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Perfect Roast Turkey with Herb Butter Easy Holiday Feast Recipe 2024

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A juicy, flavorful roast turkey slathered in herb butter, perfect for holiday feasts. This easy recipe delivers crispy skin and tender meat with fresh herbs and lemon.

Ingredients

  • Whole turkey (12-14 pounds / 5.4-6.3 kg), fresh or fully thawed
  • Unsalted butter (1 cup / 225 g), softened
  • Fresh thyme (3 tbsp), chopped
  • Fresh rosemary (2 tbsp), chopped
  • Fresh sage (2 tbsp), chopped
  • Garlic (4 cloves), minced
  • Lemon zest (1 tbsp) and juice (from 1 lemon)
  • Salt (2 tsp), freshly ground
  • Black pepper (1 tsp), freshly ground
  • Olive oil (2 tbsp)
  • Onion (1 large), quartered
  • Celery stalks (2), roughly chopped
  • Carrots (2), roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine softened unsalted butter, chopped thyme, rosemary, sage, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until well blended and aromatic.
  3. Remove giblets and excess fat from the turkey cavity. Pat the bird dry with paper towels.
  4. Gently loosen the skin between the skin and breast meat without tearing it. Spread about two-thirds of the herb butter under the skin, massaging it evenly over the breast meat.
  5. Rub the remaining herb butter all over the outside of the turkey, including legs and wings.
  6. Truss the turkey by tying the legs together with kitchen twine and tucking the wing tips under the body.
  7. Scatter chopped onion, celery, and carrots in the roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  8. Place the turkey breast-side up on the rack above the vegetables.
  9. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding bone.
  10. Roast the turkey uncovered for about 13-15 minutes per pound (approximately 2.5 to 3 hours for a 12-14 pound bird). Baste every 45 minutes with pan juices or extra melted herb butter.
  11. If the skin browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil to prevent burning.
  12. The turkey is done when the thermometer reads 165°F (74°C).
  13. Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest, tented with foil, for at least 20-30 minutes.
  14. Carve the turkey breast and legs, arrange on a platter, and spoon roasted vegetables and pan juices over for extra flavor.

Notes

Use a meat thermometer to ensure perfect doneness. Loosen the skin gently to avoid tearing. Baste every 45 minutes to keep skin crispy but avoid opening the oven too often. Tent with foil if skin browns too fast. Rest turkey for 20-30 minutes before carving to redistribute juices. For dairy-free, substitute butter with dairy-free butter or coconut oil. Fresh herbs can be swapped with dried at half quantity.

Nutrition

Keywords: roast turkey, herb butter, holiday feast, Thanksgiving, Christmas, easy turkey recipe, juicy turkey, crispy skin, herb roasted turkey

Find it online: https://wigglebite.com/perfect-roast-turkey-with-herb-butter-easy-holiday-feast-recipe-2024/