An herb-infused butter rub goes all over the skin of this rotisserie turkey, which is roasted over the grill, so it frees up your oven for all the Thanksgiving fixins.
Rotisserie Turkey Recipe
You know how there are some things that are just too good not to be shared? The secret ingredients. The best place to get a pedicure. Your opinions. A bicycle built for two. An easy going, laughter-filled dinner with friends.
And this herb butter turkey. It’s one of those things just begging to be shared.
I was originally hired to create, make and photograph this rotisserie turkey recipe for one of my clients, Saber Grills, to be shared on their blog. But it turned out so good. So juicy. And so dang pretty I got selfish and turned into a can’t-give-it-up-anti-giver.
And so I’m taking it back. Actually, I’m going to do double duty and share it on both sites. It’s a two-fer!
This herb butter turkey recipe isn’t grilled, but it IS cooked on a rotisserie on the grill. And let me tell you here and now, Costco’s rotisserie chickens got nothin’ on this bird!
Preparing a turkey this way is totally hands off. The rotisserie spun this turkey right round baby right round, like a record player right round, round, round. I let it do all the work. And simply reaped the benefits.
I honestly don’t know whether I’ll cook another turkey any other way. This is the juiciest turkey recipe and the bird is so flavorful thanks to its hours of spinning and an herb-flavored, buttery rub.
Friends, this is the way to cook turkey all year long.
What’s in This Herb Butter Turkey?
This herb butter turkey requires minimal ingredients to achieve a buttery, rich flavor. Here’s what I used in this ultra juicy turkey recipe:
- 13- to 15-pound turkey
- Salted butter
- Fresh herbs
- Kosher salt and pepper
- Paprika
- Apples
- Onion
- Garlic
What Are the Best Herbs for Turkey?
For that classic Thanksgiving turkey flavor, I prefer using a mixture of fresh sage, thyme, rosemary, and parsley. I think fresh herbs flavor this rotisserie turkey better than dried as they’re not as potent and are more fragrant.
How to Make Rotisserie Herb Butter Turkey
I suggest first brining your turkey with my wet turkey brine recipe here before cooking on the grill for an extra juicy bird.
The flavor builder and juice enhancer continues with a fresh herb-infused butter that’s rubbed under, and over the skin. Be gentle but firm when prying the skin from the meat. The resulting crispy crust is something you don’t want to tear because it’s just too pretty to behold.
Next, I loosely stuffed the cavity with apples, onions and more herbs. Like all poultry, flavor exudes from the inside out and these loose ingredients still keep the hot air flowing.
Tie the turkey wings back and place the bird on the rotisserie accessory. Let the bird cook over the grill until the juices run clear and the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F.
How Long to Cook a Turkey
The exact turkey cooking time varies depending on how big your bird is. In general, I recommend cooking this herb butter turkey for roughly 15 minutes per pound.
Can I Stuff the Rotisserie Turkey with Stuffing?
I don’t recommend stuffing this bird with dressing or stuffing because it will lengthen the cooking time because it restricts the airflow in the turkey, and by the time the dense stuffing is heated through your turkey will be overcooked. This is just my humble opinion, so if you want to give it a try, let me know how it goes.
Tips for Making Rotisserie Herb Butter Turkey
When using a rotisserie on the grill, be aware of your rotisserie’s weight limitations. My Saber Grill rotisserie accessory can only hold up to a 20-pound bird, so feeding a college football team with this version of a turkey won’t be in your cards.
The biggest thing with using a rotisserie is one word: BALANCE. Make sure the rod goes through the turkey evenly and the forks of sit evenly too. Make sure the wing nuts that tighten the forks are exactly that — tight! Otherwise, you may lose an end as the bird spins. You may need to wiggle and jiggle a bit to get the turkey tightly into place, so don’t feel like you have to make the love connection on the first try.
The only drawback to preparing a turkey this way is no drippings for gravy. But homemade chicken stock worked a-okay. It’s the price I paid for a beautiful bird.
