Let’s not blame family members, friends—and most importantly, ourselves—for the sad roast turkeys of Thanksgiving dinners past. Learning how to season a turkey is much like seasoning anything: a skill perfected over time. The trouble is, most of us only cook a turkey once or twice per calendar year (and who can remember what seasoning tack they took 11 months ago?!). The perfect turkey requires more attention than an everyday roast chicken. That can come via a dry brine, compound butter, aromatics tucked into the carcass, and a glaze with something sweet—ideally, all of the above. And when in doubt, double down on the gravy.
If you’re majorly crunched for time, salt, black pepper, and high heat are all you really need for flavorful turkey. But with a bit more prep time, you can deliver a lot more oomph. Consider the steps below building blocks. Stack one on top of the next to build layers of flavor, but a word of caution: Be thoughtful when pairing ingredients across steps (more on this below). Before you get started, make sure your bird is thawed—this can take a few days—and pat it dry with a paper towel.
Turkey is a staple for many holiday meals and celebrations But plain turkey can be bland and boring The key to delicious, flavorful turkey is all about pairing it with complementary flavors that enhance the taste and texture of the meat. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best flavor combinations to make your turkey pop.
Traditional Herb and Spice Blends
Some classic herb and spice blends just naturally go well with turkey, These time-tested combinations add comfort and familiarity to your holiday spread,
Sage – The woodsy, earthy notes of sage bring out the natural richness of turkey. It reduces gaminess while adding moisture. Use it dried in a rub or fresh leaves under the skin or in the cavity. A Thanksgiving classic!
Thyme – Subtly sweet thyme complements turkey’s savory umami. It also has antiseptic properties that help slow spoilage.
Rosemary – Rosemary’s robust pine-like aroma and flavor pair beautifully with turkey’s natural gaminess. Use whole sprigs under the skin or ground rosemary in compound butters.
Onion and garlic – This aromatic duo provides depth, complexity and moisture. Mince and mix into turkey burgers or add onion and garlic powder to rubs.
Fruity Flavors
Sweet-tart fruits make delicious foils for turkey’s mildness. They add a burst of moisture and bright flavor.
Cranberry – It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without this tasty, tangy fruit. Whole cranberries can fill the cavity. Sauces and chutneys make great glazes and condiments.
Citrus – Orange, lemon and lime zest, juice and segments pump up fresh flavor. Use directly in the cavity or mix zest into rubs and herb butters.
Pears and apples – Chopped fresh pears and apples or unsweetened sauce make excellent stuffing and gravy ingredients. Dried apples and pears also lend chewy sweetness.
Savory Vegetables and Herbs
Hearty vegetables cooked down into rich sauces or gravies balanced the flavors of turkey wonderfully.
Onions and carrots – Aromatic onions and carrots form the base of the classic turkey gravy. Sweat them in the drippings for maximum flavor.
Celery – Celery’s clean, vegetal crunch adds texture and freshness to stuffing, gravy and sauces.
Mushrooms – Meaty, umami-rich mushrooms enhance any stuffing, gravy or sauce. Saute them first to deepen flavors.
Fresh herbs – Chopped rosemary, thyme, sage, etc brighten up stuffings and compound butters. Just don’t overdo it.
Warm Spices
A dash of warming spices adds comfort, excitement and seasonal flair to turkey dishes. A little goes a long way though!
Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice – Use a light hand with these sweet baking spices. They add warmth and accent savory flavors.
Ginger – Fresh or ground ginger packs a peppery punch. Add to marinades, rubs and gravy.
Smoked paprika – A touch of smoky, spicy paprika really makes flavors pop. It’s excellent in barbecue sauces and rubs.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds provide delicious crunch and richness in turkey stuffings, salads and sides. Their oils impart nutty flavor.
Walnuts – Toasted walnuts pair perfectly with poultry. Their woodsy crunch makes a stellar addition to stuffing and salads.
Pecans – Buttery, slightly sweet pecans are excellent in stuffings, green beans, roasted veggies, cakes and pies.
Pine nuts – These nutty, resinous morsels are perfect for adding texture to stuffings, salads, roasted veggies and pesto.
Pumpkin and sunflower seeds – Seeds make stuffing crunchier and salads heartier. Toast them first to intensify their flavor.
Umami Boosters
Ingredients naturally high in savory umami flavors make turkey even more craveably delicious.
