This is the BEST turkey seasoning recipe you will ever make! The mix of herbs and spices in this rub will make your turkey taste great, and it will become your go-to turkey rub.
All of your favorite Thanksgiving herbs and spices are mixed together to make the perfect blend for your bird. It will soak up all the wonderful flavors. I love adding flavorful seasonings to make any meat or poultry taste incredible. This baked chicken, this tasty chicken recipe, or my favorite pork chops cooked in the air fryer will all make you happy.
This turkey rub is a combination of aromatic dried herbs and savory spices. Sage, rosemary, and thyme all go well together on a turkey, which is why I love the mix. There is just something about their complementary flavors that make Thanksgiving turkey magic!.
Rubbing these flavors into your turkey will guarantee the tastiest bird your guests will ever have. I promise that after everyone tries this dry rub, they will always want you to cook the turkey. If you’re in charge of the turkey, you can make the whole meal with these easy 1-hour rolls, my grandmother’s stuffing, and my dad’s potatoes.
The best thing about this turkey seasoning rub is that you probably already have all of the herbs you need. These tasty herbs and spices will make your turkey taste even better. This rub recipe will become your favorite for every turkey you cook because it makes the meat taste so good.
Turkey is a versatile blank canvas that can be infused with a wide variety of herbs and spices to create delicious flavors. With the holiday season approaching, many home cooks are starting to think about how to perfectly season their Thanksgiving or Christmas turkeys. But what herbs and spices really complement turkey the best?
I took a deep dive researching what herbs and spices go best with turkey to create the ultimate guide. In this article I will share 10 of the best herbs and spices to use when cooking turkey along with tips on how to use them and recipe ideas to try them out. Let’s get started!
The 10 Best Herbs and Spices for Turkey
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Rosemary – Rosemary’s piney, woodsy aroma is a perfect match for turkey. Its bold flavor stands up well to the richness of the meat. Use sparingly as rosemary can overpower. Works well in rubs, compound butters, or use whole sprigs in the cavity.
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Thyme – Subtle minty flavor pairs nicely with poultry. Lemon thyme adds a brightness. Use chopped fresh leaves in rubs, butters, or stuffings. Place sprigs in the cavity or pan.
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Sage – Sage adds a peppery, slightly lemony accent and reduces any gaminess. Chop fresh leaves for seasoning. Fry whole leaves for garnish.
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Parsley – Fresh, peppery parsley brightens up overall flavor. Chop flat leaf parsley for rubs, stuffing or garnish.
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Marjoram – Delicate slightly sweet floral flavor complements turkey. Best used in compound butters or rubbed under skin before roasting.
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Savory – Savory has a thyme/marjoram flavor with a light piney note. Use in rubs or compound butters. Pairs well with rosemary, sage and thyme
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Oregano – Mild, sweet, aromatic flavor similar to marjoram. Use in rubs, compound butters or stuffings.
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Tarragon – Licorice-anise flavor gives a sophisticated, French flair. Chop leaves for rubs, butters, stuffings.
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Bay Leaves – Subtle menthol-eucalyptus flavor infuses meat and drippings. Place whole leaves in cavity or pan.
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Garlic – Fundamental flavor for turkey. Rub minced garlic butter under skin before roasting. Add whole cloves to cavity. Roast bulbs in pan.
How to Use Herbs and Spices with Turkey
There are several methods for using herbs and spices to add flavor to your turkey:
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Compound Butter – Blend chopped fresh herbs into room temperature butter. Gently loosen skin and rub flavored butter underneath to baste as it cooks.
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Dry Rub – Mix dried herbs, spices, salt and pepper. Gently rub mix under skin, in cavity and all over exterior. Let sit overnight.
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Aromatics in Cavity – Stuff cavity with fresh herb sprigs, lemons, garlic, onions to impart flavor from inside out.
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Season the Pan – Add fresh herbs, garlic, citrus to the roasting pan. Baste turkey with the infused drippings.
