Electric Roaster Turkey with Herb Butter
Free up the oven for side dishes and make your roast turkey in an electric roaster oven! We give tips for the juiciest turkey recipe with fresh herb butter...and how to get that golden brown skin on your turkey.
Servings: 20
Calories: 470kcal
Ingredients
- 18 pound whole turkey
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 2 tablespoons freshly snipped thyme, rosemary and sage
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the cavity:
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Make the herb butter:
- Mix together 1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick) with the freshly snipped herbs. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight, but remove from the fridge 1 hour before using so that it is soft enough to spread. (Or you can microwave to soften the herb butter). 1/2 cup salted butter, 2 tablespoons freshly snipped thyme, rosemary and sage
Prepare the turkey:
- Set the roaster oven (lid on) to its highest setting, about 450°F, and preheat for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey cavity. (Throw them away or set them aside for gravy.) Take paper towels and dry off your turkey. 18 pound whole turkey
- Take your hand and loosen the skin over the turkey breast. Rub half of the butter underneath the skin of the breast. Rub the other half of the butter over the outside of the bird.
- Sprinkle the outside of the bird with salt and pepper. 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Put 1/4 cup butter in the cavity of the turkey along with 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. 1/4 cup salted butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Place the turkey breast side up on the rack in the preheated roaster. Cover and cook at the highest setting for 30 minutes.
- Without opening the lid, turn the temperature down to 325°F. Start checking the temperature at about 7 minutes per pound total (2 hours for an 18 lb turkey). The turkey is done at 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and breast, without touching bone.
- The exact timing will depend on whether the turkey is stuffed or unstuffed and how large the turkey is. Plan for about 8-10 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.
- Rest the turkey at least 20 minutes before carving. If dinner isn’t ready, hold it on the roaster’s warm setting with the lid on for up to 1 hour.
Notes
Cook Time Notes:
Plan on 8–10 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey at 325°F, after an initial 30-minute sear at your roaster's highest temperature.
For a stuffed turkey, add 30–45 minutes. Always verify with a meat thermometer. The thigh should reach 165°F minimum.
Herb butter shortcut: Swap fresh herbs for 1 teaspoon of poultry seasoning mixed into the softened butter. Works great.
Don't open the lid during cooking. You lose heat every time.
Let it rest at least 20 minutes before carving to seal in the juices.
Use the "warm" setting if the turkey finishes before you're ready to serve. It holds beautifully for up to an hour.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving about 20 people. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**
| Turkey Size | Estimated Total Time |
|---|---|
| 12–14 lbs | ~2 hrs 5 min – 2 hrs 20 min |
| 15–16 lbs | ~2 hrs 25 min – 2 hrs 40 min |
| 17–18 lbs | ~2 hrs 45 min – 3 hrs |
| 19–20 lbs | ~3 hrs 5 min – 3 hrs 20 min |
| 21–22 lbs | ~3 hrs 20 min – 3 hrs 35 min |
Nutrition
Calories: 470kcal | Protein: 62g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 226mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 649mg | Vitamin A: 375IU | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2.5mg
