This turkey rub is a blend of savory spices that come together to make the ultimate poultry seasoning. Spice rubs you make yourself will give your Thanksgiving turkey a lot of flavor. They also work well on chicken, pork, and beef.
My homemade turkey rub is the main thing I use to season my turkey when I want to make a turkey that will impress. I pair my turkey with traditional sides like sweet potato casserole and cranberry relish to make a meal that people will remember.
Turkey can be brined, roasted, deep-fried, and many other ways. This turkey rub makes a regular roasted turkey taste amazing. Best of all, it takes just 5 minutes to make!.
Salt, brown sugar, paprika, pepper, thyme, rosemary, sage, garlic powder, and onion powder are just some of the herbs and spices that are used in this recipe.
The star of most Thanksgiving and Christmas meals is undoubtedly the turkey. A beautifully roasted bird with crispy golden skin and tender, juicy meat is what turkey dreams are made of! But dry, bland turkey is a nightmare no one wants to experience.
So how can you make sure your holiday turkey is as mouthwateringly delicious as possible? The secret is slipping a flavorful turkey rub or compound butter under the skin, This helps ensure every single bite of meat is infused with all the seasonings in the rub or butter
Why Put a Turkey Rub or Compound Butter Under the Skin?
Simply rubbing a spice blend or herb butter over the skin is better than nothing. But so much of the flavor will stay concentrated on the surface of the skin instead of penetrating the meat.
Any turkey rub you apply on the skin tends to fall or wipe off as you move the raw bird around. It definitely won’t all stay nicely layered on the skin while roasting for 2-3 hours.
By gently loosening the skin from the breast and drumsticks, you can slide a flavorful butter or dry rub mix right onto the meat underneath. This protects the seasoning, keeps it against the meat, and allows the savory flavors to really seep in during roasting or grilling.
The skin also forms a barrier to lock in all that warmth, moisture and flavor. Everything basically steams and mingles under the skin as the turkey cooks.
Different Ways to Get Flavor Under the Turkey Skin
There are a couple easy options for getting extra flavor and moisture protection for your turkey under the skin.
Turkey Rub:
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A classic turkey rub seasoning blend is an easy way to add lots of big flavor under the skin. Try mixing dried herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme with the warmth of paprika and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
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For a more savory rub, add umami flavor with nutritional yeast and mushroom powder. Smoked paprika and chipotle chile powder bring smoky spiciness.
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Make sure the rub ingredients are finely ground so they spread evenly under skin. Or mix with a little oil or melted butter to make a spreadable paste.
Compound Butter:
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Softened butter blended with herbs, citrus, honey, spices, etc makes an easy spreadable flavor bomb!
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Try mixing compound butters with rosemary, orange zest, ginger and cinnamon. Or go savory with garlic, thyme, mustard and lemon.
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Let the flavored butter firm up in the fridge slightly before gently working under skin. Still soft but not melted.
Brined Turkey:
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For the juiciest turkey, consider brining it first before adding a rub under the skin. An overnight saltwater brine hydrates the meat and seasons throughout.
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Mix 1 cup salt per gallon of water. Add any desired aromatics like peppercorns, bay leaves, citrus slices, onions, garlic, or fresh herbs.
How to Loosen Turkey Skin and Apply Rub or Butter
Getting under the skin takes a delicate hand, but just follow these steps:
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Remove neck and giblets from cavities. Rinse turkey and thoroughly pat dry, inside and out.
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Start with the breast. Use your fingers to gently loosen skin from meat, creating a pocket. Avoid totally detaching skin.
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Rub compound butter or paste of the seasoning rub under the skin onto breast meat.
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Lift the skin on drumsticks to rub butter or seasoning under there too.
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Carefully press skin back into place over the seasoned meat.
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Tie legs together with twine so the skin stays secured. Tuck wing tips under body.
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Refrigerate for 1-2 hours to firm up the skin. Then roast as desired until perfectly golden crispy!
Delicious Compound Butter and Dry Rub Recipes
Here are some amazing flavor combinations to try mixing up for getting the most juicy, tender and flavorful holiday turkey:
Sweet Citrus Turkey Rub
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoons onion powder
- Zest of 1 orange
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ?? teaspoon cinnamon
- ?? teaspoon ginger
Cranberry Sage Compound Butter
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- ?? cup fresh sage, chopped
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
Spicy Cajun Turkey Rub
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Lemon Rosemary Compound Butter
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 1 cup fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Roast Your Flavorful Stuffed Turkey to Perfection
Once your turkey is perfectly prepped with flavorful butter or rub under the skin, it’s time to roast it up right! Follow these tips:
- Let sit at room temp for 30 minutes before roasting
- Preheat the oven to 350??F. Use a rack in a roasting pan.
