What Spices to Put on Turkey Breast Before Cooking? The Ultimate Guide

Cooking up a juicy and flavorful turkey breast can seem like an intimidating task, but it doesn’t have to be with the right combination of spices! When seasoned properly, turkey breast can be elevated from bland and boring to absolutely mouthwatering.

As avid home cooks, we know that having a go-to turkey breast seasoning recipe can make this protein a simple, tasty and impressive option perfect for both weeknight dinners and holiday feasts. We’re sharing all of our tips and tricks for infusing your turkey breast with layers of flavorful spices.

Why Should You Season Turkey Breast?

Rubbing spices onto your raw turkey breast before cooking serves a few important purposes. First, seasoning provides essential flavor. Turkey breast meat is quite mild on its own, so spices are key for making it more exciting to eat. Second, the seasoning helps form a flavorful, crispy crust on the outside of the cooked meat. Finally, massaging spices into the turkey breast will tenderize it and keep it nice and juicy as it cooks.

When to Apply Spices to Turkey Breast

For best results, we recommend seasoning your raw turkey breast at least one hour before cooking. This gives time for the spices to properly penetrate into the meat. If you have the time, seasoning the night before and letting the turkey marinate in the fridge overnight is even better. However, even just 5-10 minutes of contact time with the spices will make a difference.

Tips for Picking Turkey Breast Spices

When compiling your own signature turkey breast seasoning, there are a few guiding principles to keep in mind:

• Go for classic holiday flavors: Ingredients like sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, garlic and onion are perfect for pairing with turkey. This combo just screams Thanksgiving!

• Add a touch of sweetness A small amount of brown sugar, maple syrup or honey will balance out the savory notes and promote increased browning

• Consider some heat: Spices like cayenne, red pepper flakes or paprika will provide a subtle kick. But go easy since turkey breast meat is delicate.

• Stick to powdered dried spices: Ground dried herbs and spices will adhere best to the turkey breast, rather than fresh ingredients.

• Use savory aromatics: Onion powder, garlic powder and paprika will make your turkey breast smell absolutely amazing!

• Finish with salt and pepper: Kosher salt and black pepper are essential for overall seasoning. Add them last so they don’t get absorbed into the meat.

Spice Combinations to Try

If going rogue with your own spice blend sounds intimidating, here are some of our favorite pre-mixed combinations that are sure to produce stellar results:

• Italian Seasoning: Oregano, basil, rosemary, sage, garlic, onion, thyme

• Herbes de Provence: Savory, fennel, basil, thyme, oregano, lavender

• Cajun Seasoning: Paprika, garlic, onion, black pepper, cayenne, thyme

• Moroccan Seasoning: Cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne, ginger

• Jamaican Jerk Seasoning: Thyme, allspice, chili powder, paprika, nutmeg

Wet Marinade vs. Dry Rub

You can certainly amp up the flavor even more by turning your collection of spices into a wet marinade. Simply combine your dry spice mix with oil, vinegar or citrus juice in a zip-top bag or baking dish along with the turkey breast. Let it soak for a few hours or overnight. The acidic marinade will tenderize the turkey breast meat resulting in even juicier results.

However, a simple dry rub applied right before cooking will still get the job done deliciously. We recommend reserving wet marinades for whole turkeys which have more time to soak it all up. A dry spice rub is quick, easy and perfect for thinly sliced turkey breast cutlets or fillets.

How Much Spice Blend Do You Need?

The amount of spice blend required depends on a few factors:

• Turkey breast size: Season to taste based on the surface area to be covered. A 6 pound breast may need up to 1/4 cup while a 1 pound breast may only need 1-2 tablespoons.

• How heavily spiced? Add more seasoning if you want very robust flavor or less for milder results.

• Wet or dry application? A wet marinade will need more spice mix since some will be absorbed by the liquid.

No matter what, you really can’t over-season since any excess will just fall into the bottom of the roasting pan. We encourage a generous coating of your favorite spice mix.

Should You Season Under the Skin?

Slipping some spices and herbs under the skin of the turkey breast is an excellent way to boost flavor. The skin helps hold them in place surrounding the meat with taste as it cooks. Go ahead and loosen the skin gently, then rub about half the seasoning directly onto the meat before draping the skin back over top. Sprinkle on another layer of spices onto the exposed skin.

Roast Your Spice-Rubbed Turkey Breast to Perfection

Once your turkey breast is properly seasoned, it’s time to get cooking! These quick tips will help you achieve the best possible results:

• Roast in a 300-375°F oven for approximately 20 minutes per pound until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

• For extra crispy skin, start at a higher temp for the first 20 minutes before dropping down.

• Baste periodically with the pan juices to prevent drying out.

• Allow the turkey breast to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing for juicy, tender meat.

• Make a flavorful gravy from the drippings – don’t let that seasoned goodness go to waste!

Let Your Imagination Run Wild with Seasonings

Turkey breast is so versatile when it comes to seasoning combinations. Whether you prefer sweet glazes, savory herb blends, spicy rubs or tangy marinades, the options are truly endless. We hope these tips help make your next turkey breast a huge success. Don’t be afraid to experiment with exciting new flavors!