasting, basting with the warm chicken stock every 15 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh registers 160 degrees F, about 2 to 2 1/4 hours longer. Remove the turkey from the oven, transfer to baking sheet and tent loosely with foil, and let rest 20 minutes before slicing.
  • For the sage gravy:
  • Strain the cooking liquid from the roasting pan into a medium saucepan (should be about 4 cups, if not, add more stock to make 4 cups). Add the neck, bring to a boil, add the sage leaves, remove from the heat, and let steep for 15 minutes. Remove the sage leaves.
  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until reduced. Whisk in the stock and cook until thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes. Season with the salt and pepper and chopped sage.

HERB-ROASTED TURKEY BREAST



Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast image

Rather than roast an entire bird, try Ina Garten's Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast for a flavorful alternative. Rosemary, sage and thyme star in this recipe.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h40m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 whole bone-in turkey breast, 6 1/2 to 7 pounds
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons good olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup dry white wine

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place the turkey breast, skin side up, on a rack in a roasting pan.
  • In a small bowl, combine the garlic, mustard, herbs, salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice to make a paste. Loosen the skin from the meat gently with your fingers and smear half of the paste directly on the meat. Spread the remaining paste evenly on the skin. Pour the wine into the bottom of the roasting pan.
  • Roast the turkey for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, until the skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest and meatiest areas of the breast. (I test in several places.) If the skin is over-browning, cover the breast loosely with aluminum foil. When the turkey is done, cover with foil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the pan juices spooned over the turkey.

HERB-ROASTED TURKEY BREAST



Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast image

Whenever we're in the mood for turkey, this is the recipe I use. It always wins compliments. -Cheryl King, West Lafayette, Indiana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

6 tablespoons butter, cubed
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon salt, optional
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 boneless skinless turkey breast half (2 pounds)

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, combine the first nine ingredients. Bring to a boil; remove from the heat and set aside to cool. , Place turkey breast on a rack in a greased shallow roasting pan. Spoon some of the butter mixture over the top. Cover and bake at 325° for 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hours or until a thermometer inserted in turkey reads 165°, basting occasionally with butter mixture. , Let stand 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 104 calories, Fat 11g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 31mg cholesterol, Sodium 368mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

Tips:

  • Thaw the turkey properly: Allow the turkey to thaw in the refrigerator at a constant temperature of 40°F or below for 4-5 hours per pound.
  • Prepare the turkey: Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. Rinse the inside and outside of the turkey thoroughly and pat it dry.
  • Marinate the turkey (optional): Marinating the turkey overnight in a flavorful mixture can help enhance its flavor and tenderness. Use a marinade made with herbs, spices, and liquids like olive oil or buttermilk.
  • Season the turkey: Generously season the inside and outside of the turkey with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, sage, and rosemary.
  • Roast the turkey: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Baste the turkey with melted butter or olive oil every 30 minutes to keep it moist.
  • Use a meat thermometer: To ensure the turkey is cooked thoroughly, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
  • Let the turkey rest: Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the turkey, resulting in a more flavorful and moist meat.

Conclusion:

Roasting a turkey is a delicious and satisfying experience, especially when you have a juicy, flavorful, and well-cooked bird. By following the tips and steps outlined in this article, you can prepare an impressive herb-roasted turkey that will be the centerpiece of your holiday meal. Remember to choose a high-quality turkey, thaw it properly, season it generously, and baste it regularly during roasting. With careful attention to detail and a bit of patience, you'll have a perfectly roasted turkey that your family and friends will love.

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