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Cowboy Butter Roast Turkey

Cowboy butter roast turkey pairs a whole bird with garlic, herbs, Dijon, and smoky spices for a richly seasoned roast. Spreading the butter under and over the skin helps create juicy meat and deeply browned skin.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Resting 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the cowboy butter
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh chives chopped
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
For the turkey
  • 1 whole turkey 12- to 14-pound, completely thawed, neck and giblets removed

Equipment

  • 1 16x13-inch roasting pan

Method
 

Make the cowboy butter
  1. Stir the butter, garlic, parsley, chives, Dijon, lemon juice, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, cayenne, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until evenly combined.
Roast the turkey
  1. Set an oven rack in the lowest position.
  2. Heat the oven to 325°F.
  3. Place a rack in a 16x13-inch roasting pan.
  4. Pat the turkey dry.
  5. Set the turkey breast-side up on the rack.
  6. Loosen the skin over the breast and thighs.
  7. Spread about half the cowboy butter underneath the skin.
  8. Spread the rest of the cowboy butter over the outside.
  9. Roast at 325°F for 3 to 3 3/4 hours, beginning to check at 3 hours, until a thermometer in the thickest part of the breast and the innermost thigh, away from bone, reads at least 165°F.
  10. Loosely tent with foil if the skin browns too quickly.
  11. Transfer the turkey to a carving board.
  12. Tent loosely with foil and rest for 30 minutes before carving.

Notes

For even seasoning, spread the cowboy butter carefully beneath the skin over both the breast and thighs. Refrigerate leftovers for 3–4 days or freeze them; a dairy-free butter alternative can be used for a dairy-free variation.