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 star of the Thanksgiving table is undoubtedly the turkey. A beautifully bronzed juicy and flavorful turkey is what Thanksgiving dreams are made of. However, achieving turkey perfection is easier said than done. With the right techniques and ingredients you can take your turkey from bland and boring to irresistibly delicious. Here are 12 secrets to getting the most flavorful turkey possible this Thanksgiving.
Start With A Brine
Soaking your turkey in a saltwater brine before cooking infuses it with flavor and moisture. The salt in the brine seasons the meat while the water keeps it nice and juicy. Feel free to add aromatic herbs, spices and citrus to your brine for extra flavor. Let that baby soak overnight in the fridge for best results.
Season Under The Skin
Seasoning on top of the skin won’t penetrate into the meat Loosen the skin and rub the seasoning directly onto the flesh for maximum flavor impact Get up under the skin of the breast, thighs and even the drumsticks.
Stuff With Aromatics
Skip the stuffing in the cavity this year. Filling a turkey with stuffing raises bacteria concerns. Instead, fill the cavity with aromatics like onions, garlic, lemons, herbs and spices. As the turkey roasts, these ingredients impart tons of flavor.
Slather On Compound Butter
Compound butters are easy flavor bombs. Work some herb butter underneath the turkey skin or give it a massage on top. Garlic butter, rosemary butter and sage butter are all perfect picks.
Coat it With a Spice Rub
A flavorful spice rub adds another layer of flavor and encourages crispy skin. Try Cajun seasoning, jerk seasoning, herbes de Provence or a simple blend of dried herbs, salt and pepper. Apply it all over and underneath the skin.
Insert Flavor With an Injector
Using an injector to pump liquid seasoning into the turkey might seem intimidating but it’s a game changer. Butter, broth and spice mixes injected deep into the meat make for an ultra juicy and flavorful bird.
Infuse it With Citrus
Wedges of orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit add tangy brightness and moisture when roasted inside the cavity. Bonus: it makes your kitchen smell amazing.
Swap Basting Liquid for Beer
Instead of basting with juices, baste your turkey with beer as it roasts. The malty, yeasty notes impart subtleties into the meat. Stick with something you’d drink versus anything too bitter.
Amp Up the Gravy
A well seasoned, flavor packed gravy takes your turkey to the next level. Cook up the neck and giblets with aromatics as the base. Finish with broth, wine and plenty of fresh herbs.
Glaze it Up
For bonus flavor, brush your turkey with a glaze during the last 30 minutes of roasting. Whip up a sweet and tangy glaze with jams, chutneys, citrus or even pineapple juice. The possibilities are endless.
Give it a Rub Down
Massaging a spiced or herbed oil into the turkey a day before cooking amps up the flavor considerably. Let it soak up all that goodness in the fridge overnight.
Smoke it First
If you really want to take your turkey to flavortown, try smoking it first before roasting. 2 hours of hickory or applewood smoke makes it the star of the show.
With these secrets for maximizing flavor, your Thanksgiving turkey will be the talk of the dinner table this year. Don’t be surprised if it becomes an eagerly anticipated new family tradition!
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 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.
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