When roasting, grilling, or using a rotisserie spit to cook your turkey, the Herb-Butter Turkey Rub will kickstart your Thanksgiving feast! This rub not only adds great flavor, but the butter also helps in browning the turkey’s skin as it cooks. This rub is chock full of fresh herbs, savory ingredients such as garlic and onion, spices, and creamy butter.
This creamy herb butter enhances the flavor of poultry, adding an extra layer of amazing taste. It’s our top choice for seasoning Thanksgiving turkey!
Why this recipe works
- The fresh herbs and savories used in the rub will add a delicious, bright flavor to your rotisserie or roast turkey.
- The butter helps brown the turkey’s skin while it cooks, resulting in a gorgeous golden-brown appearance.
- This rub adds an extra layer of richness to the pan drippings.
- This herb butter recipe is versatile and can be used for roasting in the oven, grilling, or cooking the turkey on a rotisserie spit. Use it on chicken or fish as well!
Please note that this turkey rub recipe is designed for a up to a 16 pound bird. Increase the recipe for larger turkeys.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter (Irish or European butter recommended)
- Fresh herbs: rosemary, thyme, and marjoram (substitute any one of these with fresh sage, oregano, basil, or parsley)
- Salt, *omit if you’ve brined the turkey, or if your turkey was prepackaged in a sodium brine solution*
- Granulated onion or onion powder
- Granulated garlic or garlic powder (sub with 5 cloves of fresh minced garlic)
- Paprika (not smoked)
- Black pepper
- Allspice (substitute with nutmeg)
Making an Herb Butter Rub
- Rinse herbs under cold water and blot them dry with paper towels. Remove the leaves from stems and chop them finely,
- If you have brined the turkey, do not add salt to the mixture!
- Combine remaining ingredients with softened butter in a small bowl, stirring until well incorporated.
- Give the herb-butter a quick taste, and adjust as needed.
Using Herb-Butter Turkey Rub
- Apply butter mixture 30 minutes before cooking the turkey.
- Use your hands to apply herb-butter turkey rub all over the bird, including under the breast skin.
- Be gentle when applying to avoid tearing the skin.
- Wash your hands and disinfect your work area thoroughly.
- Cook your turkey as directed.
- Dispose of any leftover rub that has come into contact with raw meat.
More Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
- Lemon-Rosemary Turkey Brine
- We recommend pairing this herb-butter turkey rub with a Turkey Injection Marinade for best results.
- Smoked Turkey Recipe
- Rotisserie Turkey
- Smoked Whole Turkey Breast
Herb-Butter Turkey Rub
The creamy herb butter adds an extra layer of amazing flavor to turkey, making it the perfect rub for Thanksgiving feasts and special occasions.
Print PinServings: 1 cup
Calories: 1676kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup room temperature unsalted butter Irish butter recommended
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 1/2 teaspoons salt *omit if you've brined the turkey*
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh marjoram (substitute with sage)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic (or 5 cloves garlic, minced)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon powdered allspice (substitute with nutmeg)
Instructions
- Wash and blot dry the herbs with paper towels. Remove leaves from stems and finely chop. Combine herbs and spices with room temperature butter until well incorporated.
- Carefully apply butter mixture all over turkey, including under the breast skin and inside the cavity. Cook turkey as directed.
- Discard any leftover rub that has come into contact with raw meat.
Nutrition
Calories: 1676kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 185g | Saturated Fat: 117g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 48g | Trans Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 488mg | Sodium: 5846mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 6315IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 164mg | Iron: 3mg
