Spectacular Truffle Butter Roast Turkey Recipe by Ina Garten

Roasting a turkey becomes a culinary adventure when you infuse it with decadent truffle butter from Ina Garten’s legendary cookbook.

Her method promises a golden, crisp-skinned bird that melts in your mouth with luxurious flavor.

The rich, earthy notes of truffle elevate this classic centerpiece to gourmet heights.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike marvel at the simplicity of her technique.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of succulent meat and aromatic truffle essence.

The recipe transforms an ordinary holiday meal into an extraordinary dining experience.

You’ll impress everyone at the table with this elegant, mouthwatering roast that captures the essence of sophisticated home cooking.

Quick Recipe Overview

What You’ll Need for Ina Garten Roast Turkey With Truffle Butter

• Truffle Butter: Luxurious spreadable delight that infuses rich, earthy flavor into the turkey’s tender meat, creating a gourmet experience.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential flavor enhancers that awaken the turkey’s natural taste and provide a perfectly balanced seasoning profile.

• Onion Wedges: Soft, sweet aromatics that release delicate flavors inside the turkey cavity, adding depth and moisture.
• Garlic Halves: Intense, fragrant bulbs that impart a mellow, rich undertone throughout the roasting process.
• Fresh Thyme Sprigs: Delicate herb with woodsy, slightly minty notes that complement the turkey’s natural flavor and add elegant complexity.

• Olive Oil: Silky coating that helps achieve a golden, crispy skin while locking in the turkey’s natural juiciness.
• Kitchen String: Culinary twine essential for securing the turkey’s shape, ensuring even cooking and maintaining a beautiful presentation.
• Aluminum Foil: Protective shield that prevents excessive browning and helps manage the turkey’s cooking temperature.

Equipment for Ina Garten Roast Turkey With Truffle Butter

• Roasting Pan: Large, shallow pan to hold the turkey during roasting.
• Meat Thermometer: Essential for checking the turkey’s internal temperature for perfect doneness.
• Kitchen String: Needed to tie turkey legs and wings securely.
• Rack: Placed inside the roasting pan to elevate the turkey for even cooking.
• Paper Towels: Used to pat the turkey dry before cooking.
• Aluminum Foil: Helps prevent over-browning and keeps the turkey warm while resting.
• Sharp Carving Knife: Required for slicing the turkey after roasting.
• Cutting Board: Provides a stable surface for carving the turkey.
• Pastry Brush: Useful for brushing olive oil over the turkey’s skin.

How to Roast Ina Garten Turkey With Truffle Butter

• Turkey Preparation

Unwrap the bird and set it on a clean surface. Gently pat the skin until completely dry using soft paper towels.

• Truffle Butter Magic

Carefully slide fingers beneath the skin, creating delicate pockets. Softly massage rich truffle butter across the breast, ensuring smooth and even coverage.

• Flavor Foundation

Sprinkle salt and pepper inside the turkey’s cavity. Insert fragrant onion chunks, garlic halves, and fresh thyme sprigs to create an aromatic environment.

• Seasoning Technique

Secure turkey legs using kitchen string. Wrap additional string around wings to keep them snug against the body. Brush olive oil generously over the entire surface, then dust with salt and pepper. Scatter remaining thyme leaves across the skin.

• Roasting Process

Place turkey in a warm oven at 325°F. Cook for approximately 2.5-3 hours, monitoring internal breast temperature until it reaches 160°F. Cover breast with aluminum foil midway through cooking to prevent excessive browning.

• Resting Period

Remove turkey from oven and shield with aluminum foil. Allow the meat to rest for 15-20 minutes, letting delicious juices redistribute throughout the bird.

• Serving Moment

Slice turkey carefully and present with pan juices drizzled over the top for an extra burst of flavor.

Flavor Enhancers for Ina Garten Roast Turkey With Truffle Butter

• Gently work softened truffle butter under the skin to create an incredibly rich, luxurious flavor that penetrates deep into the meat, ensuring maximum deliciousness in every bite.
• Use coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper for maximum flavor impact, focusing on both inside the cavity and all over the exterior of the turkey.
• Monitor internal temperature carefully, removing the turkey exactly when it hits 71°C to guarantee juicy, perfectly cooked meat without drying out.
• Allow the turkey to rest completely covered for 15-20 minutes after cooking, which helps redistribute succulent juices and ensures each slice remains incredibly tender and moist.
• Experiment with additional fresh herbs like rosemary or sage alongside thyme to create subtle flavor variations that complement the decadent truffle butter.

