Pavo Navideño (Mexican Christmas Turkey) 🦃 is a juicy, flavorful turkey made with garlic, herbs, spices, and a savory compound butter. The butter is rubbed under the skin and all over the turkey, giving the meat plenty of flavor. It’s a delicious centerpiece for a Mexican Christmas dinner!
Looking for a spicier turkey? Try Pavo Pibil!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️
- Full of flavor: Garlic, cumin, oregano, rosemary, parsley, and cilantro give this turkey plenty of flavor without overpowering it.
- Juicy turkey: The compound butter goes underneath the skin, keeping the meat flavorful and moist as it roasts.
- Easy to prepare: Once the turkey is buttered and seasoned, the oven does most of the work.
- Perfect for Christmas: Pavo Navideño makes a beautiful centerpiece for your Mexican Christmas dinner.
- Great leftovers: Save the leftover turkey for tacos, enchiladas, or my Turkey Mole.
-Maggie
🦃 Ingredients
- Turkey
- Butter (3 sticks total)
- Garlic
- Onion
- Salt
- Pepper
- Ground Cumin
- Ground Oregano
- Rosemary
- Parsley
- Cilantro
How much turkey do you need?
I suggest planning for 1 to 1 ½ pounds of turkey per person. That is, if you have 10 people coming, get a 10 to 15 pound turkey. This will also ensure that you have plenty of leftovers!
👩🏼🍳 Instructions
- Remove the giblets and neck from inside the turkey.
- Rinse the turkey well. Then pat dry the skin with a paper towel.
- Place the turkey on a roasting pan on top of a rack.
- Take softened butter and mix with spices to create the compound butter.
I like to make the compound butter days ahead of time. It saves time and can be done up to 2 weeks ahead. It also works great on chicken and adds so much flavor to the turkey.
- Gently peel the skin above the turkey breast and thighs. Do not remove completely.
- Add spoonfuls of compound butter in between the meat and skin.
- Stuff the cavity of the turkey with onion, garlic cloves, parsley, rosemary, and cilantro.
- Take more softened butter and smear it all over the outside skin of the turkey.
- Tuck the wings underneath the turkey. Tie the legs with a cooking string.
Once you have buttered all over the turkey, season well with salt and black pepper for the best flavor. Then place the roasting dish in a 325 degrees F oven.
⏰ How long to Cook a Turkey
How long to roast a turkey depends on how much it weighs and whether it was stuffed or unstuffed.
- Unstuffed Turkey: 13 minutes per pound
- Stuffed Turkey: 15 minutes per pound
For a stuffed turkey cooked at 325 degrees F:
- 4 to 8 pounds: 1 to 2 hours
- 8 to 10 pounds: 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes
- 12 to 14 pounds: 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes
- 14 to 16 pounds: 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours
- 16 to 18 pounds: 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours
- 20 to 24 pounds: 5 to 6 hours
Allow the turkey to rest in the baking dish for 30 minutes before carving. Cover with aluminum foil to keep it warm.
🌡️ At What Temperature Is Turkey Done?
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part of the breast and thigh. Be sure to avoid the bone.
- The turkey is done when it reaches 165°F.
🙋🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
Pavo Navideño is Mexican Christmas turkey. It’s a whole roasted turkey seasoned with garlic, herbs, spices, and butter. This version uses a compound butter rubbed underneath the skin and over the outside of the turkey for a flavorful, juicy roast.
Yes. The compound butter can be prepared up to 2 weeks ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Let it soften before using it on the turkey.
Plan on about 1 to 1½ pounds of turkey per person. Buying a little extra also means you’ll have plenty of leftovers for another meal.
Allow about 24 hours of refrigerator thawing time for every 5 pounds of turkey. For example, a 10-pound turkey will need about 2 days, while a 15-pound turkey will need about 3 days. For faster thawing, place the turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes.
Absolutely. While Pavo Navideño means Mexican Christmas turkey, this roast turkey is delicious for Thanksgiving or any holiday meal when you want something a little different.
Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the turkey. The breast should reach 170°F, the thigh 180°F, and the stuffing 165°F.
🫙 Storing Instructions
Save the bones to make Homemade Turkey Stock and the pan juices to make a gravy. Store any leftover meat in an airtight container or plastic bag, remove as much air as possible, and place in the fridge for up to 4 days. Or place the leftover roast turkey in the freezer for up to 4 months.
🔥 Reheating Instructions
Thaw in the fridge, if frozen, then place in the microwave for 3 to 3 ½ minutes on high. Or place in a skillet, heat oil and add turkey meat. Stir occasionally while it heats up, about 2 ½ to 3 minutes.
🍴 Sides
- Mexican Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes
- Mexican Brussels Sprouts
- Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
- Mexican Mac and Cheese
This Pavo Navideño (Mexican Christmas Turkey) 🦃 🎄 is a flavorful and easy way to put a Mexican twist on your holiday dinner. The herb compound butter helps create beautifully golden skin. Serve it with your favorite holiday sides and save the leftovers for another day.
Ingredients
- 14 lbs Turkey (see below for other sizes)
For Compound Butter:
- 2 sticks Butter (for compound butter)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cumin
- ½ teaspoon Ground Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Rosemary finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon Parsley finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon Cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
To Make Compound Butter:
- Mix softened butter with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, rosemary, parsley, and cilantro.
- Set aside until ready to use.
For the Turkey:
- Remove the giblets and neck from inside the turkey.
- Rinse the turkey well. Then pat dry the skin with a paper towel.
- Lift the skin gently above the turkey breasts and thighs. Do not remove completely.
- You're creating a hole to add the compound butter.
- Add spoonfuls of compound butter in between the meat and skin.
- Stuff the cavity of the turkey with onion, garlic, parsley, rosemary, and cilantro.
- Take more softened butter (not compound butter) and smear it all over the outside skin of the turkey.
- Season the skin with salt and pepper.
- Tuck the wings underneath the turkey. Tie the legs with a cooking string.
How To Cook A Turkey:
- Cooking time depends on whether it is stuffed or unstuffed.
- Unstuffed Turkey: 13 minutes per pound. Stuffed Turkey: 15 minutes per pound
- We're working with a 14 pound turkey. (See below for more cooking times).
- For a stuffed turkey cooked at 325 degrees F:
- 14 to 16 pounds: 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours
- The thermometer in the thigh should read 180 degrees F. In the breast, 170 degrees F. In the stuffing, 165 degrees F.
- Allow the turkey to rest for 30 minutes before carving.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- 4 to 8 pounds: 1 to 2 hours
- 8 to 10 pounds: 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes
- 12 to 14 pounds: 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes
- 14 to 16 pounds: 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours
- 16 to 18 pounds: 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours
- 20 to 24 pounds: 5 to 6 hours
Leave a Reply