Soy sauce – A quick soy sauce marinade amps up juiciness and makes turkey deliciously savory.
Miso – White or red miso paste makes a fantastic umami-rich marinade or addition to gravy.
Dried mushrooms – Rehydrated porcini, shiitake or morel mushrooms add intense, meaty flavor to gravy and stuffing.
Sweet Contrasts
A touch of sweetness balances turkey’s natural dryness and savory flavor. Just don’t overdo it.
Maple syrup – Maple’s warm, caramelized sweetness pairs perfectly with turkey. Use it in marinades, glazes and drizzles.
Honey – Honey adds floral sweetness and a lovely amber hue. Infuse turkey or chicken wings with honey barbecue sauce.
Dried fruit – Dried cranberries, apricots, apples and dates lend a subtle sweet contrast in stuffing and salads.
Gravies and Sauces
A good sauce or gravy ties the whole meal together. Turkey’s drippings make an incredible base!
Turkey gravy – The classic! Use drippings, flour, broth and seasonings for the ultimate rich gravy.
Cranberry sauce – Tart, sweet cranberry sauce cuts through turkey’s fattiness. Make yours chunky or smooth.
Herb pan sauces – Sauté shallots in the pan drippings, deglaze with wine, then add broth and herbs.
Creative New Flavor Combos
Think outside the box! Unexpected flavors can take turkey from boring to bold and exciting.
Mole sauce – Smoky chili peppers, warm Mexican spices, nuts and chocolate make incredible turkey mole.
Jerk seasoning – Jamaican jerk spices like allspice, thyme, garlic and scotch bonnets electrify turkey.
Thai curry – Can’t beat Thai green or red curry loaded with tender turkey, veggies and coconut milk.
Korean barbecue – Sweet-savory Korean gochujang sauce makes mind-blowingly good grilled or roasted turkey.
So there you have it – all the tips and flavor combinations you need to take turkey from bland to beautiful this holiday season. Following these guidelines, you can craft a turkey feast that perfectly suits your tastes and celebrates the flavors of the season. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new spices, herbs, sauces and creative combinations. The possibilities for incredible turkey are truly endless!
Fill the cavity with aromatics.
No Thanksgiving is complete without stuffing, but we prefer to bake ours in a separate dish—technically, that makes it dressing, but call it what you like. With the turkey cavity now vacant, you can add aromatics like a quartered onion, a few smashed cloves of garlic, orange, apple, or lemon wedges, and a couple of hearty herbs. Do this before tying the legs together, and remember to remove it before carving.
Butter up your Butterball.
Butter is your second insurance policy against a dry Thanksgiving turkey. One stick of unsalted butter (remember, you just salted your bird) on its own will do the job. But we’re aiming for flavor here, so consider turning half that stick into a compound butter—essentially softened butter mashed with ingredients like fresh herbs (parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme) or citrus zest. If you used lots of flavors in the dry brining process, keep the compound butter simple like this one with thyme and garlic. You can prepare it a few days ahead and pack it tightly in plastic wrap or an airtight container.
Any herbs rubbed onto the outside of your turkey run the risk of burning. To prevent this, split the butter in half, then carefully create a space between the turkey breast meat and skin (Andy Baraghani shows us how it’s done) and slip the half with herbs under the skin of the turkey, over the breast and thigh meat. Rub the herb-free butter all over the outside of the turkey. If you prefer not to use dairy, try slathering your bird in roasted garlic mayonnaise—yes, mayonnaise.
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FAQ
What flavors pair well with turkey?
Turkey pairs well with a lot of sweet and savory flavors such as brown sugar, maple, chives, thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, basil, paprika, pepper, garlic, onion, lemon, and oregano. This spice blend is primarily savory, with just a hint of brown sugar to offset the salt, herbs and spices.
What is the best flavor for turkey?
Fill with Aromatics
The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges. The citrus will add a nice brightness to the turkey and keep it perfectly moist.
What seasonings go well with turkey?
Dried Herbs — dried thyme, rosemary, and sage add an herbal depth of flavor commonly found in poultry seasoning blends. This gives the seasoning blend, and therefore the turkey, a deep savory flavor. Dried Seasonings — in particular, garlic powder, onion, powder, and paprika round out this flavorful turkey seasoning.
What is best to stuff a turkey with for flavor?
Season the turkey: Stir together parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon-pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Rub the cavity of the turkey with the herb mixture, then stuff the cavity with celery, orange, onion, and carrot.