Oven-Roasted Herb Turkey with Citrus Butter Glaze

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

A succulent turkey roasted with a fragrant herb rub and finished with a tangy citrus butter glaze for a festive holiday centerpiece. This american-inspired christmas ready in about 240 minutes pairs whole turkey (12 lbs), unsalted butter, softened, fresh rosemary, chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 12, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey (12 lbs)
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 cups chicken broth

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a bowl, combine 1 cup softened unsalted butter, 2 tbsp chopped rosemary, 2 tbsp chopped thyme, 1 tbsp chopped sage, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp orange zest, 1 tbsp lemon zest, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Mix until well blended.
2. Step 2: Pat dry the 12 lb whole turkey with paper towels and loosen the skin over the breasts gently with your fingers. Rub half of the herb butter mixture under the skin and the rest all over the turkey surface.
3. Step 3: Place the turkey breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 2 cups chicken broth into the pan and roast for about 3 to 3 1/2 hours, basting every 45 minutes with pan juices, until an internal temperature of 165°F is reached.
4. Step 4: While roasting, mix 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced by half and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Brush this citrus glaze over the turkey during the last 30 minutes of roasting.
5. Step 5: Remove the turkey from the oven, tent with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes before carving to ensure juicy slices.