Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Turkey Breast
Total Time
1 hour and 50 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour and 30 minutes
Rating
4.96 out of 5 stars
(41)
Ingredients
6 servings
- 2.5 - 3 kg / 5-6 lb single turkey breast (, skin on, bone in (Note 1), NOT BRINED)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Black pepper
- Small bunch of fresh herbs - 4 rosemary sprigs (, 8 sprigs sage, 10 thyme sprigs)
- 12 garlic cloves (, smashed with side of knife (see video)
- 150 g / 5 oz (10 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 tsp table salt or 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 large garlic cloves (, minced)
- 1 tbsp finely chopped sage (, fresh)
- 1 tbsp finely chopped rosemary (, fresh)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (, fresh)
- 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley leaves (, fresh)
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Preparation
Step 1
Remove fridge chill: Take turkey out of the fridge 45 minutes before cooking (or 30 minutes if it's super hot where you are).
Step 2
Preheat oven to 200C / 390F (all oven types). Put rack in the lower middle position. (Note 3)
Step 3
Place garlic and bunch of herbs in the middle of a baking dish. (Note 4)
Step 4
Butter: Mix Butter ingredients together.
Step 5
Loosen skin: Use an upside teaspoon to help loosen the skin from the turkey flesh (easiest to go under the paper thin layer under the surface skin). Video helpful here.
Step 6
Smear butter under skin: Use about 2/3 of the butter, and smear it under the skin on the top half of the breast. Best to smear using hands under the skin (not on surface), to ensure it spreads as evenly as possible.
Step 7
Turn turkey upside down. Reserve about 2 tbsp butter for the surface, smear the rest on the underside.
Step 8
Place turkey in pan on the herbs, skin side up. Now smear skin with remaining butter - you don't want much on the skin because the herb bits burn.
Step 9
STOP HERE for make ahead option - the turkey can be left like this for up to 24 hours. Remove from fridge 45 minutes before serving then proceed.
Step 10
Roasting:
Step 11
Sprinkle top and sides of breast with salt and pepper all over. Place turkey in oven, turn DOWN to 180C/350F.
Step 12
Roast for 1 hr 30 minutes, basting all over every 30 minutes. (Note 5)
Step 13
COOK TIME / INTERNAL TEMPERATURE: The turkey is cooked when the meat thermometer inserted at the thickest part is 74C/165F. I check in several places. Allow 15 minutes per 500g/1 lb of turkey. My 2.8 kg / 5.5lb bone in turkey took 1 hr 40 minutes.
Step 14
COVER turkey with foil when it becomes golden to your taste, at any point during the cook time (1 hr 15 minutes for me).
Step 15
Rest - Remove turkey from pan and place on serving plate. Cover loosely with foil and rest for 15 to 20 minutes before carving.
Step 16
Butter Sauce (Note 6):
Step 17
The pan will have melted butter and roasting juices. Remove herbs and garlic, squeezing out juices. Pour sauce into jug, serve with turkey.
Step 18
Gravy option - see Note 11. I personally love using the butter, but I understand if you feel the need for gravy!
Step 19
Save recipe for the next time?