- Cook approximately 15 minutes per pound
- Baste with pan drippings every 30 minutes
- Check temperature in a few places with a meat thermometer
- Turkey is done at 165??F in the breast and 175??F in the thighs
Remove turkey from the oven, tent with foil and let rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute so they don’t run out when you slice into it.
Now you’re ready to serve the star of your holiday table – a gorgeous, juicy turkey everyone will rave about! Crispy seasoned skin on the outside, tender and flavorful meat within.
How do you make turkey rub?
Place the salt, sugar, herbs and spices in a bowl, then stir until everything is well mixed. Use the seasoning right away, or store it in an airtight container for future use.
Tips for the perfect seasoning mix
- The amount of rub in this recipe is just right for a 10–12-pound turkey. You should double the recipe if your turkey is bigger.
- You can use fresh herbs instead of dried ones if you’d like. Just make sure you use three times as many fresh herbs as dried ones.
- Kosher salt is not the same as table salt, but this recipe calls for it. Use kosher salt, which you should be able to find in any grocery store, for the best results.
Season the turkey’s outside with a lot of salt and pepper, then rub it into the skin and meat with your hands. I also think you should loosen the skin on the turkey breast and thighs and add some of the rub to the meat under the skin to make it taste even better.
You can absolutely season a turkey the night before, in fact, I recommend doing this whenever possible. The turkey will be more tender and juicy when cooked if you leave the rub on it overnight. This lets the salt and spices soak into the meat. Spread the rub on your turkey, then cover it loosely with plastic wrap. Put it in the fridge up to 24 hours before you want to cook it.
Pepper, garlic, onion, lemon, oregano, chives, thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, basil, paprika, and a lot of other herbs and spices go well with turkey. There is just a hint of brown sugar in this spice blend to balance out the salt, herbs, and spices. Brown sugar is also helpful for making a golden brown crust on the turkey, which is an added bonus.
I really like this spice mix just the way it is written, but you can change this recipe to suit your tastes by adding other flavors.
- Sugar: Instead of brown sugar, you can use maple sugar, muscovado sugar, or coconut sugar. You can also make a wet rub by mixing the spices with honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup.
- You can add other herbs, like dried oregano, basil, marjoram, savory, or dried parsley, to the mix.
- Spices: Cayenne pepper, mustard powder, smoked paprika, or chili powder are some other great spices that you can add to this rub.
- Wet Rub: To make a wet rub, mix your spice mix with 2 tablespoons of melted butter or olive oil.
- Smokey Rub: If you’re going to smoke your turkey, use my smoked turkey rub.
This rub is great for roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, and beef all year long. I like to make half or three times as much of it. With this spice blend, you can make your turkey extra special this year, and everyone will love it.
My INCREDIBLE Smoked Turkey Rub | Backyard Test Kitchen
FAQ
What to put under the skin of turkey?
Should I put butter under the skin of a butterball turkey?
Should I dry rub my turkey overnight?
How do you rub a Turkey under the skin?
To rub a turkey under the skin, you’ll need the following ingredients: * 1 cup of your favorite dry rub * 1 tablespoon of olive oil * 1 teaspoon of garlic powder * 1 teaspoon of onion powder * 1/2 teaspoon of salt * 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper Instructions: 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 2.
Can you use a wet rub on a roasted turkey?
For oven roasted turkeys, the wet rub works great because it infuses the meat and the skin with flavor. All you have to do is make one recipe of this turkey rub and mix it with ¼ cup melted butter or olive oil to create a paste. With your hands, lift the skin and separate it from the turkey meat. Using a brush, brush the paste onto the turkey skin.
What is a good brine rub for a Turkey?
Homemade Turkey Rub is a tasty way to kick up the flavor on your turkey. This is a great dry brine rub for any turkey. Simple pantry staples will give you one amazing turkey. Combine all ingredients; paprika, Kosher salt, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk until fully combined.
How do you cook a rubbed Turkey?
Here are some tips for cooking a turkey that has been rubbed under the skin: * Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. * Place the turkey in a roasting pan and roast it for 15 minutes per pound. * Baste the turkey with the pan drippings every 30 minutes. * Cover the turkey with foil if it starts to brown too quickly.