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This Turkey Roast, seasoned with a flavorful blend of herbs and spices, makes a wonderful main dish for a small Thanksgiving celebration or intimate dinner party. It’s simple to prepare and absolutely delicious.
For more turkey recipes, explore these single serving and small batch options: Roast Turkey Breast, Turkey Tenderloins, or tender and flavorful Turkey Cutlets. Each one is perfect for a small Thanksgiving celebration. Have leftover turkey? Use it to make our easy Thanksgiving Sliders!
Why You’ll Love This Roast Turkey Recipe
- Perfect Size: Designed for smaller meals or gatherings, it delivers just the right amount without leaving you with too many leftovers.
- Simple to Make: Clear, easy steps make this turkey roast approachable and stress-free.
- Packed with Flavor: The herb seasoning creates a flavorful crust, keeping the turkey moist and delicious.
Be sure to explore all of our Thanksgiving For One recipes.
A turkey roast is a smaller, more manageable alternative to a whole turkey. It’s a boneless cut of turkey meat, usually tied together and cooked like a small roast. It’s an excellent choice for smaller gatherings when a full turkey isn’t necessary.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this roast turkey recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Turkey Roast: I usually use a Butterball turkey roast, which typically weighs about 3 pounds. It’s the perfect size for smaller meals.
- Seasonings: Dried basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper add wonderful flavor to the roast. You can customize the seasoning blend by substituting with dried rosemary or herbes de Provence if you prefer.
- Olive Oil: Combining the spices with olive oil creates a paste that helps them adhere to the turkey as it cooks. I always use extra virgin olive oil because it’s the least processed and retains a pure olive flavor. It’s also packed with vitamins and minerals. If you prefer, you can use a lighter olive oil instead.
- Butter: I use salted butter for this recipe, placing small pieces over the turkey before roasting. As it melts, the butter seeps into the meat, adding flavor and helping to crisp the surface.
How To Cook A Turkey Roast
These photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to roast turkey. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Prepare the Herb Paste: In a small bowl, mix the spices with olive oil to form a paste. Rub the paste evenly over the entire turkey roast.
- Set Up for Roasting: Place the turkey roast on a rack in a roasting pan. Top the turkey with pieces of butter.
- Bake: Roast the turkey in an uncovered 325°F (165°C) oven for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until fully cooked.
- Rest the Turkey: Remove the turkey from the oven and cover the pan with aluminum foil. Let the turkey rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Expert Tips
- Keep the Mesh On: Leave the mesh string on the turkey roast during cooking. It holds the meat together, helping it retain its shape as it cooks.
- Check with a Meat Thermometer: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey is perfectly cooked. Insert it into the thickest part of the roast, avoiding the edge or the pan, and look for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Let It Rest: After cooking, allow the turkey to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This step is essential for the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is moist and flavorful. Skipping this step may lead to dry turkey.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this turkey roast with your favorite classic sides for a memorable meal.
- Mashed Potatoes: A classic side that never fails.
- Green Beans: Lightly sautéed for a healthier option.
- Cranberry Sauce: Offers a tangy contrast to the turkey.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use either fresh or frozen turkey for this recipe. If using frozen, make sure to fully thaw it in the refrigerator before cooking. This ensures even cooking and the best texture.
Boneless turkey roasts are commonly found in the freezer section or fresh meat section of most grocery stores. Look for brands like Butterball or similar options, and check for roasts that include both white and dark meat if that’s your preference.
No, leave the string casing on during cooking. It helps the turkey roast hold its shape. You can remove it after the turkey has rested and is ready to be sliced.
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the roast, and ensure it reaches 165°F (74°C). This guarantees the turkey is safe to eat and perfectly cooked.
A small roasting pan or a baking dish with a rack will work well for this recipe. The pan should be large enough to fit the turkey roast with some room for air to circulate but not so large that the juices spread too thin.
Yes, if you don’t have a roasting rack, you can place the turkey roast on a bed of vegetables, such as carrots, celery, or onions, to lift it off the bottom of the pan.
Allow the turkey to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftover turkey for up to 2 months.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this boneless turkey roast or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Herb Crusted Turkey Roast
Equipment
- roasting pan
Ingredients
- 1 (3 pound) turkey roast -thawed
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set the oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Prepare the Roast: Remove the turkey roast from its packaging and pat it dry with paper towels. Leave the string netting on the roast.
- Make the Herb Paste: In a small bowl, combine the basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in the olive oil to create a paste.
- Season the Roast: Rub the herb paste evenly over the entire turkey roast, ensuring it's well-coated. Place the roast on a rack in a roasting pan.
- Add Butter: Lay slices of butter on top of the turkey roast.
- Bake: Roast the turkey, uncovered, for 1 ¾ to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature in the center reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the roast from the oven, cover it with foil, and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. Carefully remove the string netting before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Keep the Mesh On: Leave the mesh string on the turkey roast during cooking. It holds the meat together, helping it retain its shape as it cooks.
- Check with a Meat Thermometer: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey is perfectly cooked. Insert it into the thickest part of the roast, avoiding the edge or the pan, and look for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Let It Rest: After cooking, allow the turkey to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This step is essential for the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is moist and flavorful. Skipping this step may lead to dry turkey.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
If I get two turkey roasts, and put them in the same roaster, is the cooking time the same?
If you’re roasting two turkey roasts in the same pan, the cooking time will generally stay about the same as for one roast, since each piece cooks independently. Just make sure there’s enough space around each roast for the heat to circulate evenly. I’d recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure both are cooked through properly. Hope that helps!
How do I defrost a frozen turkey ROAST? I couldn’t find the Butterball, which I have always used. I purchased a Norbest turkey roast.
Thaw the turkey roast in the refrigerator and in its original packaging. Allow at least one day of thawing for every 4 to 5 lbs of turkey.
Do I cover the roast with foil before baking to keep it from drying out?
No, you don’t need to cover the turkey roast with foil before baking. This will allow the skin to get nice and crispy. After cooking, cover the turkey with foil to let it rest and retain its juices before slicing.
My family loved this, very tasty.
Turned out really good and juicy!
I have always followed the Butterball instructions which say to cook from frozen. This takes much longer. Are your Butterball instructions different?
When I make a turkey roast, I thaw it in the refrigerator before cooking.
I made this for Thanksgiving, 2021 and I can’t thank you enough! This turkey roast was amazing, flavorful through and through. I followed the direction exactly only I added a little turkey stock every hour to moisten the breast. This is my go to recipe, thanks much!
Do they make these turkey roast’s with all white meat? Seems I have looked in the past and only saw the white/dark kind.
Yes, I believe they do.