Capture all the seasonal flavors with this Thanksgiving maple herb turkey. The seasoning rub is infused with flavors like maple, sage, and thyme – giving it a hint of sweet combined with the traditional seasonal flavors – it’s one of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes.
If you’re like me, you love the traditional flavors of the fall holiday season, like sage, thyme, and maple. The seasoning rub on this turkey captures all of those flavors beautifully, resulting in a delicious tasting bird that’s a bit different from your traditional Thanksgiving turkey. The seasonings also make for a deliciously flavored gravy if you use the drippings to make your own bone broth gravy.
Ingredients needed
For this Thanksgiving maple herb turkey, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 medium-sized whole turkey (about 13-16 pounds)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup – divided
- 1 Tbsp. salt
- 2 Tbsp. sage
- 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. ground black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. thyme
- 1 tsp. Cinnamon
How to cook your Thanksgiving maple herb turkey
- Preheat oven to the temperature recommended on the turkey packaging.
- Rinse completely thawed turkey, inside and out, and pat dry, inside and out. Place the turkey into a large roasting pan. Be sure that the turkey is sitting on a rack inside the roasting pan so that it is not directly sitting on the bottom of the pan. This will allow the juices to drip into the bottom of the pan for later use.
- Combine all dry seasonings in a small bowl, then add in 2 Tbsp. of pure maple syrup and stir to combine.
- Using your hands, begin rubbing the spice rub thoroughly over the entire turkey, including the body cavity, until well coated.
- Place the turkey into the oven and set the timer according to recommended cook time on the turkey packaging.
- At the 1-hour mark, melt the butter and completely brush the entire turkey body with the melted butter. Place back into the oven.
- At the 2-hour mark, completely brush the entire turkey body with 1/2 cup pure maple syrup.
- At the 3-hour mark, again brush the entire turkey body with melted butter.
- Let turkey finish cooking after that point. Near the end of the cooking time, place a meat thermometer in the breast (not touching any bones) and make sure the temperature is at the appropriate internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- When done, remove from oven and let rest before slicing and serving.
- Reserve the turkey drippings and juices for the bone broth gravy.
Recipe FAQs
Should you put water in turkey roasting pan?
No, there is no need to add additional water to your roasting pan. The turkey will produce its own juices as it cooks, which is also why it’s important to have the turkey sitting on top of a roasting rack inside the roasting pan.
Do I cover the turkey when I put it in the oven?
For this particular recipe, no, you do not need to cover the turkey while cooking.
Do you need a roasting pan for the turkey?
Not necessarily. You want to make sure the turkey can fit into a deep-sided oven-safe baking pan and can also sit up on a rack that will lift it off of the bottom of the pan. In the past, I have used canning lid rings with a 9×13 baking dish before I purchased my roasting pan.
Recommended kitchen tools for this recipe
Wanderlust and Wellness
- I recommend purchasing a good roasting pan with a rack for cooking your Thanksgiving turkey.
- Save your arm with an electric carving knife.
Complete your Thanksgiving menu with these additional recipes!
- Thanksgiving Maple Herb Turkey – a delicious Thanksgiving turkey with a maple-infused seasoning
- Orange Cranberry Relish – perfect relish for your Thanksgiving table
- Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad – fresh salad with all the seasonal fruit flavorings
- Orange Cranberry Bread Pudding – a delicious individual-sized dessert
- Honey Caramelized Brussel Sprouts – another sweet + savory vegetable side dish
- Sautéed Green Beans & Mushrooms – an easy one-pot vegetable side dish
- Maple Aioli – perfect for serving with sweet potatoes or poultry
- Maple Bacon Spice Cupcakes – with a delicious maple frosting and topped with candied bacon!
- Cranberry Caramel Baked Brie – feed your hungry guests this appetizer while they’re waiting for the main meal
- Sage, Fig, and Pancetta Stuffing – delicious flavors packed into this stuffing dish
- Maple Mustard Roasted Carrots – an elegant yet simple vegetable side dish
- Baked Elbow Macaroni and Cheese – a side dish loved by all ages
- Gluten-free Pecan Pie Tarts – Easy individual-sized dessert
Grab a copy of Gather – A Thanksgiving Cookbook to create a memorable holiday meal!
Thanksgiving Maple Herb Turkey
Thanksgiving Maple Herb Turkey
A savory + a hint of sweet Thanksgiving maple herb turkey. The seasonings in this recipe capture all your favorite seasonal flavors into one delicious rub.
Ingredients
- 1 medium-sized whole turkey (about 13-16 pounds)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup - divided
- 1 Tbsp. salt
- 2 Tbsp. sage
- 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. ground black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. thyme
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to the temperature recommended on the turkey packaging.
- Rinse completely thawed turkey, inside and out, and pat dry, inside and out. Place the turkey into a large roasting pan. Be sure that the turkey is sitting on a rack inside the roasting pan so that it is not directly sitting on the bottom of the pan. This will allow the juices to drip into the bottom of the pan for later use.
- Combine all dry seasonings in a small bowl, then add in 2 Tbsp. of pure maple syrup and stir to combine.
- Using your hands, begin rubbing the spice rub thoroughly over the entire turkey, including the body cavity, until well coated.
- Place the turkey into the oven and set the timer according to recommended cook time on the turkey packaging.
- At the 1-hour mark, melt the butter and completely brush the entire turkey body with the melted butter. Place back into the oven.
- At the 2-hour mark, completely brush the entire turkey body with 1/2 cup pure maple syrup.
- At the 3-hour mark, again brush the entire turkey body with melted butter.
- Let turkey finish cooking after that point. Near the end of the cooking time, place a meat thermometer in the breast (not touching any bones) and make sure the temperature is at the appropriate internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- When done, remove from oven and let rest before slicing and serving.
- Reserve the turkey drippings and juices for the bone broth gravy.
Notes
- If you do not have a roasting pan, you can use a 9x13 baking dish and set the turkey on something like canning jar lid rings.
- Estimate 1 pound of turkey per person
- Make sure your turkey thaws completely before cooking
- Nutritional Disclaimer
Jennifer is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Wanderlust and Wellness since 2016. She creates easy, approachable gluten-free recipes for the everyday home cook; because cooking gluten-free doesn’t mean food has to be complicated or tasteless.
Leave a Reply