This flavorful homemade turkey rub recipe is so simple and delicious, you’ll want to make it to put on everything! Make a big batch and store it in the pantry.
I like to think that there are a million ways to make the best turkey. We play around with our recipes every year and every year we declare the new one “the best”!
We’ve learned a lot, so there is all of that info. If you are bored and just want the recipe, there is a handy jump to recipe button right at the top that will skip all the important info.
The truth is, turkey is like a blank slate waiting to be seasoned and it is up to you, the culinary artist to make that happen. We developed this custom blend of spices to be used alongside either our turkey brine or turkey injection and the simple, 7-ingredient recipe has since gone bonkers.
Just read the comments… or look at how many other bloggers have managed to copy it, and you’ll know it is a winning recipe. The perfect ratios and blend of seasoning, smokiness and salt help being out the natural flavors of turkey and are enough as a standalone flavor, but also mild enough to pair with nearly any gravy or stuffing.
The drippings will be perfectly balanced and ready to use in gravy from drippings. The next bonus- it isn’t just limited to a whole bird. Use this custom spice blend on turkey breast, chicken, pork or even in burgers or on veggies.
Turkey can seem like a blank canvas just waiting to be brought to life with herbs, spices, and other flavorful ingredients. With so many potential seasonings to choose from, how do you decide what spices to rub on or put inside your holiday bird or everyday turkey dinner?
Here are 10 delicious spice blends and herb combinations that are fantastic options for seasoning turkey with bold, robust flavor.
1. Rosemary, Thyme, and Sage
This classic blend of herbs beautifully complements turkey. The woodsy, pine-like notes of rosemary, the lemon-mint flavor of thyme, and earthy, savory sage are just made for poultry. Use equal parts of dried or fresh herbs and rub them on the inside and all over the outside of the turkey along with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
2. Onion Powder and Garlic Powder
For easy and aromatic flavor with no chopping required you can’t go wrong dusting your turkey with onion powder and garlic powder before roasting. Use about 1 tablespoon of each for a 12-15 pound bird along with salt and pepper. The onion and garlic add great savory depth without much effort.
3. Lemon, Thyme, and Butter
Boost moisture and brightness by rubbing the turkey skin with a mixture of freshly grated lemon zest thyme leaves softened butter, salt, and pepper. Grate the zest from 1 lemon and mix it with 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, 1/2 cup butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. The thyme and lemon complement each other perfectly.
4. Rosemary, Orange, and Black Pepper
The citrus flavor of fresh orange zest balances beautifully with the woodsy rosemary and cracked black pepper. Mix the zest of 1 orange with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper.
5. Poultry Seasoning Blend
Pre-made poultry seasoning mixes like sage, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, and black pepper make seasoning a turkey so easy. For a 12-15 pound bird, rub about 2-3 tablespoons of the blend inside the cavity and all over the skin along with olive oil or butter.
6. Cajun Seasoning
Spice up your holiday turkey with the lively flavors of a Cajun blend containing ingredients like paprika, garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, and more. Use around 3 tablespoons rubbed on a 12-15 pound turkey, under and on top of the skin. The spice pairs perfectly with the rich turkey.
7. Italian Herbs
A mix of basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and garlic powder creates a fantastic Italian-style turkey seasoning. Use about 2 tablespoons rubbed over the skin along with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The herby flavors complement the turkey wonderfully.
8. Lemon Pepper
For fast flavor with minimal effort, use dried lemon pepper seasoning on your turkey. The lemony notes brighten up the turkey’s flavor.
9. Brown Sugar and Spices
A blend of 1 tablespoon brown sugar combined with 1 teaspoon each of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper makes a slightly sweet and savory turkey rub. The brown sugar helps form a beautiful browned crust.
10. Homemade Turkey Seasoning Blend
Making your own turkey spice blend allows you to customize the flavors exactly how you want. Try mixing coarse salt, chili powder, paprika, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne. Store in an airtight container to use on turkey or chicken.
When seasoning a whole turkey, get the spice mix into every nook and cranny. Reach into the cavity to coat the inside and carefully loosen the skin to rub seasoning directly onto the breast meat.
