Herb Butter Roast Turkey recipe works if you are roasting a whole turkey or just a bone in breast. In this recipe a used a bone in breast but the same guidelines apply to make the compound butter, separating the skin and spreading the butter under the skin.

Thanksgiving or Not – It’s Delicious

The butter and herb mix acts as a substitute for basting the turkey. As the butter melts the herbs heat up and release the aromatic flavors into the meat. Roasting at a 350° temperature gives the turkey delivers juicy meat and crisp skin when ready to serve.

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Roasting Times for Turkey

You have probably seen at least 6 different ways of roasting a turkey just in the last 5 minutes of doing a Turkey Search. I have done turkey a number of ways.

I personally do not recommend stuffing the turkey to cook. This increases the cook time plus the risk of contaminating the stuffing with Salmonella is real if the stuffing does not reach in internal temperature of a minimum of 165°. The other risk is the turkey meat may become drier than you are wanting.

I know many people do it this way and will say they have never been at risk of becoming ill. If you are wanting to do so, I would caution to be aware of the internal temperature of the stuffing before you consume.

Roasting in the Oven Recommendations

In this recipe, the method is pretty straight forward. Roast the Bone-in Turkey Breast at 350° for 2 1/2 hours. Removing the foil at about the 2 hour mark and basting with the remaining compound butter to give the skin a nice browning.

Butterball website gives general guidelines for different weights of turkeys.

Butterball’s recommendation is to Roast Turkey not stuffed at 325° and follow the guidelines below:

• 6 – 7 lbs cook for 2 – 2 1/2 hours
• 7 – 10 lbs cook for 2 1/2 – 3 hours
• 10 – 18 lbs cook for 3 – 3 1/2 hours
• 18 – 22 lbs cook for 3 1/2 – 4 hours
• 22 – 24 lbs cook for 4 – 4 1/2 hours
• 24 – 30 lbs cook for 4 1/2 to 5 hours

Even though these are timing guidelines, use an thermometer to get a proper temperature of the breast at the thickest point and in the thigh between the cavity and the thigh bone.

Internal Temperature is Key

Internal temperature of any turkey should be 165° in the breast and 175° in the thigh. Even though salmonella dies at 165°, thigh meat of turkey and chicken has a better texture at the higher temperature plus the redness of the meat will diminish at the higher temperature.

Smoking a Turkey

Smoking a Turkey has been a favorite of mine for years. Most Pellet Smokers are a great way to set it and forget it just as you would with the oven.

This method is more about smok/roasting than traditional smoking. But you can give the turkey a low and smoke temperature at 225° for an hour before you crank the heat up to roast it.

Traeger Recipe – Traditional Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey

You can prepare the turkey with the same Herbed Compound Butter recipe below & season the outside with salt and pepper.

Preheat the Smoker to 300° Roast/Smoke the turkey for 3-4 hours until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165° in the breast and 175° in the thigh. Baste the turkey with the remaining herb butter about a half an hour before the turkey reaches temperature.

Breast vs Whole Turkey

What will determine if you are needing a breast vs whole turkey are a few things. What will everyone eat? How many people are you cooking for? Also, how much do you want to spend.

That being said, price may be a factor. To give you an example, this turkey breast was $2.50 lb. I could have gone with a whole bird at our local grocery store but would be getting a lot more meat and bones. Also, I would have had to spend at least $50 to get it for 50 cents a pound.

Weigh those options when you are preparing to cook for the holidays. You may save money, cut down on cooking time and not have to figure out what to do with the leftovers.

Enjoy the Herb Butter Roast Turkey recipe and Happy Thanksgiving.