How to make an herb butter for turkey and chicken. Featuring fresh herbs like sage, thyme, and parsley.
At first, like most new things, you may find the thought of an herb butter for a turkey to be a little intimidating. However, after giving it a go only once, your kitchen fears will be quickly put to rest, and herb butter will not only make a stellar debut on your Thanksgiving turkey but maybe even a whole roasted chicken and on homemade garlic bread as well.
HERB BUTTER FOR TURKEY
This herb butter recipe, in particular, was made to enhance the flavors of both turkey and chicken. It features a few of my favorite herbs most commonly found in poultry seasoning -- thyme, parsley, and sage. Fresh herbs make all the difference in the world, and add a beautiful brightness to savory roasted poultry.
SEASONING FOR HERB BUTTER
The second most important component of a herb butter for turkey is the seasoning. I use my TAK House Seasoning, and this in combination with the fresh herbs blows all other compound butters out of the water.
You most certainly do not have to use this seasoning blend, and if you have a favorite poultry seasoning, feel free to sub it in within this recipe. However, note this seasoning is versatile and goes such a long way.
It can be used to season chicken breasts, pork loin, turkey, and steaks directly and not just in a compound butter for poultry. It is a dinnertime game changer, and your family will totally love you for adding it to your repertoire.
USE A COMBO OF BUTTER AND OIL
The last, and also very important, component to our herb butter for turkey...butter! Well, butter in combination with another oil that is. When making a compound butter, it is very important that your butter is room temperature, so don't forget to set it out the night before or the morning you intend to use it.
HACK FOR ROOM TEMPERATURE BUTTER
If you forget to set out your butter, here is a kitchen hack for warming it up, without melting it: Place the butter on a plate in microwave on medium-level power. Then, microwave the butter for 10 seconds. Flip it over, and microwave it for another 10 seconds.
Your butter should be pretty close to room temperature by now, but if not, you could flip it and give it one more go at 10 seconds. Voila! Room temperature butter for the scatterbrained. Which is 100% me by the way.
In addition to the butter, use canola or vegetable oil in your compound butter, as it has a higher smoke point than olive oil, and will keep your turkey a beautiful golden-brown.
You are well on your way to mastering the perfect herb butter for turkey, and all you needed was a little know-how, some fresh herbs, TAK House Seasoning, butter, and canola oil. This herb butter is quick and easy to whip up and adds amazing color and flavor to your roasted poultry.
A compound herb butter for turkey and chicken, featuring fresh herbs like sage, thyme, and parsley.
- 8 tablespoons room temperature, unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 ½ tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
- 1 ½ tablespoon minced fresh sage
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
- 4 teaspoons TAK House Seasoning
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Using a whisk or fork, mix together butter, canola oil, minced herbs and TAK Seasoning until well-combined.
Makes about ⅔ cup.
Use the full recipe for 13-16 lb turkey and about ½ of the mixture for a 5-6 lb chicken.
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