Apply rubs just before cooking so the flavor stays vibrant. Try seasoning under the skin of roasted turkeys and directly onto the skin of fried turkeys. The possibilities for amazing turkey spice blends are endless. Whip up a blend with your favorite herbs and spices and enjoy your flavored, juicy bird.
Here is a summary of the 10 turkey spice blends:
- Rosemary, thyme, sage
- Onion powder, garlic powder
- Lemon, thyme, butter
- Rosemary, orange zest, black pepper
- Poultry seasoning blend
- Cajun seasoning
- Italian herbs
- Lemon pepper
- Brown sugar and spices
- Homemade blend
With so many tasty options to choose from, you can enjoy perfectly seasoned turkey for holidays and everyday meals alike. Now you’ll never have a boring, bland turkey again. What’s your go-to spice blend for flavoring turkey?
Turkey Rub vs. Turkey Dry Brine
Basically a turkey rub is perfect for the person who forgot to brine (dry brine or wet brine). Or maybe forgot to buy the overpriced, premade stuff at the store. Or the person who is making a turkey for the first time….
Dry brine is something you would put on a day or so in advance and is super salt heavy. Here is my basic dry brine for turkey recipe if you want to try those and have the time on your hands.
Asking yourself exactly what those turkey rub ingredients are that you have in the pantry, here ya go! Ingredients can run the gamut in variety and amount. Some of the most popular seasoning ingredients include:
- Coarse Kosher Salt- Salt is the magic that makes any bird juicy and flavorful. It seems like a lot, but honestly, you could go heavier and still not feel oversalted. Coarse kosher salt is less salty than table salt. I like using Diamond Crystal, which has less sodium and larger crystals than Mortons. If using Morton’s dial it back by 25%. If using a fine sea salt, reduce by a little more than 50%.
- Chili Powder- Chili powder is a blend of dried chiles that was meant to season chili the stew, but in a recipe like this the mild pepper flavors and hint of spice balance with the salt and other savory items. It will not be spicy- it is just enough to provide flavor, not heat.
- Paprika– Smoked paprika or sweet paprika can be used. I prefer smoked. Neither of these are spicy, but if heat if what you are aiming for, feel free to use hot paprika.
- Ground Black Pepper- Freshly ground black pepper will provide the most robust punch. White pepper is slightly milder. For the most interest and sophistication, grab a peppercorn blend. Freshly grinding also provides the most natural flavor. Bottled ground black pepper can taste a little like sawdust (you didn’t hear that from me…)
- Onion Powder- Onion flavor without a whole onion. It is dehydrated and ground onion.
- Garlic Powder- Same goes for garlic powder. I like using powder here because it won’t burn like fresh garlic would at the heat and length it takes to roast a bird.
- Cayenne– This is spicy and optional, but in such trace amounts that even your pickiest of eaters won’t detect it as heat. Even my 2-year-old eats this rub.
Even with this recipe, it is forgiving, so you can measure exactly or eyeball it. I used to add 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar to the mix as well.
This hint of sugar and molasses is divine for making a nice crust on a roasted turkey or smoked turkey, but tends to burn and make a lot of smoke on a fried turkey so we took it out to make the recipe better for any preparation.
How Much Seasoning for Turkey?
Turkeys don’t come in nice, even weights and therefore you’ll need a different amount of seasoning for every single bird. The volume isn’t a perfect science, so don’t stress, just use this a basic jumping off point.
As for seasoning per pound, I like to use 1 1/2 tablespoon for every 3 pounds. This recipe makes 4 1/2 tablespoons and is good for a 10-14 pound turkey.
Someone in your family watching salt? Make a low-sodium turkey rub by dialing back the salt volume. The other ingredients will compensate for the lack of salt.
I also highly recommend using Kosher salt due to its large grain size, it ends up tasting less salty and sticks better.
Do not, under any circumstances use table salt. Iodized salt will make your bird taste metallic. It will also make your bird more salty since the grains are smaller, you end up getting a lot more salt.
Like spice? Increase heat. You are getting the idea, right?
