Roast Turkey with Herb Butter

A foolproof recipe for a deliciously juicy Thanksgiving turkey, seasoned with herb butter and roasted to perfection.

By @downshiftology

Original recipe source

Cook time: 270 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 12 pound turkey
• 0 kosher salt
• 0 black pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 lemon
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 1 sprig fresh sage
• 0.75 cup unsalted butter
• 6 clove garlic
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• 0 herb butter
• 0 herb butter
• 0 roasting rack
• 1 onion
• 3 celery ribs
• 2 carrots
• 12 pound turkey
• 0 aluminum foil

Instructions

1. Allow your turkey to come to room temperature by removing it from the fridge 1 hour before roasting. Then, remove the giblets.
2. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and pat the outside of the turkey dry with paper towels. Season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper. Then fill it with the onion, lemon, and fresh herbs.
3. In a small bowl, make the herb butter by stirring the softened butter, garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme together.
4. Loosen the skin of the turkey gently by sliding your fingers underneath. Then rub about ⅓ of the herb butter between the skin and turkey breasts.
5. Rub the remaining herb butter all over the entire outside of the turkey.
6. Place the turkey on a roasting rack or on top of a bed of chopped vegetables, or both! Tuck the wing tips under the turkey to prevent them from burning.
7. Place the turkey in the oven and roast for about 15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 158°-160°F.
8. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, making for a deliciously juicy turkey.
9. To keep the turkey warm, you can cover the turkey with aluminum foil on the counter.