Look no further for the BEST turkey seasoning recipe you will ever make! The combination of herbs and spices in this rub will flavor your turkey to perfection and it will be your go-to turkey rub.
All the classic herbs and spices of Thanksgiving dinner are packed into one perfect blend for your bird! Your turkey will take on the most amazing flavors. I love adding flavorful seasonings to make any meat or poultry taste incredible. Try this baked chicken, this delicious chicken recipe, or my favorite air fryer pork chops for tasty seasoned meat.
This turkey rub is a combination of aromatic dried herbs and savory spices. I love the blend of thyme, rosemary, and sage because they are all meant to be together on a turkey. There is just something about their complementary flavors that make Thanksgiving turkey magic!
Rubbing these flavors into your turkey will guarantee the tastiest bird your guests will ever have. I guarantee that you will always be asked to be in charge of the turkey after everyone tastes this dry rub. And if you’re asked to be in charge of the turkey, you can make the meal complete with my Grandma’s stuffing, my Dad’s potatoes, and these easy 1-hour rolls!
The best part about this turkey seasoning rub is that you most likely have all the herbs in your cupboard! These delicious herbs and spices are the perfect combination to enhance the flavors of your turkey. You will LOVE the taste of your turkey and this will be your go-to rub recipe for every turkey you cook.
The centerpiece of many Thanksgiving meals is a golden brown turkey, roasted to perfection. But let’s be honest – turkey can easily end up dry and bland without the right seasoning. If you want your holiday bird to really shine, learning how to add flavor is key.
A flavorful turkey requires more than just throwing on some salt and pepper. With the right combination of seasoning techniques you can take your turkey from dull to delicious. Here are some of the best ways to add tons of flavor to your Thanksgiving centerpiece
Get Under the Skin
Seasoning a raw turkey on the outside alone won’t deliver much flavor. To really get that seasoning into the meat, you need to get under the skin.
Carefully loosen the skin from the breast and thighs with your fingers Then rub the seasoning directly onto the meat under the skin This puts the seasoning in direct contact with the turkey for the best flavor infusion.
Sea salt, cracked pepper, fresh thyme, rosemary, sage and oregano all work beautifully with turkey. You can also use Cajun seasoning or a store-bought poultry blend for a more complex flavor profile.
Give it a massage
Once you’ve seasoned under the skin, rub the outside of the skin all over to evenly distribute the seasoning. Gently massaging the seasoning into the skin helps it really soak in for tons of flavor.
Don’t be shy – get your hands right on the skin and work that seasoning in with your fingers. The turkey can handle the massage!
Brine it
Soaking the raw turkey in a saltwater brine before roasting infuses it with moisture and seasoning. The salt in the brine tenderizes the meat while adding flavor throughout.
Make a simple brine with water, salt, sugar or honey, and aromatics like peppercorns, citrus, herbs, and spices. Submerge the turkey and let it soak overnight or up to 2 days. The seasoned moisture permeates deep into the meat.
Stuff the cavity
The cavity of a turkey is prime real estate for adding flavor. Stuff it with aromatics like onions, garlic, lemons, herbs, and spices. As the turkey roasts, these ingredients impart their essences into the meat from the inside out.
Fresh herbs, citrus wedges, chopped onion and garlic, whole peppercorns, etc. all add great flavor when stuffed inside the turkey. Stuff to your heart’s content for an extra flavor boost.
Slather in butter
Coating the turkey in flavored butter before roasting adds richness while also helping create crispy skin. For even more flavor impact, slip butter chunks under the skin along with the seasoning.
Whip up a compound butter by mixing fresh herbs, citrus zest, roasted garlic, spices, or honey into softened butter. Get creative with your favorite flavors!
Lacquer it with a glaze
Brushing on a sweet, sticky glaze in the last 30 minutes of roasting adds a hit of bright flavor and color to your turkey. The sugars in the glaze caramelize to give you crispy, candied skin as well.
