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You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dish / Turkey / Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey

Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey

Published October 13, 2020 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

2 images of turkey separated with text overlay
A roasted turkey with text overlay
2 images of turkey separated with text overlay

Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey is a simple, beautiful and delicious recipe for Thanksgiving. Savory, fresh rosemary and sweet apricot create the perfect glaze for turkey.

Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey with Fresh Rosemary on a White Serving Plate

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Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year, along with Christmas. Everything is always just so warm, comforting, and beautiful. I’m not just talking about the food. The whole ambiance of this time of year is so wonderful.

My go-to for turkey is usually a simple herbed turkey, but since I make Turkey Cutlets with Rosemary and Thyme all throughout the year, I like to switch things up a bit for my Thanksgiving turkey.

Apricot is one of my favorite fruits to pair with turkey, and fresh rosemary is the perfect herb to compliment the sweet glaze. You won’t believe how easy this beautiful Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey is to make!

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe is very easy and only requires 2 ingredients for the glaze.

The combination of apricot and rosemary give turkey a delicious sweet and savory flavor.

It’s a beautiful main dish to serve during holidays and family gatherings. It’s especially perfect for Thanksgiving.

How to Make Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey

Ingredients

For this recipe you only need the turkey, butter, salt, pepper, apricot preserves, and rosemary.

Chef’s Tip: Fresh rosemary works best in this recipe however, dried can be substituted.

The entire recipe and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.

Prep!

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Create!

Raw Turkey on a Baking Sheet

Place turkey in a roasting pan or on a rack over a pan and pat dry with paper towels.

Brush the melted butter all over the turkey and season with salt and pepper.

Cover and transfer the turkey to the oven. Roast as directed on the package up until the last half hour or so.

Typically you would roast for 15 minutes per pound if your turkey is unstuffed. If your turkey is stuffed, roast for 20 minutes per pound.

Rosemary Apricot Glaze in an Orange Wood Bowl with a Whisk

While the turkey is roasting, whisk together the apricot preserves and rosemary.

Rosemary Apricot Glaze being Brushed onto a Turkey Breast

When there is about a half hour left of cook time, uncover the turkey and brush on the glaze. Continue roasting until the turkey is done. If the turkey starts to brown before the cook time is up, cover with aluminum foil.

The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the center of the turkey, not touching any bone.

Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Present!

Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey Breast Slices on a Blue Plate with Broccoli and Sweet Potatoes

Garnish with addition fresh rosemary, if desired. Slice and serve.

Tips and Techniques

  • It is not recommended to rinse the turkey before patting dry with paper towels.
  • Roast 15 minutes per pound if unstuffed, and 20 minutes per pound if stuffed.
  • If your turkey starts to brown before the roasting time is up, cover it with aluminum foil.
  • The internal temperature needs to reach 165°F in the center of the turkey, not touching a bone.
  • Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes before carving – this allows the juices redistribute.
  • Double the recipe for a whole turkey.

FAQ’s

How Do You Keep Turkey Moist?

You can brine it overnight before roasting it to help lock in moisture. Some people prefer to add water to the bottom of the roasting pan and baste regularly.

Why Do You Put Butter On Turkey?

Rubbing turkey with butter or oil before roasting it will give you a beautiful, golden color and crisp the skin.

Do You Cook Turkey With The Lid On Or Off?

You should cover turkey while roasting it for the majority of the time. Uncover the turkey during the end of the roasting time to help brown the skin.

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Love this Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

If you try this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would please leave a comment and star rating. Thanks!

Close up of rosemary apricot glazed turkey
Print

Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey

Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey is a simple, beautiful and delicious recipe for Thanksgiving. Savory, fresh rosemary and sweet apricot create the perfect glaze for turkey.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Gluten Free, Turkey
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 275kcal
Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

  • 1 7 pound turkey breast
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/4 cups apricot preserves
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary plus more for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and melt the butter.
  • Place turkey in a roasting pan or on a rack over a pan and pat dry with paper towels.
  • Brush the melted butter all over the turkey and season with salt and pepper.
  • Cover and place the turkey in the oven and roast as directed on the package up until the last half hour or so.
  • Whisk together the apricot preserves and rosemary while the turkey is roasting and set aside.
  • When there is about a half hour left of cook time uncover the turkey and, brush on the glaze. Continue roasting.
  • The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the center of the turkey, not touching a bone.
  • Let the turkey rest at least 20 minutes before carving.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

  • It is not recommended to rinse the turkey before patting dry with paper towels.
  • Roast 15 minutes per pound if unstuffed, and 20 minutes per pound if stuffed.
  • If your turkey starts to brown before the roasting time is up, cover it with aluminum foil.
  • The internal temperature needs to reach 165°F in the center of the turkey, not touching a bone.
  • Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes before carving – this allows the juices redistribute.
  • Double the recipe for a whole turkey.
** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 367mg | Potassium: 356mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Calcium: 208mg | Iron: 0.2mg

This recipe was originally posted on October 2, 2018. It was updated with more thorough instructions, tips, techniques, FAQ’s and video in October 2020.

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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Main Dish, Recipes, Turkey

Comments

  1. Teresa says

    November 17, 2018 at 9:34 pm

    Should I brine sweet for this recipe or it doesn’t matter?

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      November 18, 2018 at 8:17 am

      Hi Teresa! I should have mentioned that the turkey breast that I used was already pre-brined (salt). So, if yours is not, then you can go ahead and brine it, either way, if you’d like.

      Reply
  2. Fay says

    November 15, 2018 at 8:24 am

    We are dark meat people, so we are basically doing a half turkey but the thighs/legs rather than the breast. Is there anything that may need adjusting, or is it pretty much the same? (This is my first Thanksgiving without the well intentioned micromanaging of my mother, so I just don’t want to botch it.)

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      November 15, 2018 at 8:32 am

      Haha! Totally understandable! I’m thinking that you can probably get away with the same measurements depending on the size, but it’s easy to double since you’ll likely have plenty of extra jam and rosemary anyway. The timing might be different, but the idea is to baste with the glaze with an hour or so left of cook time. I hope you love it!!

      Reply
  3. Punam's Indian recipe says

    November 13, 2018 at 10:44 am

    Didn’t found turkey so prepared this dish with chicken. It was delicious too.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      November 15, 2018 at 8:33 am

      Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply
  4. Adrianne says

    October 12, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    Hey Lauren! This looks delicious, you seriously nailed the brief on this one. I would want this on my thanksgiving table every year. The photo of the turkey up close has such beautiful light as well. TOP JOB!!

    Reply
  5. Valentina says

    October 12, 2018 at 10:31 pm

    Pretty sure this is most beautiful turkey ever! Seriously, the golden color, the flavors, all of it. This would be a lovely twist for Thanksgiving,

    Reply
  6. Caitlyn Erhardt says

    October 12, 2018 at 8:46 pm

    Wow this looks amazing! The coloring of the turkey skin is perfect! Amazing job!

    Reply
  7. Matt @ Plating Pixels says

    October 12, 2018 at 6:36 pm

    Yum! Love the fruit pairing and looks like a top contender for my Thanksgiving dinner.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      October 12, 2018 at 8:37 pm

      It’s so hard to choose for such a big day!

      Reply
  8. Ben Myhre says

    October 12, 2018 at 6:07 pm

    That glaze looks absolutely phenomenal and I love the idea of turkey and apricot. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      October 12, 2018 at 8:36 pm

      Thank you Ben 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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