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Marinade – Soak turkey overnight in a herb-infused oil or buttermilk marinade before roasting.
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Injectable Butter – Inject flavored melted butter under the skin using an injection syringe for added moisture and flavor.
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Stuffing – Chop fresh sage, thyme, parsley and other herbs to add to your favorite stuffing recipe.
Recommended Herb and Spice Blends for Turkey
Rather than choosing herbs and spices individually, you can create your own signature blends using some of these delicious combinations:
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Rosemary, sage, thyme, garlic – The classic!
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Sage, thyme, marjoram, lemon – Mediterranean flavors
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Rosemary, oregano, garlic, onion, paprika – Savory Southwest
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Tarragon, thyme, parsley, sage – Elegant French
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Orange peel, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg – Warming and seasonal
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Curry powder, cumin, garlic, ginger – Indian-inspired
Helpful Turkey Cooking Tips
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Brine the turkey overnight before seasoning and roasting for extra moist meat.
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Dry the skin thoroughly before rubbing on any seasoning to help it get crispy.
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Loosen the skin from the breast meat and rub herb butter directly onto the meat for maximum flavor infusion.
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Place aromatic vegetables and lemons into the turkey cavity along with herb sprigs.
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Roast the turkey on a rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet to allow air circulation for crispy skin.
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Baste periodically with pan juices to keep the turkey moist and help adhere any rubs or herbs.
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Let the turkey rest at least 15-20 minutes before carving for juicy results.
Sample Turkey Herb Butter Recipe
This easy compound herb butter recipe can be rubbed under the turkey skin for incredible flavor and moisture:
Ingredients:
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped sage
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1⁄4 tsp salt
- 1⁄4 tsp pepper
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well until fully incorporated. Use fingers to gently loosen the turkey skin from the breast and thigh meat. Rub herb butter evenly under skin. Refrigerate turkey overnight before roasting.
How to Make the Best Seasoning For Turkey
The easiest part of Thanksgiving is making this turkey seasoning. It only takes 5 minutes, and you’ll love how fast it is. This dry rub is great because you can make it ahead of time and have it ready to use when you need it. Anything that you can make before Thanksgiving day is a win in my book!.
- Mix the Ingredients: Put all of the ingredients in a bowl and use a whisk to mix them.
- Rub: Coat a 10- to 13-pound turkey with the seasoning mix, making sure to cover the top and bottom. Then cook your seasoned turkey according to your recipe.
- Keep it in a sealed container for up to two months if you’re not going to use it right away.
With homemade seasonings, you have full control over the end result. You can change how spicy they are, add more flavor, or even double the recipe to always have some on hand. Here are a few ideas on how to change things up with this turkey seasoning.
- Make Ahead: I like to make this turkey rub a few weeks ahead of time so it’s ready to use. It’s helpful to make a lot of seasoning because you can use it on chicken, fish, or meat whenever you need to.
- This recipe makes about 1/3 cup of seasoning, which is enough to rub all over a 10–14-pound turkey.
- Don’t use fresh herbs; use dried ones instead. Dried herbs last much longer in your spice rack than fresh ones. Fresh herbs usually have a lot of water in them, which can make them go bad and grow mold quickly.
- Not as much salt: If you think it’s too salty, slowly cut back on the salt. Kosher salt is better than table salt because you can better control how salty it is.
- Make it Spicy: Add some cayenne pepper or chili powder to your seasoning to make it spicier.
- Add some sweetness by mixing in 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. It adds a touch of sweetness and caramelizes a bit.
How To Store Turkey Seasoning
This homemade turkey rub is a custom blend of seasonings for your Thanksgiving turkey. Make this at home and taste how good it is; you’ll never buy turkey seasoning again! Seasonings you make yourself are better because the herbs are fresher and the flavors can be changed to suit your tastes.
- If you want to keep the seasoning fresh, mix the ingredients together first and then put them in a container that won’t let air in. Store for up to two months in a cool, dark place.
Herbs for Roasting Turkey – Thanksgiving Herbs and Spices
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