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It’s finally time for Turkey Talk!! I LOVE this herb and butter roasted turkey with white wine pan gravy.
Like November is here! I have only been waiting for this day since like, the beginning of August! I am such a freak, I mean who starts thinking about the holidays in the heat of the summer? Basically what I’m trying to say is that this post has been a long time coming.
While everybody was enjoying all the things that go along with October, I was roasting turkeys, mashing potatoes and eating Thanksgiving dinner. Or well, at least towards the end of October I was. I try to be on top of things, but then somehow I always fail.
UGH.
But hey! I got the turkey made and um, I am pretty dang happy with it. I mean, come on. Doesn’t it look perfect?!?!
It is!!
Ok, so here’s the deal. When it comes to the holidays, I am all about traditional. I love traditions and to be honest, I don’t like breaking them. That said, I do love to switch little things up just a little with things like side dishes and desserts. But the turkey?
The turkey has to be classic. Herbs and butter. Nothing fancy, nothing overdone. Just classic, simple and delicious flavors.
For as long as I can remember, my mom has always cooked the Thanksgiving bird. Even last year, she cooked the turkey. She is a good turkey roaster and we had a good thing going. I’d do the sides + desserts + apps and she handled the turkey…although last year, I do recall that she and my dad were out hiking for most the time the turkey was cooking leaving me to tend to it.
Actually, as I recall, she and dad were still hiking when people began arriving for dinner. Typical.
Anyway, I love my mom’s classic turkey, so I took inspiration from her, read a whole bunch online and then made some turkeys (yup plural, and I still have three more to make between now and Christmas). And you guys, I swear by this turkey you see here today.
It’s perfection and I could not be more excited about it.
As you can read from the title, Herb and Butter Roasted Turkey with White Wine Pan Gravy, my turkey is simple and traditional. Pretty sure it doesn’t get much more classic than this.
Just the way I like it.
The secret to my turkey is a butter soaked cheesecloth. I read about this method of cooking the bird in this month’s Food and Wine. The second I read about it, I knew I had to try it. It’s flipping genius!
You soak a layer of cheesecloth in melted butter (mine is full of fresh thyme, sage, parsley and lemon zest!) and then drape the butter soaked cheesecloth over the bird. Then you roast the turkey with the cheesecloth ON the bird. The cloth protects the skin from burning all while basting the turkey with butter the entire time it roasts.
Genius I tell you, and the skin comes out perfect, the meat is incredibly moist and the flavor is spot on! You do not even need to tent the bird with foil, the butter soaked cheesecloth works magic guys and it could not be easier.
Soo the gravy though?!? My mom has alway has always had trouble with gravy. Like it was either clumpy, too thin or flavorless. I get it, gravy can be hard, but this pan gravy will make your life simple. Nothing too tricky and it gets made in the very same pan you roast the turkey in. Hello less dishes – YES!
Plus, the flavor is out of this world. It’s all about those pan drippings. 🙂
So are you excited yet?? Are you going to start planning Thanksgiving? It’s T-minus twenty days away and I have then next couple weeks packed with my personal Thanksgiving menu. Think sweet taters, pies, cookies, mashers, casseroles, salad, bread and the works. I may even throw a few drinks your way this holiday season too.
Wait, question: are we into drinks? Like cocktails? With booze? Let me know.
It’s gonna be a really good November. But since Turkey is the star of the show, I figured I would start there.
Next up are the apps, sides, desserts and a couple easy dinners too (you know cause we all gotta eat between now and the big day – duh!).
YUM. Did you break out the stretchy pants yet, cause I think it may be time. I am full-force (like intensely so) in all holiday GO mode, so excited!
SIDE NOTE: My dad asked, since we had turkey in October, if that meant we could skip it at Thanksgiving. I practically looked at him like he was insane. I mean, what??!? Who skips the turkey on Thanksgiving? Guys, he is out of his mind I tell ya. Like losing it BIG TIME.
Or he’s just a giant Scrooge, thinking a combo of both actually.
Herb and Butter Roasted Turkey with White Wine Pan Gravy.