Spices for the perfect turkey can be cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes or any chile powder. An ancho chile powder will give off a smoky flavor, while ghost pepper powder will make your nose run. It all depends on personal preference. My new favorite is aleppo pepper.
Use this simple seasoning mixture as a base and then come up with your own special blend. Here are a few more ideas. Remember that flaky dried herbs will have a higher chance of burning if you plan to fry your flavorful turkey. Be creative!
- Lemon Zest
- Orange Zest
- Coriander
- Celery Salt
- Fresh herbs
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Ground Cloves
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Tarragon
- Poultry Seasoning
- Herbs de Provence
- Nutmeg
- Allspice
- Ground ginger
- Ground cardamom
- Garam Masala
- Dried mushrooms (ground)
- Cinnamon
- Smoked salt
So… STOP… and take 3 minutes (yes THREE MINUTES) to make your own and save your $5.99. You won’t regret it! And then think of all the magical things you can spend your six bucks on.
- Mix together the savory flavors in a small bowl.
- Store until ready to use in an airtight container.
- Sleep well knowing you’ve just made the best seasoning.
After you make you make your own homemade turkey rub, you can smoke it, fry it, roast it or even air fry turkey! Yes, they just started making air fryers large enough for an entire turkey!
A Beginner’s Guide to Roasting a Turkey | Food Wishes
FAQ
What can I add to turkey to make it taste better?
… 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 herbsNov 7, 2024
What are the best herbs to use for turkey?
Herbs for turkey: For a classic and aromatic flavor, we recommend using a blend of rosemary, thyme, and sage, which we think are the best fresh herbs for turkey. These herbs infuse your bird with a fragrant, savory taste, perfect for the holidays. You can use fresh or dried herbs.
What is the best season for a turkey?
The combination of dried thyme and sage with lemon pepper and smoky paprika brings such a dynamic flavor to the bird. Then, there’s brown sugar. Sugar may seem like an unusual ingredient for seasoning a turkey, but it’s a complete game-changer.
What spices do they use in turkey?
- Red Pepper Flakes. One of the most popular spices that adds a delicious aroma with a slight bitter taste is red pepper flakes. …
- Black Pepper. …
- Thyme. …
- Mint. …
- Cumin. …
- Sumac. …
- Bay Leaf. …
- Cinnamon.
What spices go well with Turkey seasoning?
Garlic Powder: Everything tastes better with the flavor of garlic. Onion Powder: Onion powder is a perfect spice in this seasoning. 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.
How do you use herbs & spices for Turkey?
There are several ways to use herbs and spices for turkey: Seasoning Rub: Combine the herbs and spices into a rub and apply it to the turkey before roasting. Brine: Add the herbs and spices to a brine solution and soak the turkey in it overnight. Stuffing: Add the herbs and spices to the stuffing for a flavorful addition.
How do you spice up a Turkey?
For fast flavor, use dried lemon pepper seasoning on your turkey. The combination of citrus and peppery spice is very complementary. Use 2-3 tablespoons over the skin along with salt, pepper and oil or butter. 9. Brown Sugar and Chili Powder A touch of sweetness from brown sugar balances the mild heat from chili powder beautifully.
Can you put spices in a Turkey cavity?
Yes, adding spices to the turkey cavity can infuse the meat with additional flavor. Consider stuffing the cavity with a bundle of herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage, along with some garlic cloves for a delicious aroma. 7. What about using spices in the basting liquid?
What herbs go well with turkey stuffing?
Try the classic combo of sage, thyme, and rosemary – along with aromatics like lemon, onion, and garlic. You can also add a bay leaf or two for additional depth of flavor. Whether you cook your stuffing in the bird or not, fresh herbs are an excellent addition to any stuffing recipe. Sage, in particular, shines in turkey stuffing.
What thyme goes well with Turkey?
Lemon thyme is a variety of thyme with citrus notes to its flavor. This is a great match for turkey because citrus is another flavor that goes really well with turkey. To use fresh thyme to season your turkey, strip the leaves from the stems and finely chop before adding to a seasoning rub or herb butter.