Whip up a glaze using preserves, honey, maple syrup, citrus juice, balsamic or fruit liqueurs. Apply 2-3 coats while turkey roasts for maximum glazing.
Infuse it with broth
For the juiciest, most flavorful meat, submerge the cooked turkey in an aromatic broth as it rests before carving. The turkey will soak up all that delicious broth flavor into the meat.
Simmer turkey drippings with fresh herbs, spices, citrus, onions, or garlic to create your flavorful broth. Let turkey soak for at least 30 minutes for best results.
Inject flavor
Using an injection syringe, you can pump extra flavor directly into the deepest parts of the turkey meat. Homemade broth, melted butter, herbs, citrus, and more season from the inside out.
Inject into a few areas of the breast, thighs, and legs for the best coverage. Be careful not to over-inject, or the turkey skin may split.
Layer on rich gravy
A flavorful gravy made from the aromatic turkey drippings provides the perfect crowning touch. Add extras like sautéed mushrooms or onions, fresh herbs, spices, wine or brandy to build even more flavor.
Make sure to scrape up all the flavorful browned bits from the roasting pan. Simmer with stock and seasonings for a robust, full-bodied gravy.
Add a flavorful side
Don’t forget the impact of sauces and condiments served alongside the turkey! Cranberry sauce, chutneys, salsas, compound butters, and vinaigrettes all add extra layers of flavor.
Serving your turkey with boldly-seasoned sides provides even more opportunity to jazz up the flavor.
There are so many possibilities when figuring out how to make your Thanksgiving turkey insanely delicious. Getting creative with seasonings, rubs, aromatics, broths, fats, and glazes allows you to build spectacular flavors throughout the entire bird.
Focus on seasoning under the skin, inside the cavity, and all over for the biggest flavor impact. With these turkey seasoning techniques, your holiday centerpiece will be far from bland!
How To Store Turkey Seasoning
This homemade turkey rub is a custom blend of seasonings for your Thanksgiving turkey. Once you make this at home and see how delicious it is, you will never buy turkey seasoning at the store again! Homemade seasonings are the best because the herbs are fresher and you can customize the flavors.
- In a Sealed Container: Once you have mixed your ingredients together then store the seasoning in an airtight container. Keep in a cool, dark place then store for up to 2 months.
How to Make the Best Seasoning For Turkey
Making this turkey seasoning is the easiest part of your Thanksgiving dinner! It only takes 5 minutes to put it together, and you will love how fast it is. The best part is that you can make this dry rub ahead of time because it will be ready to go when you need it. Anything that you can make before Thanksgiving day is a win in my book!
- Combine Ingredients: Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Rub: Rub the entire seasoning mix all over a 10-13 pound turkey making sure to get the top and bottom. Then cook your seasoned turkey according to your recipe.
- Store: If you aren’t using it right away, store it in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
Homemade seasonings are my very favorite because you have complete control over your end result! You can change up the heat level, add additional flavor, or even double the recipe so that you always have some on hand. Here are a few ideas on how to change things up with this turkey seasoning.
- Make Ahead: I like to make this turkey rub a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving so that it’s ready to go! It’s great to make a big batch of seasoning because you have it on hand anytime you need to season poultry, meat, or fish.
- How Much Seasoning To Use: This recipe makes about 1/3 cup and is good to rub over an entire 10-14 pound turkey.
- Use Dried Herbs, Not Fresh: Dried herbs in your spice rack have a much longer shelf life than using fresh herbs. Fresh herbs tend to have a higher moisture content and can lead to spoiling and growing mold early on.
- Less salt: If you find it a tad too salty, then reduce the salt a little bit at a time. Kosher salt is best because you can control the salt flavor better than table salt.
- Make it Spicy: Add some spice to your seasoning with a little cayenne pepper or chili powder.
- Make it a Little Sweet: Try adding 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the rub. It adds a touch of sweetness and caramelizes a bit.
How to: Add more Flavor to your Roasted Turkey
FAQ
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