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 671 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 (14-16) pound turkey, giblets and neck removed
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, plus more for stuffing the bird
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, plus more for stuffing the bird
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 piece large of double lined cheesecloth
- 2 lemons, halved
- 1 garlic head, tips sliced off
- 1 onion, halved
- 7-8 cups low sodium chicken or turkey broth
White Wine Pan Gravy
- 1 cup white wine
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- drippings from the turkey
- 2-3 cups low sodium chicken or turkey broth, as needed
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped sage
- kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- 1. Remove the turkey from the fridge one hour before roasting. Remove the giblets + neck and allow to come to room temperature.2. Make the butter. In a medium bowl, combine the 1 stick butter, the sage, thyme, parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper. 3. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan.4. Season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper and fill the cavity with the, lemons, garlic and onion. Gently lift the skin of the turkey by using your fingers and going in between the skin and body of the bird. Rub the herb butter under the skin of the bird, spreading some of the butter on top of the skin as well. Take the remaining 1 stick butter and melt it over the low heat on the stove or in the microwave. Dampen your cheesecloth with warm water and squeeze dry. Submerge the cheesecloth in the melted butter, making sure all the cheese cloth has soaked up the butter. Lay the cheesecloth over the bird, covering most of the bird. Drizzle any remaining butter over the turkey.5. Pour 4 cups of chicken broth into the bottom of the roasting plan. Place the roasting pan in the oven and roast for 45 minutes at 450 degrees F. After 45 minutes reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. and continue cooking for another 2 hours (until the turkey registers 160 F. on a meat thermometer), adding 1-2 cup of broth half way through roasting. I like to baste the turkey with the drippings 2 times throughout cooking and when doing so rotate the roasting pan.6. Remove the turkey from the oven and remove the cheesecloth, transfer the turkey to a cutting board, tent loosely with foil and let rest 20-30 minutes before slicing.7. Make the gravy. Strain the liquid from the roasting pan, skimming off most of the fat. I like to pour the broth into a 4 cup measuring cup and then place in the freezer for 10 minutes. This helps the fat rise to the top of the surface. Once you have skimmed the fat, add enough broth to equal about 4-5 cups total of drippings/broth.8. Place the roasting pan over two burners and add a splash of wine (about 1/2 cup) to deglaze the pan. You want to scrape up all those brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Once the pan is throughly deglazed, add the butter and once melted, add the flour whisking to combine. Cook stirring constantly, until the mixture is golden, around 5 minutes.9. Increase heat to medium high and add the remaining 1/2 cup of white wine, whisking as you go to let the wine reduce down. Slowly add reserved broth, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the sage and cook, continuing to stir, until the gravy has thickened to your desired thickness, around 8 to 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm with the turkey.
Notes
To save a little time, you can prepare the compound butter up to a week in advance. Just store, covered in the fridge until ready to use.
Here is the cheesecloth I use.
That picture? It makes you happy and excited, right?? I know, me too!!
This post was originally published on November 2, 2015
HELP! We are dairy-free. This sounds delicious, but what can I use as a substitute for the butter?
Google “dairy free butter substitute” and find one near you that sounds good. Any would work.
Hey Chris,
I would recommend using ghee in place of the butter, that should work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
We are using duck fat instead of butter!
So excited to try this recipe! Do you use a rack inside your roasting pan, or place the turkey directly on the bottom of the pan?
Hi Ramona! I use a rack 🙂 xTieghan
Is there a formula for how much longer you would cook the turkey if you had a bigger bird?
Hey Sandy! Linking to a great source online for bigger birds! Happy Thanksgiving!
https://www.epicurious.com/holidays-events/the-easiest-way-to-cook-turkey-article#:~:text=10.,pound%20for%20a%20stuffed%20turkey.
Hi Tieghan!
I’m cooking a 20lb turkey for thanksgiving– can you give advice for longer cook time? I made this turkey last year (15lb) and it was SO SO SO good. Can’t wait to do it again!
