It’s actually very easy to marinate turkey — just follow this simple recipe and take these easy steps.
There was a time I had no idea how much I’d appreciate a deliciously marinated turkey on my table. In fact, only a few short years ago I had just gotten comfortable with things like marinated steak and marinated salmon — I’m drooling just thinking about them. Because I love marinated meat, and I know you will, too, I’m happy to share a how-to guide and a marinade recipe to show you how delicious your homemade turkey can be!
I love turkey any time of the year, so I’m always prepared to make it, even if it’s not cold out. Not everyone is willing to roast a turkey in the summer, and that’s fine — it’s a known traditional holiday dinner staple, therefore many people tend to associate it with wintery months. I hardly have to mention that turkey is all but synonymous with Thanksgiving and even Christmas.
Even though we respect that many people want alternatives to turkey for Thanksgiving or want to experiment with some delicious seafood dishes for the big day, we also know that having a delicious turkey is at the top of many people’s lists. (It just so happens to be on mine all the time…)
You may be used to brining your turkey, which is a great way to prepare a juicy turkey. The bonus to marinading your turkey instead of brining it is that it adds so much extra flavor that you may miss out on by only using brine — and we’re big on flavor.
Changing your prep methods may feel daunting, but never fear! Marinating turkey requires minimal effort. Preparing a homemade marinade is quick and easy and uses surprisingly common ingredients that you may already have on hand. As an added bonus to the flavor kick you get with a marinade, you will find that your turkey will be very moist and vibrant — pure poultry perfection if I do say so myself.
Optional: If you do not have, or do not want to use, fresh herbs and spices, you can substitute with dried herbs and spices. When substituting dried herbs for fresh herbs, use only ½ the amount called for.
Other common ingredient choices for a delicious marinade on your Thanksgiving turkey or boneless turkey breast include a little lemon juice, lime juice, brown sugar, apple cider or apple cider vinegar, white wine, balsamic vinegar, or chicken broth. You can also vary the kind of salt you use, from seasoning salt to kosher salt. Heck, you can even throw in a cinnamon stick to the marinade!
Marinating turkey breast is a fantastic way to infuse flavor and moisture into the lean meat before cooking. But how long should you marinate turkey breast to get the best results? Here’s a complete guide to optimal marinating times for juicy, flavorful turkey breast.
Why Marinate Turkey Breast?
Marinating turkey breast provides several key benefits:
-
It tenderizes the meat by breaking down muscle fibers. Acidic marinade ingredients like wine, vinegar, yogurt, and citrus juice act as natural meat tenderizers.
-
It adds delicious flavor to the turkey. Herbs, spices, sauces, and other ingredients in the marinade are able to penetrate deep into the meat.
-
It helps keep the turkey moist during cooking. The liquid in the marinade bastes the meat from the inside out.
So marinating is highly recommended, especially for lean turkey breast which can easily dry out when cooking.
Recommended Marinating Times
For best results, plan to marinate turkey breast for:
-
At least 4 hours: This allows the flavor to start penetrating into the meat. Marinating for 4-8 hours will give good results.
-
12-24 hours: Marinating turkey breast overnight or for a full day gives the maximum flavor infusion.
-
30-60 minutes: Some recipes suggest a very brief marination. This quickly enhances flavor without the long wait.
Factors that Influence Marinating Time
The choice of marinade greatly impacts the required marinating time:
-
Acidic marinades with vinegar or citrus need less time to work since the acidity quickly tenderizes.
-
Oil-based marinades benefit from longer marination to gradually impart deeper flavor.
Marinating Time Analogy
Consider marinating like steeping tea – a brief dip yields a drinkable tea, but steeping overnight creates a robust, layered flavor.
Similarly, quick marination adds a hint of flavor, while extended marination allows complete flavor integration.
Avoid Over-Marinating
While marinating boosts flavor, over-marinating can negatively affect texture. Excessive acidity from marinades can lead to mushy turkey meat.
Understanding marination chemistry helps balance flavor development and maintain turkey breast integrity.
Creating Flavorful Marinades
Popular marinade ideas include:
-
Citrus marinades: Orange, lemon, lime juice. Bright flavors need less time.
-
Herbal marinades: Rosemary, thyme, etc. Pair well with longer marinating.
-
Spicy marinades: Chili powder, hot sauce. Add heat and flavor.
-
Sweet marinades: Brown sugar, honey, soy sauce. Creates delicious glazes.
Best Practices
Follow these tips for optimal marinated turkey breast:
-
Use non-reactive containers like glass or plastic.
-
Ensure even marinade coverage and turkey immersion.
-
Refrigerate during marination for food safety.
-
Pat turkey dry before cooking to improve searing.