Beautiful Plating of Ina Garten Roast Turkey With Truffle Butter

• Elevate Turkey Presentation: Arrange slices on a large rustic wooden board with sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary scattered around for a gorgeous holiday centerpiece.
• Pair with Seasonal Sides: Complement the truffle-infused turkey with roasted root vegetables like parsnips, carrots, and sweet potatoes drizzled with olive oil and sea salt.
• Create Gravy Enhancement: Collect pan drippings and combine with white wine, chicken stock, and a touch of truffle butter to create a rich, luxurious sauce that amplifies the turkey’s decadent flavor.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Select a medium-bodied white wine like Chardonnay or a light Pinot Noir to beautifully balance the truffle butter’s earthy undertones and the turkey’s rich meat.

Store Leftovers of Ina Garten Roast Turkey With Truffle Butter

• Maximize Freshness: Store leftover turkey in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking, keeping meat moist and safe for future enjoyment.
• Refrigerate Smart: Consume refrigerated turkey slices within 3-4 days, ensuring peak taste and texture when properly sealed in shallow containers.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap turkey portions tightly in freezer-safe bags or containers, maintaining quality for up to 4 months with airtight packaging.
• Reheat with Care: Warm refrigerated turkey gently at 165°F, using oven or microwave methods to prevent drying out and preserve delicious truffle butter flavor.

Elegant Roast Turkey With Truffle Butter Recipe

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4.5 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s roast turkey with truffle butter delivers a luxurious holiday centerpiece that elevates traditional thanksgiving fare. Home cooks can master this elegant main course with simple techniques and premium ingredients.

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Ingredients

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• 1 (12- to 14-pound / 5.4- to 6.4-kilogram) fresh kosher turkey, giblets removed
• 3 oz / 85 g white truffle butter, at room temperature
• 1 large yellow onion, unpeeled and cut into 8 wedges
• 1 whole head of garlic, unpeeled and cut in half crosswise
• 1 large bunch of fresh thyme
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Good olive oil

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Position rack in the oven at 160°C fan / 325°F. Pat turkey dry with paper towels, placing breast side up on a roasting rack within a shallow pan.
2. Truffle Butter Application: Gently separate skin from breast meat using fingertips. Massage softened truffle butter underneath the skin, creating an even layer across the breast area. Distribute generously to ensure complete coverage.
3. Cavity Seasoning: Liberally season turkey’s interior with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with quartered onions, halved garlic cloves, and half of the thyme sprigs, infusing aromatic flavors throughout the meat.
4. Trussing and Exterior Seasoning: Bind turkey legs with kitchen twine, securing wings and body to maintain a compact shape. Brush entire surface with olive oil, then sprinkle salt, pepper, and remaining thyme leaves for enhanced flavor profile.
5. Roasting Process: Cook turkey for 2½–3 hours, monitoring internal temperature until breast reaches 71°C / 160°F. Midway through roasting, loosely cover breast with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning while maintaining moisture.
6. Resting Phase: Remove turkey from oven and tent completely with aluminum foil. Allow meat to rest 15–20 minutes, enabling juice redistribution and ensuring maximum tenderness and succulence.
7. Serving: Carve turkey into precise, elegant slices. Drizzle pan juices over the meat to amplify flavor complexity and create a sumptuous presentation.

Notes

• Truss with Care: Properly binding the turkey’s legs and wings ensures even cooking and helps maintain a compact shape, preventing dry or undercooked areas.
• Butter Technique: Gently separate skin from breast meat without tearing, creating a delicate channel for truffle butter that guarantees moisture and rich flavor throughout the meat.
• Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to hit the exact 71°C / 160°F internal temperature, which guarantees food safety without overcooking the delicate turkey meat.
• Resting Magic: Allowing the turkey to rest under foil for 15-20 minutes after cooking helps redistribute juices, resulting in incredibly tender and succulent meat that’s not dry or tough.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 1 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg