This Cajun turkey injection recipe is so simple to make youll make it homemade from now on. Whether youre deep frying a whole turkey or baking a simple turkey breast this injection recipe will be your go-to for juicy meat.
Turkey naturally becomes a big deal around Thanksgiving holidays. Of course, everyone wants their Thanksgiving turkey to be perfect. If youre anything like me, its a feeling of everyone judging your turkey cooking skills… it has to be perfectly moist. No dry turkey here. With lots of flavor.
Injecting a turkey with a bold spicy Cajun marinade is a great way to infuse flavor and moisture into the meat. A homemade Cajun injection marinade takes your turkey to the next level for holidays game day, or anytime you want to serve up a juicy, flavor-packed bird.
Making your own Cajun injection marinade at home is easy. With just a few pantry staples you can whip up a customizable blend full of Louisiana flair. Follow these simple steps to learn how to make the perfect cajun injection that will wow your family and guests.
Choose Your Injector
First you’ll need an injector tool to infuse the cajun marinade into the turkey. You can find turkey injectors in most grocery stores or order one online. Select a wide gauge needle injector that can handle small bits of seasoning and herbs. Metal and plastic injectors both work well. Look for one with at least a 2-ounce capacity. Test it out with water first to get a feel for injecting.
Mix the Cajun Marinade
Making the cajun injection marinade only requires 10 minutes of prep time. You’ll combine oil, spices, seasonings, and acid to get maximum Louisiana flavor.
Here’s an overview of the key cajun injection ingredients:
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Oil – Use a neutral flavored oil like canola, vegetable or olive oil. The oil helps the marinade cover evenly.
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Spices – Cayenne, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and dried oregano or thyme. Adjust amounts to your desired spiciness.
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Seasonings – Cajun seasoning blend, seafood boil, or Creole seasoning. About 1-3 tablespoons imparts great flavor.
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Acid – Lemon juice or vinegar brightens the marinade. Use about 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
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Butter – Optional, but adds richness and moisture. Use 2-4 ounces melted.
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Liquid – Chicken or turkey broth, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce.
Combine the ingredients in a small saucepan and heat just until simmering. This helps the flavors meld. Let cool slightly before injecting into turkey.
Inject the Marinade
Once your cajun injection marinade is made, it’s time to infuse it into the turkey. Inject it at least 4-24 hours before cooking to let the flavors permeate.
Here are some tips for properly injecting:
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Inject thoroughly – Inject in multiple spots on breasts, thighs and legs using about 1-2 ounces marinade per pound of turkey. Go deep into the meat.
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Seal in flavor – Rub the outside of the turkey with butter, oil or more cajun seasoning. This seals the moisture.
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Refrigerate – Keep the injected turkey chilled until ready to cook. Let it rest overnight if possible.
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Pat dry – Blot turkey with paper towels before cooking to prevent hot oil splatter if frying.
Cook Your Turkey
An injected Cajun turkey can be fried, roasted, grilled, or smoked. Deep frying is popular for getting ultra crispy skin. Roast at 325°F to retain moisture and add broth to the pan. Grill over indirect heat or add soaked wood chips when smoking. Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F.
The cajun injection marinade flavors the turkey from the inside out. ItsCreole and Cajun spices, heat, and zest take ordinary turkey to extraordinary new levels. Enjoy your flavorful creation with classic Louisiana sides like dirty rice, cornbread, collard greens and sweet potato casserole.
Injection Marinade Recipes
Here are 3 tasty recipes to make your own custom cajun injection marinade at home:
Spicy Cajun Injection
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat until well blended. Inject into turkey and let marinate overnight before cooking.
Herbed Cajun Injection
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Simmer ingredients in a saucepan until fragrant. Let cool slightly before injecting into turkey. Cook turkey right away or let marinate up to 24 hours.
Butter Cajun Injection
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces melted butter
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. Slowly inject marinade into thawed turkey. Refrigerate 4-24 hours before cooking for maximum flavor.
Tips for Cajun Injected Turkey Success
Here are some helpful tips to get the most out of your cajun injected turkey:
- Choose a 12-15 pound turkey to allow more space for injecting marinade
- Inject slowly to prevent leakage or blowing out the skin
- Massage marinade over the skin for added moisture
- Use broth or pan juices for basting while cooking
- Check temperature often to avoid overcooking
- Let rest 20+ minutes before carving for juicy meat
- Slice across the grain of the breast meat
With the right injection marinade and proper technique, you’ll have the most mouthwatering cajun turkey ever. Impress your guests with your flavor-packed, spice-infused holiday bird.
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Recipe variations and substitute ideas
- Black Pepper – add for more spice flavor.
- Cayenne Pepper – although there is some of this in the Creole Seasoning if you want to up the heat – add some cayenne.
- Peanut Oil – instead of olive oil. Or Vegetable Oil.
- Apple Cider – instead of the lemon juice.
- Liquid Crab Boil – instead of the powdered version. Youll only need a little of this, its quite potent.
- Garlic Juice – Add a little of this for more garlic flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce – add a few tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce.
- Chicken Broth – try adding a cup of the chicken broth to this Cajun Turkey Injection sauce.
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Due to the simplicity of this recipe, not much is needed. You will need a small mixing bowl to mix the Cajun turkey injection marinade in. Then youll also need a cooking injector needle tool, I have a link to both of these in my recipe card below.
Groceries you’ll need: Ingredients
- Hot Sauce
- Lemon Juice
- Olive Oil
- Butter
- Ground Thyme
- Onion Powder
- Crab and shrimp boil Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Spicy Creole Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1: In a small mixing bowl, melt the butter. Add the olive oil, hot sauce and lemon juice.
- Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients and stir together well with a small whisk, if you have one. If not, a small fork will do fine.
- Step 3: Using a small injection tool (as its the best way) inject this marinade into the deepest part of your turkey at different angles.
- Step 4: Allow to sit at room temperature covered with aluminum foil for about an hour. Take any remaining marinade and inject back into the turkey (many times if you have to).
- Step 5: Cook per your recipe instructions.
Hint: If youre using frozen turkey make sure you let it thaw 100% in the refrigerator before starting to prepare. You will need to cook any cut of turkey until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
CAJUN TURKEY INJECTION MARINADE RECIPE
FAQ
What is the injection method for turkey?
Should I inject my turkey the night before?
When to inject turkey before frying?
How do you make a Cajun Turkey injection?
A delicious, flavorful Cajun Turkey Injection recipe that will spice up your turkey meat in the most perfect way. Take the melted butter and all the other ingredients and mix together in a small mixing bowl with a whisk. Using a large syringe inject into the turkey you wish to cook. Allow to marinade at room temperature for at least an hour.
What is a Cajun Turkey injection?
This simple Cajun turkey injection recipe combines flavorful Creole seasoning with rich melted butter and chicken stock to help add moisture and flavor to your turkey from the inside.
How do you use a Cajun Turkey injector?
A: To use a Cajun turkey injector recipe, you will first need to prepare the turkey. This involves removing the giblets and neck from the cavity, and rinsing the turkey inside and out. You will then need to make the marinade. To do this, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until well combined.
Can you inject Cajun brine into a Turkey?
By injecting a flavorful brine into the turkey, you can ensure that the meat is moist and flavorful all the way through. This is especially important for larger turkeys, which can dry out easily if not cooked properly. This recipe for Cajun injection is simple to follow and uses ingredients that you probably already have on hand.