Herb Roasted Turkey

A classic holiday turkey rubbed with fresh herb butter and roasted to golden perfection with aromatic vegetables. The bird is basted with warm chicken stock throughout cooking for a moist, flavorful result.

12 servings
5 hr 50 min

Ingredients

  • 1 whole turkey
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • to taste kosher salt and black pepper
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 3 large carrots
  • 3 large stalks celery
  • 2 large onions
  • quartered

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    1. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.

    60 min

  2. 2.

    2. Combine the butter, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    3. Preheat the oven to 450°F.

    15 min

  4. 4.

    4. Put 4 cups of the chicken stock in a medium saucepan and keep warm over low heat.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    5. Season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper and fill the cavity with half of the carrots, celery, and onions. Rub the entire turkey with the herb butter and season liberally with salt and pepper.

    15 min

  6. 6.

    6. Scatter the remaining vegetables on the bottom of a large roasting pan. Fit a rack over the vegetables and put the turkey on top of the rack. Pour the remaining 2 cups stock into the bottom of the roasting pan and carefully put the pan in the oven. Roast until the turkey is light golden brown, about 45 minutes.

    45 min

  7. 7.

    7. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue roasting, basting with the warm chicken stock every 15 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh registers 160°F, about 2 1/2 hours longer.

    150 min

  8. 8.

    8. Remove the turkey from the oven, transfer to a large cutting board, and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 30 minutes before carving.

    30 min

  9. 9.

    9. Strain the stock in the bottom of the roasting pan through a strainer lined with cheesecloth or paper towels into a medium saucepan. Discard the solids. Boil the stock until reduced to a sauce consistency. Arrange the turkey on a large platter and drizzle with the reduced stock.

    20 min

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