Sarah
Hey Sarah! Linking to a great source online for bigger birds! I would say to cook around 4 hours, but rad this article too! Happy Thanksgiving!
https://www.epicurious.com/holidays-events/the-easiest-way-to-cook-turkey-article#:~:text=10
Would you post about the proper way to carve a beautiful turkey like this? I’m definitely making this for Thanksgiving.
Some people have differing opinions about how to carve a turkey and your way looks perfect to me!
Thank you for your wonderful recipes!
Thanks so much! I will see if I can post about that soon! 🙂 xTieghan
Can I use a chicken instead? I know, what?! But no one coming over is a fan of turkey. Last years bird was barely touched. So chicken and ham it is.
Hey Sabrina,
I am sure a chicken would work well with this recipe too! I hope you love it, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can’t wait to try this for thanksgiving, are the measurements the same if you use dry herbs? Also do you soak the cheesecloth in butter alone or butter with some herbs as well? Thanks!
Hi there! I would decrease the measurements a tiny bit if using dried herbs, and you can leave the cheesecloth in just butter or use herbs on it as well! 🙂 xTieghan
Hi Tieghan!
We have a small gathering on Thanksgiving. Would this process work on a 5lb boneless turkey breast? If yes, would recommend cooking at the same temperature and for how long?
Thank you for the guidance!
Hope
Hi Hope! This process should work just fine! As far as the cook time I’m not too sure! xTieghan
This looks amazing. How big of a piece of cheesecloth did you use? It comes as a 4 yard piece which seems too large.
Thanks!
Hi Michelle! I just cut the cloth to fit the size of my turkey. It’s usually a 12×12 square or slightly large. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Tieghan!
My wife and I have made this turkey for the past three years. Everyone in our family agrees – it is the most delicious and flavorful turkey ever! It is also the *juiciest* turkey ever. Which, every normal human being loves…except me. I like my meat dry. ?
What would be the best way to make this turkey a little *less* juicy? Cook it longer? Hotter? Baste it less?
Hi Cass! Thanks so much! Hmmm, for a more dry turkey I would cook it longer! xTieghan
Looking forward to trying this recipe! What kind of white wine do you recommend?
Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc! xTieghan
This looks so delicious, I can’t wait to try! Can I still use the cheesecloth if I have a gas oven or is there a fire risk?
Hi Jillian! I believe that should be fine! 🙂 xxTieghan
Hi! I’m really looking forward to trying this recipe for Thanksgiving! Just to clarify, do you use a rack in your roasting pan, to keep the turkey raised?
Hi! Is there a Turkey roaster pan that would recommend?
Hi Amelia! Here is my favorite roasting pan 🙂 xxTieghan
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-stainless-steel-roaster/?clickid=1PDS3bxoszzgT3rxBEzZo01GUkGxznTpu2yn0c0&irgwc=1&cm_cat=116548&cm_ven=afshoppromo&bnrid=3917500&cm_ite=&cm_pla=ir&irpid=116548
Hi there! Yes, I do! xxTieghan
Hi! This recipe looks great, I’m def going to try it this year! The last two years I made a 15 pound turkey and it wound up taking 6 hours at 350!!! Way longer than expected and the wings got super charred. I did baste every 45 min or so, but is there something I’m doing wrong?!
Hi! Is there a Turkey roaster pan that would recommend?
Hey Erica! Maybe just increase the heat a little bit in the oven? xxTieghan
Hi there!
I’m dairy free – could I use margarine instead of butter? Thanks!
Hi Jessica! Yes, that should be just fine 🙂 xxTieghan
I am so excited to try this year with a 20 lb bird! Any recommendations if we wanted to cook the stuffing in the turkey as well? Trying to save some oven space! Thank you!
Hi Mindy,
I would highly recommend cooking your stuffing on the side. In order for the stuffing to cook, the turkey will eventually end up over cooked. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
This looks delicious! I’m going to make it! How long do you suggest cooking at 450 for a 20 lb turkey? And then how long at 350? ( big family)
Thank you
Hi there! I would cook for 4 to 4 1/4 hours at 350! 🙂 xTieghan