How to Marinate a Turkey for Thanksgiving: A Simple Guide

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning your holiday menu. The centerpiece of any Thanksgiving meal is, of course, the turkey. While roasted and deep-fried turkeys are delicious, this year I recommend trying something new – a marinated turkey!

Marinating is one of the easiest ways to infuse flavor and moisture into the turkey. It also helps tenderize the meat prevents drying out and adds tons of extra taste. You’ll be amazed at how a simple marinade can transform your Thanksgiving turkey into a juicy, mouthwatering masterpiece.

In this article I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to marinate a turkey for Thanksgiving. Let’s get started!

Why Marinate Your Turkey?

Here are some of the benefits of marinating your Thanksgiving turkey:

• Adds moisture – The marinade helps keep the turkey tender and juicy as it cooks.

• Infuses flavor – With a marinade, you can give your turkey any flavor profile you want – herbaceous, citrusy, spicy, savory, etc.

• Tenderizes the meat – Marinades contain acids that help break down tough muscle fibers.

• Prevents drying out – The added moisture from the marinade helps prevent the turkey meat from drying out.

• Easy to make – Marinades are simple to whip up with ingredients you likely have on hand.

• Adds color – Certain ingredients like spices and herbs give the turkey skin a beautiful golden color.

• Enhances browning – The sugars and acids in the marinade increase browning through caramelization and Maillard reactions.

How Long to Marinate a Turkey

For best results, you’ll want to marinate your turkey for at least 8 hours, and up to 48 hours. The longer your turkey can soak up all those flavors, the better.

Ideally, you’ll want to plan ahead and get your turkey in the marinade 1-2 days before cooking. If you’re short on time though, you can get away with an 8 hour marinade.

Ingredients for Turkey Marinade

Turkey marinades often include a combination of:

• Acid – lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, vinegar

• Oil – olive oil, vegetable oil, avocado oil

• Seasonings – garlic, onions, shallots, ginger, herbs, spices, soy sauce, mustard

• Sweetener – honey, maple syrup, brown sugar

You can get as creative as you want with your marinade ingredients! Try using fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage. Citrus juices and zest add brightness. Spices like chili powder, cumin and paprika lend flavor. Garlic, onion and ginger provide an aromatic backbone.

Simple Turkey Marinade Recipes

Here are a few easy marinade recipes you can use for your Thanksgiving turkey:

Herb-Citrus Marinade

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
• 2 tsp chopped fresh sage
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cider-Apple Marinade

• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Cranberry-Ginger Marinade

• 3/4 cup cranberry juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper

Mediterranean Marinade

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsp dried basil
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

How to Marinate a Turkey for Thanksgiving

Follow these simple steps for marinating turkey:

1. Make the marinade – Whisk together your desired ingredients in a small bowl.

2. Place turkey in large bag – Seal the raw turkey inside a large plastic bag or container.

3. Pour marinade over turkey – Reserve some marinade for basting later.

4. Seal bag & massage marinade – Remove air, seal the bag, and gently massage to evenly coat.

5. Refrigerate – Marinate turkey for 8-48 hours, flipping occasionally.

6. Remove turkey and pat dry – Discard excess marinade.

7. Cook as desired – Roast, deep fry, grill, etc. Baste with reserved marinade.

That’s all there is to it! For more detailed recipes, check out these Juicy Turkey Marinade and Grilled Marinated Turkey guides.