Recipe Ideas to Serve With Your Turkey
Make a proper turkey dinner (or Thanksgiving meal) out of it with the following!
- Boozy Drink: Pomegranate Martini
- Side: 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
- Side: The Best Easy Stuffing Recipe
- Side: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
- Side: Cheddar and Jalapeño Skillet Cornbread
- Side: Brussels Sprouts Salad with Roasted Beets, Pecans and Goat Cheese
- Dessert: Caramel Apple Pie
- Dessert: Pumpkin Roll
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats
Rotisserie Herb Butter Turkey
An herb-infused butter rub goes all over the skin of this rotisserie turkey, which is roasted over the grill, so it frees up your oven for all the Thanksgiving fixins.
Ingredients
For the turkey:
- 1 13 to 15 pound turkey
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened
- 1 heaping tablespoon chopped fresh sage
- 1 heaping tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 heaping tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 heaping tablespoon chopped fresh Italian flat leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For the stuffing:
- 2 apples sliced into large chunks
- 1 onion sliced into large chunks
- 4-5 cloves garlic smashed
- handful of various fresh herbs
Instructions
- Prepare your grill with a rotisserie attachment. Preheat a 3 burner grill on high.
- Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey, rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
Mix the butter and chopped fresh herbs with the salt, pepper, and paprika until well combined.
Gently work your fingers under the skin of the turkey breast and legs. Work 3/4 of the herbed butter evenly under the skin, then rub the top of the skin with the rest of the herb butter mix. Season with more kosher salt and pepper.
Stuff the cavity of the turkey with the chopped apple, onion and smashed garlic then add the herbs.
Tie the wings to the sides of the turkey with twine. Insert the rod of the rotisserie attachment through the middle of the turkey stem to stern. Then, attach the forks so they firmly hold and tighten the wing nuts tight so the turkey doesn't shift during cooking.
Place the rotisserie attachment with the turkey on the grill and cook for 10 minutes, then turn the center burner off and outer burners to low for indirect heat. If this is your first time cooking on a rotisserie, you'll want to test the internal temperature of the turkey as it cooks and adjust cooking temperatures of the grill burners so it cooks evenly (so the middle isn't cooking faster than the outsides, etc.).
Cook the turkey 15 minutes per pound. Always check the internal temperature of the turkey in the thigh without touching the bone or rotisserie rod for a finished cooking temperature of 10 degrees less than the temperature you feel safe for cooking (we go for 155 degrees F) and juices run clear. Suggested final temperature for poultry is 165 degrees F, but remember, it will continue to cook as it rests.
Remove from the grill, tent with aluminum foil and let rest for 15 minutes or so until the temperature registers 165 degrees F. If it doesn't come to temperature, pop in the oven at 350 degrees F or on the grill to finish cooking to temperature.
More Turkey Recipes You’ll Love
- Buffalo Roasted Turkey
- Roast Turkey Breast with Lemon and Oregano
- Curry Turkey Pot Pie with Homemade Butter Crust
- Juicy Roast Turkey Breast
- Turkey Avocado Tetrazzini
Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.
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Peggy says
Can I do this with just the breast?
heidi says
Hi Peggy, yes, I think you could! You’d obviously have to adjust the cooking time. I’d recommend keeping the skin in tact too.
R Christianson says
i place a quarter cup of unions in the tray bellow the bird, the drippings drop on them and they can be added to the gravey.
Gaby Dalkin says
the more herbs the better! that is one beautiful turkey!
Kate says
That is a seriously gorgeous bird and even though I don’t have a rotisserie I can imagine these flavors working in the oven too! Happy Thanksgiving!
Danae @ Recipe Runner says
This is one gorgeous turkey! I love all the herbs you used and of course butter makes it extra juicy and flavorful. I need to get myself a rotisserie attachment and try this out!
Jennifer Farley says
Rotisserie turkey/chicken at home would be amazing! This sounds so good.
