Are you looking for a way to make your turkey extra special this year? Look no further! This fresh herb compound butter recipe will take your standard roasted turkey to the next level. It’s simple, delicious, and sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Best of all, it only takes five minutes to prepare! What are you waiting for? Get in the kitchen and start cooking!

Forget the store-bought stuff! Compound butter is so easy to make, and it’s a great way to add flavor without making it too complicated. This herbed compound butter is perfect for holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas because it goes well with turkey, but also works great on steak, pork, chicken – really any dish that needs some added richness. It’s incredibly simple to whip up in just five minutes flat! The hardest part will be deciding what herb you want to use. We’ve got suggestions below if you need them!
Best Herbs for Turkey
Did you know that there are three herbs that best complement a turkey? In fact, our local market sells little herb kits for roasting a turkey and each of these is included. Each Thanksgiving, we purchase these fresh herbs and chop them up to sprinkle over our buttered and seasoned turkey. This year, I decided that I would make two batches of garlic herb compound butter for my turkey. This butter is super easy to whip up and will take your turkey to the next level of flavor.
Rosemary – Rosemary is a piney herb that can be used to add flavor to your food. The needle-like leaves are typically removed from the stem, chopped, and sprinkled over grilled foods, baked dishes, or eaten raw.
Sage – Sage is a herb that comes from the genus of Salvia. But not just any old kind! This particular sage has leaves with a light green color and an earthy scent. It’s perfect for making stuffing or adding to other dishes like soups and eggs. You can also use it in your culinary creations to add flavor!
Thyme – Thyme adds a savory, earthy flavor to dishes. It pairs well with chicken and is often used in stuffing. Thyme is also known for its antioxidants that fight free radicals, which can cause cancer and other health issues.
What is Compound Butter?
Compound butter is simply softened butter mixed with other ingredients like spices to make an exciting condiment for breads, meats, or vegetables. There are endless possibilities for these butters because they can be infused with any flavor imaginable! No wonder this simple concoction has been served to kings and queens throughout history!
Best Compound Butter for Turkey
This Thanksgiving, give your turkey a buttery upgrade with this fresh herb compound butter. The best thing about this recipe is that it’s so versatile! You can use any herbs you like (but we think this compound works best) and throw in some pepper to make the perfect flavor for your tastes. Whether you’re making a turkey or classic stuffing, try starting off with this delicious recipe!
- Sage
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Garlic – optional, but amplifies this so much! If you’re using this for stuffing, skip.
- Black Pepper
- Salted Butter
How to Soften Butter
The best way to soften butter is to leave your butter out for about thirty minutes before using it so that it becomes room temperature.
If you forget to leave the butter out then place the stick on a microwavable plate and heat for fifteen seconds at a time. You can test if it is soft enough by pressing down on the stick. It should be soft to the touch.
How to Make Compound Butter
Making compound butter is super easy! You just need a cutting board, knife, garlic press, a mixing bowl, parchment paper, and baker’s twine.
- Chop herbs into tiny pieces.
- Mix together softened, salted butter and pepper until well combined.
- Mix with a wooden spoon until combined.
- Divide the butter into two (if desired), and place it in the center of a piece of parchment paper.
- Form the butter into a roll, and tie off the ends with baking twine.
- Refrigerate.
Please note, if you are making this for your turkey, slather half of it directly on your turkey while soft. Be sure to coat all surfaces as well as the inner cavity of the turkey. This will provide maximum flavor and added moisture. If you are looking to brush this on your turkey after it has solidified, microwave it until it is soft-textured, but not melted (about 30 seconds.)
Ways to Use Compound Butter
Compound butter is a great addition to your cooking arsenal. It’s easy to make, lasts for weeks in the refrigerator or freezer, and can be used as an accompaniment for any meal. Here are just a few ways you can use compound butter!
Corn on the Cob – Rub over warm, freshly steamed, or grilled corn.
Use it on toast – Spread some on top of crunchy sourdough toast with fresh jam or honey for breakfast; sprinkle crumbled
Meats – Besides turkey, this recipe is perfect for pork, freshly grilled steaks, roasts, or even chicken!
Stuffing – All good stuffing requires the use of butter. Consider swapping your traditional salted or unsalted butter for this flavor infusion.
Muffins – This butter was sooo good when I served it over freshly-baked corn muffins.
Vegetables – Want to add more flavor to steamed carrots, broccoli, acorn squash, or even baked potatoes? This compound butter is exactly what you need to add to your ingredients arsenal.
Fresh Herb Compound Butter
Equipment
- cutting board & knife
- large mixing bowl
- garlic press
- wooden spoon
- parchment paper & twine
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- 6 cloves garlic pressed, optional
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme chopped
- 2 teaspoon fresh sage chopped
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add softened butter, herbs, and spices to a large bowl. Using a wooden spoon, mix to combine until butter is fluffy and everything is integrated.
- Divide butter into two portions, and wrap each. I added mine to the center of a piece of parchment paper and rolled the paper around. I then formed the butter into a tube shape. I tied off each end with baker's twine. Store in the fridge or freeze. If you freeze, add the rolled parchment to a small bag to protect the flavor of the butter.
Hi
Would this recipe be enough to cover a 15 lb turkey using it Uber the skin and over the turkey?
Thank you
Yes, it should be enough for a 15 lb. turkey. Melt it just enough to soften it and then brush it on.