This Cajun turkey injection recipe is so simple to make youll make it homemade from now on. This injection recipe will help you get juicy meat whether you need to deep fry a whole turkey or bake a simple turkey breast.
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 turkey with a cajun-spiced butter mixture is a great way to infuse bold Louisiana flavor right into the meat. The butter keeps the turkey extra moist and tender, while the cajun spices permeate it with delightful heat and regional flair.
Why Inject Turkey?
Injecting a spiced butter directly into the turkey results in more flavor than just rubbing a cajun seasoning on the outside. The moisture from the butter bastes the meat from the inside out. This helps prevent the turkey from drying out, especially the easily overcooked breast meat.
Butter is the perfect fat for injecting It has a rich flavor and melts at a low enough temperature that it easily liquifies for pumping through an injector Oil can be used as well, but butter provides better flavor.
Selecting Your Cajun Butter Injection
You can buy pre-made cajun butter injections, but making your own allows you to control the flavors. Feel free to adjust spice levels and ingredients to suit your tastes.
Some good additions to cajun turkey injections include:
- Butter – For moisture and richness
- Hot sauce – For heat and tang
- Worchestershire sauce – For umami depth
- Lemon juice – To brighten and balance
- Cajun seasoning – For the signature flair
- Garlic – For aroma and bite
- Onion powder – For savoriness
- Paprika – For color and mild heat
Injecting Technique and Tips
- Thoroughly thaw turkey before injecting
- Use a meat injector syringe with a thin, sharp tip
- Inject butter mix into deep breast, thighs, and drumsticks
- Angle needle and poke holes from multiple directions
- Go slowly to avoid butter spilling back out
- Use up all the butter – reinject if needed
- Let turkey rest at room temp 30 mins after injecting
- Discard any leftover butter mix
- Cook as desired – fry, bake, smoke, etc
How Much to Inject?
For a 12-15 lb turkey, plan on 2-3 ounces of cajun butter injection total. Divide it between the key areas. Don’t worry if some leaks out – it will still flavor the meat.
Cajun Butter Turkey Injection Recipes
Try these delicious cajun butter turkey injection recipes:
Simple Cajun Butter
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 2 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 Tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Spicy Cajun Butter
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1 Tbsp hot sauce
- 1 Tbsp Louisiana-style hot sauce
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
Herb Cajun Butter
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
Garlic Cajun Butter
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Enjoy Perfectly Flavored Turkey
Injecting turkey with a homemade cajun-spiced butter mixture helps ensure every bite is bursting with regional flavor. The butter keeps the meat incredibly moist and tender while the spices permeate it with delightful heat and zest. Cajun turkey injections take your holiday bird from bland to beautiful!
More Cajun recipes I think you’ll love
Once cooled any you might have leftover you should pour over the top of the turkey.
If you have purposely made more than 1 serving – it does store/freeze well. Put it in a container that won’t let air in. You can keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks or the freezer for up to six months.
For those who want to make more of this ahead of time and put it in the fridge or freezer, you will need to melt the butter again before using it again, because it will have solidified.
If you like this recipe, you should try my pot roast seasoning recipe, its really good.
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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: Put in the rest of the ingredients and mix them well with a small whisk, if you have one. If not, a small fork will do fine.
- Third, use a small injection tool to put this marinade into the deepest part of your turkey at different angles. This is the best way to do it.
- Step 4: Cover with aluminum foil and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour. If you have any leftover marinade, put it back into the turkey (many times if you have to).
- Step 5: Cook per your recipe instructions.
Tip: If you’re using frozen turkey, make sure to put it in the fridge to thaw before you start cooking. You will need to cook any cut of turkey until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Roasted Cajun Chicken with Creole Butter Injection Recipe
FAQ
When to inject turkey with creole butter?
What should I inject into my turkey?
What is cajun butter made of?
What does putting butter under the skin of a turkey do?