With the right marinating time, turkey breast becomes an incredibly moist, delicious meal. For maximum flavor infusion, marinate for 12-24 hours. Avoid over-marination to prevent mushy textures. Experiment with exciting new marinades and enjoy flavorful turkey breast any night of the week!
How to Make Turkey Marinade
Measure all the ingredients above, and in a small bowl, whisk until combined.
If you prepared the mixture in advance, refrigerate it before using. Store it in a well-sealed container for up to 4 days, and be sure to shake or stir before marinating, as the ingredients will settle.
Safety tip: Do not save or reuse leftover marinade that has been exposed to raw meat.
Our turkey marinade recipe serves about 12. Check out our guide for how much turkey you should have at your dinner table, depending on your amount of guests. We also thought ahead for all aspects of your Thanksgiving meal with our complete Thanksgiving dinner portion planner guide, which takes all the guesswork out of planning what, and how much, to make for the big day.
How to Marinade Turkey
Timing is everything! Before you begin this process, be sure to follow our helpful guide to determine how long it takes to defrost a turkey. A turkey can only be marinated if it is raw or fully thawed.
Place your raw or thawed turkey in a large shallow roasting pan, large rimmed baking sheet, or shallow baking dish.
Pour the marinade over the whole bird. It should cover the bottom of the roasting pan. Rub the marinade to coat the entire bird’s exterior.
For best results, loosen the skin and rub some marinade between the separated skin and the meat.
Marinating between the skin and the meat will allow for more marinade to absorb, and more flavors to transfer. This way, the turkey meat will be perfectly seasoned — and not just the skin!
Allow the turkey to rest in the marinade for up to 24 hours in the fridge. The USDA recommends allowing a turkey to marinate for 6 to 24 hours. Since we’ve already addressed how long an uncooked turkey lasts in the fridge, we recommend marinating yours for 12 hours. After all, you want your turkey to be as fresh as possible!
Before cooking, you may choose to remove any large pieces of herbs or garlic from the turkey to prevent burning during cooking. Discard marinade that’s left over.
Cook the turkey as desired and enjoy!
Tip: Learn how to marinate frozen chicken!
Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
FAQ
How long can a turkey marinate in the fridge?
Poultry can be refrigerated for up to 2 days in a marinade.
Can I marinate my turkey breast?
This turkey breast marinade recipe came from my mother. These always turn out juicy and tender no matter how long my husband leaves them on the grill. It’s easy to prepare but always best when marinated for at least 4 hours.
Should I season my turkey breast overnight?
… of poultry and pork, plus thicker cuts of beef and lamb, and even meatier fillets of fish like swordfish and grouper get seasoned at least one day ahead …Nov 14, 2022
How long to soak a turkey before cooking?
Carefully submerge turkey in brine. Cover and store in the refrigerator. Soak for two days before smoking or roasting.Oct 18, 2024
How long to marinate a turkey breast?
Here are more tips on marinating duration: Whole turkey breast: Go for the longer marinating time of 24-36 hours to allow flavor to penetrate deep into the thick meat. Boneless turkey breast: Tend to marinate faster than bone-in. Plan for 12-18 hours marination time.
Should you marinate Turkey a day ahead?
Enables advance meal planning by marinating a day ahead. As long as food safety guidelines are followed, letting turkey marinate overnight poses minimal risk and yields great flavor payoff. Turkey breast meat and acidic marinades present a low risk environment for bacterial growth.
How do you marinate a turkey breast on a grill?
In a gallon-sized resealable bag, mix together vegetable oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, basil, and black pepper. Add turkey breast to bag and let marinate for at least 4 hours (or overnight). Remove turkey breast from bag and discard marinade. Preheat grill to high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place turkey breasts on the grill.
Why do you marinate a turkey breast?
Marinating serves several purposes when preparing turkey breast It tenderizes the meat by breaking down muscle fibers. Marinades often contain acidic ingredients like wine, vinegar, yogurt, citrus juice which act as natural meat tenderizers. It adds flavor to the turkey.
How do you marinate a 12 lb Turkey?
This basic formula makes enough marinade for a 12-14 lb turkey: Whisk ingredients together until smooth. Coat turkey inside and out. Refrigerate 8-24 hours. Discard used marinade. Pat turkey dry and roast as desired. For an Italian-herb marinade: Use basil, oregano, rosemary, garlic, olive oil, lemon, pepper, and red wine vinegar.
Can You marinate a Turkey at room temperature?
Don’t marinate at room temperature. Use a non-reactive dish: Glass, stainless steel and plastic containers won’t react with the marinade. Avoid aluminum. Submerge turkey fully: Ensure meat is completely immersed and coated for even marinating.