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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!!
That was the best turkey recipe I have ever cooked. Moist, delicious and beautiful.
Hey Linda,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Thank you so much! This was the most delicious Turkey I’ve had. Definitely going to do this again!
Hey Danae,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Made this for thanksgiving 2022 and it was a big hit. I stuffed it because we like stuffing in our bird, but it was delicious! Will make it again.
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Came out juicy and browned without any foil or anything! Worked so well, will most likely use this recipe again.
Hi Bethany,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Yup this will always be the way now! SO so good!!
Hi Tay,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
I am cooking this right now and the cheesecloth is dried and and turning brown. Is that normal?
Hi! I actually came on to look this up too because mine was doing the same thing but in the video it looks like it is dried and brown so I think there is hope! 🙂
Totally normal:)
Hi there,
Yes, that is totally normal:) I hope you love the recipe! xx
My bird is 23lb what how long do I cook
/
Hi Jen,
You will need to roast at 450F for 45 minutes and then turn the oven to 350F and roast for 12 minutes per pound on top of the written instructions. I hope you love the recipe! xx
Happy Thanksgiving! I have an 11 pound turkey. I’ve never cooked one this small. What cooking times do you recommend? I’m so excited to try your recipe! Thank you!
Hi Lori,
You will have wanted to follow the 450F for 30 minutes and then 350F for 12 minutes per pound. I hope this recipe turned out well for you! xx
I just wanted to say, I have made this turkey the past 5 years or maybe longer. And it is perfect every year! Just got my turkey for this year in the oven.
Thank you so much for this fabulous recipe.
Hey Alicia,
Thank you so much for making this recipe every year, I love to hear that it is always a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
I made this last year and it was delicious! This year I am stuffing the turkey. How much more cooking time would you add? An hour? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Hi Lynn,
So glad you enjoyed the recipe last year! Unfortunately, I would not recommend stuffing the bird, as you will have to overcook the turkey in order to get the stuffing to a safe temperature for eating. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! xx
We made this turkey yesterday. It’s one of the best we have ever had. The gravy is PERFECT!
Hey Erin,
Happy Thanksgiving!!🦃🍁 I am so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
Do you peel the garlic before putting it in the turkey? Thanks!
Hi Meg,
Nope, you are using 1 head of garlic and slicing the top off:) Happy Thanksgiving! xx
We didn’t! Just threw it all in there!
Hi! I’m one of many also making this recipe tomorrow. Just curious, do you put your bird on a rack in the roasting pan or is the turkey sitting in the 4 cups of broth in the bottom of the pan?
Happy Thanksgiving 🍁
I’d love to know this too! I don’t have a rack for my roasting pan.. I’m thinking I might need to run out and get one tomorrow morning! 😬
If you don’t have a rack ball up tin foil and place the bird on that!!!! Saves you a trip! That way it’s not sitting in the broth and gets soggy on the bottom!!! Good luck! I’m doing this method today too for the first time! Happy thanksgiving!!!
Thanks, Aly! I was going to do that too! But I decided to just put a huge bed of carrots and potatoes down in the bottom of the pan in lieu of a rack. 😅 I hope it works.
But I’m so excited about this buttery cheesecloth trick! I can’t wait to carve into this turkey in a couple hours! 🍽
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Rochelle,
Yes, I use a rack:)
I’ve made this recipe the last 3 years and placed the Turkey on the roasting rack. Her recipe won’t disappoint!!
This will be our third year with this recipe! It’s delicious!
Hi Aaron,
Thank you so much for making this recipe each year, I love to hear that it is always a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Do you clean the cheese cloth after? If yes, what do you use?
Nope, just toss it:)
If you don’t have a rack ball up tin foil and place the bird on that!!!! Saves you a trip! That way it’s not sitting in the broth and gets soggy on the bottom!!! Good luck! I’m doing this method today too for the first time! Happy thanksgiving!!!
If you don’t have a rack ball up tin foil and place the bird on that!!!! That way it’s not sitting in the broth and gets soggy on the bottom!!! Good luck! I’m doing this method today too for the first time! Happy thanksgiving!!!
Hi Danielle,
I put my turkey on a rack. I hope this recipe turns out well for you! Happy Thanksgiving! xx
I’m not one to leave reviews on recipes but this one deserves it! I have used this recipe two years in a row now and both turkeys have turned out perfect. All of my guests commented on how flavorful and juicy the turkey was. And now I am being requested to cook the turkey every year. Great recipe!!
Thanks so much Ashlyn!! I am so glad your family has been enjoying this recipe, thanks for sharing:) xx
Planning on making this tomorrow using a butterball turkey with 8% solution. Would you recommend dry brining tonight?
Hi Mimi,
Totally up to you, but I never brine my turkey:) Happy Thanksgiving! xx
Hi! We were planning to fry our turkeys like we’ve done the past 20+ years, but due to a rain out in Houston tomorrow we are going in a different direction! Do you have any timing recommendations for spatchcock turkey? Your recipes have never let me down, so excited to try!
Thanks so much Lindsay! So sorry, I’ve never done this as a spatchcock so I can’t advise on the timing. Best of luck! xx