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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.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
That picture? It makes you happy and excited, right?? I know, me too!!
I made this for Thanksgiving, and it was the most beautiful and delicious turkey and gravy! My brother told me not to tell our mom that it was the best he’s had! 🙂
Hey Nicole,
Wonderful! It’s so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
I made this turkey and gravy for Thanksgiving exactly as the directions say to and I kid you not there was not a piece left by that same night! My family is typically the least excited about the turkey and prefers ham but this recipe was a huge hit! Thank you!
Hey JJ,
I love to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
This recipe is really something!!! I decided to try this for our Friendsgiving & it was hands down the best turkey I have ever made & the gravy is delicious too! I followed the directions exactly & this will be the only turkey I will make from now on. It was seriously the star of the menu & my husband and I are still talking about it …ha ha. I might even make a turkey for Christmas just so I can make this again. Thank you for such an amazing recipe!
Hi Cydnee,
Fantastic! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Have the best week:) xTieghan
Love this recipe! It was my first time making the turkey and this was super easy to follow. The turkey was moist and full of flavor. The gravy was phenomenal. My family loved it! This will be my go-to every Thanksgiving.
Hey Jessica,
Happy Sunday! Thanks for giving the recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I have made this turkey for three years now. Wow. This was my favorite year, though. I usually tried to stuff my bird, in addition to Tieghan’s citrus and onions, and I never cared for my stuffing that much with the citrus, but the turkey was always delicious. This year, however, we tried Tieghan’s Herby Mushroom and Croissant Stuffing and WOW! I will never stuff my turkey again-her stuffing was AMAZING!! I have to say that after three years, I finally think I have perfected my gravy. Tieghan gives great directions. I had a 24 pound bird, so mine took much longer than stated, but the past two years, my turkey was the recommended size in the recipe and it followed Tieghan’s timing. Thank you!
Hey Stephanie,
Wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious….LOTS of compliments! My son said it was the best turkey he has ever eaten!
The code is cracked!!!
This butter blanket resulted in the most perfect and juiciest turkey.
My dad said this is the best turkey he has eaten in his life (81 years!).
Agreed, perfection!
Hi Dru,
Wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Hi Patty,
Wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
I have now cooked my turkey this way two years in a row. Last year I accidentally used salted butter so it came out a little salty but perfectly moist. This year I followed the directions to a T and I had nothing but “the turkey is delicious” compliments. This will be my go to every year now ☺️?. Thank you!!!
Hi Jennifer,
Wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Made this yesterday with a 22 lb turkey and it was delicious. Definitely a keeper for years to come!
How long did you cook it?
Elaine-I had a 24 pound turkey and it took 4.5 hours. In at 8:45, out at 1:15, carving at 1:45.
Hi Robin,
Wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
This isn’t my first time using a cheesecloth but this is my first time with this recipe. It turned out so well! It was so moist, like everyone couldn’t stop saying how juicy it was. This will 100% be my go to from now on. I didn’t baste it, I don’t have a baster, I poured some chicken stock on a couple hours in and called it good. Delicious!
Hi Christa,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
This was hands down the best turkey ever. Compliments from everyone (and I have a tough family to please food wise ;)!! )
So moist and tender. This will forever be my go to Thanksgiving turkey. I made the gravy too and everyone loved it. So flavorful. The crossaint stuffing! Amazing. Thank you!! Oh! And the honey butter Parker rolls! Wow… I’m glad I tripled that recipe, huge hit!!!! This menu is ON POINT. ?
Hi Courtney,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
This was my first time for Turkey and it was a hit! Easy recipe to follow. Turkey was golden, flavorful and juicy. Will continue to follow this recipe
Hey Floriana,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
I was disappointed in this turkey recipe. It was a lot of prep and first of all, the turkey did not brown at all with the cheesecloth on it, so I eventually took it off for the last bit of roasting so it could brown. Also, my turkey was try and flavorless. I don’t know how much was the bird and how much the recipe. I got a fresh, natural turkey and cooked it with a thermometer ( pop-up) so technically I did not over cook it but ….very dry. The gravy was good but the gravy recipe a bit confusing. I won’t make this one again.
My flavor was great but my turkey didn’t brown well so I wasn’t happy w the skin and the look of it. However the turkey was full of flavor thank goodness !
Thanks for trying the recipe Shelley! Not sure why it didn’t brown for you, the cheesecloth is my full proof method for browning. xTieghan
Hi Cindy,
So sorry to hear this, I’ve never quite had a review like this on the turkey before. Was there anything you adjusted in the recipe? xTieghan
This was absolutely perfect! Followed directions to a T and my family thought I was a rock star. Thank you so much! Got your cookbook for 3 family members for Christmas!
Hi Katy,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
I hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner and your recipe made the Turkey the star of the show! Everyone kept raving about it- it was truly delicious and the recipe was so easy to follow! The only downfall was it was so delicious there weren’t leftovers- a good problem to have!! Thank you for this fabulous recipe!
Hi Jen,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Never had a juicer Turkey. It was sooooo good!!! My husband hates Turkey and he absolutely loved it!
Hi Lacy,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan