Cowboy Butter for holiday Turkey

For decades, whenever the holidays approach, turkey often takes center stage on the menu and grabs the attention at the tables. Turkey is mostly served on occasions, and it’s also a good option for the Thanksgiving menu for generations. Cowboy butter for holiday turkey is an iconic bird that can be prepared in various ways, including fried, roasted, or smoked. There are so many ways to make holiday turkey, but today we will discuss the most delicious one: Cowboy butter holiday turkey.

A spatchcock turkey, combined with the best herbs and spices, butter mix called cowboy butter, is just perfect for any festive occasion, whether it’s a cozy Christmas dinner or a Thanksgiving feast. This blend of compound butter, paired with turkey, can truly be a star dish at your table.

Cowboy Butter recipe

We need to make the cowboy butter recipe prior; it takes a bit of time to completely merge the flavours of garlic and herbs into the butter, so I prefer you to make the butter first, then go for the turkey.

Ingredients or essentials:

For Cowboy Butter:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted compound butter, softened

5 garlic cloves, minced

2 tbsp Dijon mustard or mustard powder

2 tbsp Lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest

2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

1 tbsp chives, chopped

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp red pepper flakes

½ tsp black pepper

Kosher salt, as per your taste

For this cowboy butter recipe, you need a bowl to combine softened butter with garlic, lemon juice and lemon zest, Dijon mustard, (if you dont have dijon mustard you can also use mustard powders but I would prefer dijon mustard for perfection as the mustard powder is not a fresh form) herbs, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Generously mix up all of them until well combined. Dijon mustard and lemon juice add the sour flavour to butter and make it mouthwatering.

As it’s a compound, it can be frozen as well in a freezer-safe container, but if you want to use it immediately, set it aside for an hour at room temperature.

Making of Holiday Turkey with Cowboy Butter

I got the best, and perfect recipe to create the most flavorful cowboy butter holiday turkey you can ever serve on your holiday table. This transformation for making holiday turkey can really make you fall in love with the dish.

As always, I have brought a tried and tested perfect recipe for you all, but before knowing the complete process, let’s break down what a spatchcock turkey is. It is the same bird, but with its backbone removed so that it can be flattened easily. It also takes less time to cook compared to the other one.

How to perfectly apply the Cowboy Butter

Be very careful while removing the skin over the breast and thighs. Use your fingers to remove the skin so that this can be done properly. You can wear gloves while doing this, as it’s safe and a clean option.

Properly rub generous amounts of cowboy butter under the skin directly onto the meat. This process ensures flavours penetrate deeply into the turkey. For crispier and golden-looking skin, apply some more butter sauce over the skin. You can also drizzle some olive oil or lemon zest for the crisp and flavour to get a flavour-bursting cowboy butter holiday turkey.

Roast or smoke the cowboy butter for holiday Turkey

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) or smoker to 225°F to 250°F. Keep on checking the internal temperature.Refer to safe cooking temperature guidelines

Place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting pan. Or for smoking, set up the smoker with wood chips and a roasting pan with a turkey with the breast breast-side up. Make sure to leave some space for the Smoke to circulate.

You will have to roast the turkey according to its weight. Generally, it takes 15 minutes per pound. But if you are smoking, Smoke for 3-4 hours, checking the internal temperature—165°F. 

Baste the turkey with melted cowboy herb butter every 45 minutes to gain the maximum flavour of the butter. But you cant do that process while smoking it.

To check if it is completely done, use a meat thermometer: 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the breast. But if you are smoking, do not unwrap the turkey.

How to serve the delicious turkey

Once cooked, tent the turkey with foil and let it rest for at least 20–30 minutes. This redistributes juices.

Carve and serve with extra melted cowboy butter on the side for dipping or drizzling, or any other homemade gravy.

Side dishes to pair with cowboy butter turkey

Cowboy butter holiday turkey deserves side dishes that can cut through its richness. Here are some celebratory matches:

• Mashed garlic potatoes or baked potatoes with red pepper flakes
• Cornbread stuffing
• Dinner rolls
• Lemon zest and Grilled Asparagus
• Cranberry sauce
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Yukon gold potatoes

All of them can be equally enjoyable with cowboy butter holiday turkey; it just depends on how precisely you use each of them to enhance the taste.

Why cowboy butter is perfect for turkey

Turkey, much as it’s loved, is notorious for being a bit dry. Its lean flesh, particularly the breast, tends to require assistance in remaining moist and juicy. The rich, buttery base of cowboy butter helps restore juiciness and adds moisture. This herb butter blend plays both roles perfectly if it’s about enhancing the flavours or balancing the texture of turkey. When the herby and garlicky layers of flavours meet with the turkey meat, it creates an everlasting, tasty experience of cowboy butter holiday turkey you can’t resist.

They make a perfect nutritional meal together as the turkey has high protein, and the butter sauce is full of healthy fats, and herbs are the best antioxidants. Cowboy butter holiday turkey can be a complete balance dish without being too heavy.

Turkey broth

There are multiple ways to use turkey broth, and you can easily make it with simmering turkey bones, meat, and vegetables, resulting in a flavourful soup stock. Turkey broth is basically a basting liquid extracted from the turkey bones. This can be used in making stews and gravies or some kind of soups as well.

Pro Tips for Success

• Room Temperature Butter: Always begin with softened butter to mix and spread with ease.
• Don’t Overdo Salt: Cowboy butter is seasoned, so balance salt in the turkey separately.
• Use a Thermometer: Avoid overcooked turkey by checking internal temperatures.
• Make Ahead: Cowboy butter can be made up to 5 days in advance and refrigerated.
• Double the Batch: You’ll want extra cowboy butter for dipping sauce and vegetables at the table.

The dishes that our grandparents used to make on special occasions are not just the food; they are an entire blast of memories. Recalling all the moments while having the same taste is an unexplainable feeling. Holiday cowboy turkey is not just a dish; it’s an experience of joy that we often feel on occasions, with a new addition.

FAQs

1. Can I apply cowboy butter to a smoked turkey?

Definitely! Cowboy butter pairs excellently with smoky flavours—brush near the finish of smoking so you don’t scorch it.

2. May I fill the turkey with cowboy butter?

While you shouldn’t use butter to fill the cavity, adding a spoonful for flavour is ideal.

3.Will cowboy butter be good in turkey gravy?

Yes! Whisk in a spoonful of the pan drippings for a decadent gravy. Using lemon zest can also enhance the flavour.

4. Will cowboy butter leave the turkey greasy?

Not if properly balanced, it enhances juiciness without overpowering the cowboy butter holiday.

5. Can I use cowboy butter on turkey breasts alone?

Absolutely! It’s great on smaller pieces if you’re not roasting a whole bird, and it’s most popular in the American West.

6. What is dry brine?

Dry brine is a procedure for pre-settling the food, especially if you are making roasted chicken or any other grilled steak or meat.