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) says
I can’t get over how BEAUTIFUL this bird is!!!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Now that is one gorgeous turkey, Thanksgiving perfection!
Maida says
What about smoking it in a Traeger Smoker? Please give me your thoughts and opinion. TIA
Dawn says
Thank you for this lovely recipe!
We made this today for our Thanksgiving Dinner, it was wonderful! Beautiful flavor, beautiful crispy skin. I had a 12.5 lb turkey and cooked it 10 min per pound, that was just a little too long, will adjust next time.
Mike says
Tried this with 15# turkey for Thanksgiving yesterday. it turned out fabulous. The whole bird was tender, moist and flavorful. The only part I haven’t figured out is how to get the skin nice and crisp.
Costco Hours says
This herb butter Rose turkey is looking too delicious. I will try it on next weekend. Really love your blog keep doing amazing work. Check this also http://costcohours.org/.
Kathy Jimenez says
I would purchase a turkey leg or some wings and roast them, remove the meat from the bones and roast the bones, add the meat and bones to some chicken stock, with some onions, garlic, and what ever veggies and seasonings I personally wanted, and simmer, to make my own turkey stock. Voila! You have the makings of a good Turkey gravy!! You can do this a couple of days ahead of time, and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to prepare. Now, on my way to Home Depot to get a grill with a rotisserie attachment!!
Kathy Jimenez says
Oh, and be sure to strain your stock before you use it to make your gravy!
Katherine Andersen says
We did everything from the Recipe and our turkey CAUGHT FIRE IN THE BBQ. Do not use this recipe on the BBQ or if you do, don’t add the butter. As it was the butter dripping that CAUGHT FIRE!
Mike says
There’s a couple things to do to get crispy skin. The first is mentioned above.. get your finger between the skin and the meat and separate them. The second thing is to have the skin slightly dried out. I usually dry brine my birds in the fridge for at least one day. If it’s more than a day, I wrap in plastic wrap until it is the day before. The last day, unwrap it, soak up in excess moisture in the container (sometimes i put paper towels in the bottom) and let the skin dry out a little in the fridge for the last day. When you’re ready to cook, be sure excess liquid is soaked up before putting on the rotisserie. You will see if getting crispy the first time you check on it (and even hear it!). Finally, once you take it off and it is resting, let the bird “sit up” so that it doesn’t lie in the juice. This will make the skin lose its crispiness. But be sure to save the juice, it’s a precious commodity!
Lucille says
Can you use this recipe with a regular rotisserie machine not the grill?
Robert Smith says
This Dish looks so delicious. I love to eat chicken
Ryan says
What do you recommend for the fresh herd that you stuffed inside? Also would using lemon instead of apples work?
Cathy Bellnap says
I remove the grates and put my cast iron skillet directly on the flavor bars of my Weber to catch the drippings. Before i start the turkey I add chicken stock, wine, carrots, onions and celery to the skillet. When it is time to make the gravy I remove the veggies and just need to add more homemade stock then thicken it with a slurry of corn starch for the most delicious gravy!!! Keep an eye on the skillet during cooking and add more stock as needed.
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
That sounds great, Cathy! Thank you for sharing!
Terrence says
I do this every year. But I remove the grates of my grill and make room for an oven pan to catch the drippings (outer burners do the work). Using Apple cider or beer and leaving the turkey neck & giblets underneath makes for the best gravy ever. Also keeps the bird moist from the steam.
Andy says
What do you think of brining the turkey first for 16-18 hours? A wet brine?
thanks and I’m trying it this weekend in preparations for doing over it thanksgiving. On thanksgiving I’m doing a turkey off, frying one and rotisserie one. I was planning on brining both the same way. Thanks for the response!!
Erik Metzler says
I’ll come back to rate this recipe after I’ve tried it, but it looks fantastic! Do you have a target temperature for the inside of the grill during the roast?
Elsie says
I have a rotisserie feature in my oven, would this work the same? I’ve been dying to try it but can’t recipes that directly relate to using my oven for rotisserie.