How to Marinate a Turkey for Thanksgiving: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Marinating a turkey is one of the best ways to make your Thanksgiving bird extra flavorful, moist, and delicious. A marinade infuses the turkey meat with great taste while also helping to tenderize it and prevent drying out as it cooks.

While roasted and deep-fried turkeys are holiday classics, a marinated turkey offers something new and exciting for your Thanksgiving meal. It takes some advance planning but the payoff of juicy, flavor-packed meat is well worth the effort.

In this simple guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to marinate a turkey for Thanksgiving, from choosing a marinade to prep tips to optimal marinating times. Let’s get started!

Why You Should Marinate Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Marinating provides several benefits that help ensure you end up with the perfect holiday bird

• Adds moisture – The marinade helps keep the turkey meat deliciously moist and tender,

• Infuses flavor – You can give your turkey any flavor profile you want based on the marinade ingredients.

• Tenderizes the meat – Acids in the marinade help break down tough muscle fibers.

• Prevents drying out – The extra moisture acts as insurance against overcooking.

• Enhances browning – Ingredients like sugar promote lovely browned turkey skin.

• Easy to prepare – Marinades only require 5 minutes of hands-on time.

• Adds visual appeal – Herbs and spices give the turkey a more vibrant, appetizing look.

How Long to Marinate a Turkey

For best results, plan to marinate your turkey for 8 to 48 hours. The longer the better, as this gives the flavors more time to deeply penetrate the meat.

If you’re short on time, you can get away with marinating for only 8 hours. But ideally, start 1-2 days before cooking day.

Delicious Marinade Ideas for Turkey

You can take your marinade in many flavor directions. Here are some ideas:

• Herb marinades – Rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley

• Citrus marinades – Orange, lemon, lime juice and zest

• Spice marinades – Chili powder, cumin, paprika, pepper

• Aromatic marinades – Garlic, ginger, onion, shallot

• Savory marinades – Soy sauce, broth, Worcestershire, aminos

• Fruit marinades – Pineapple, cranberry, pomegranate juices

• Sweet marinades – Honey, maple syrup, brown sugar

• Alcohol marinades – Wine, beer, bourbon

Simple Marinade Recipes for Turkey

To get you started, here are 3 easy marinade recipes:

1. Herb-Citrus Marinade

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped thyme
• 2 tsp chopped sage
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper

2. Cranberry-Ginger Marinade

• 3/4 cup cranberry juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper

3. Cider-Apple Marinade

• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

How to Marinate a Turkey for Thanksgiving

Marinating a turkey is simple:

1. Make the marinade: Whisk together the ingredients in a small bowl.

2. Place turkey in a large bag: Put the raw turkey inside a sealable bag or container.

3. Pour marinade over turkey: Reserve some marinade for basting later.

4. Seal bag & massage: Remove air, seal the bag, and gently massage to coat the turkey.

5. Refrigerate 8-48 hours: Occasionally flip the turkey in the marinade.

6. Remove turkey & pat dry: Discard excess marinade.

7. Cook as desired: Roast, deep fry, grill, etc. Baste with reserved marinade.

And that’s all there is to it! For Thanksgiving, I recommend roasting your marinated turkey until perfectly browned and delicious.

Turkey Marinating FAQs

Here are answers to some common questions about marinating turkey:

How much marinade per pound of turkey?

Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of marinade per 1-2 pounds of turkey.

Can you marinate a turkey too long?

Yes, over 48 hours can make the meat mushy. Stick to 8-48 hours for best results.

Should you marinate turkey in the fridge or at room temperature?

Always marinate in the refrigerator at 40°F or below. Never leave at room temperature.

Can I stuff my turkey after marinating?

Absolutely! Stuffing adds great flavor. Just make sure to cook the stuffing to a safe internal temperature.

What’s the best way to coat a turkey in marinade?

Massage the marinade into every inch of the turkey, including under the skin.

Should I discard leftover marinade?

Yes, for food safety reasons do not reuse marinade that touched raw turkey.

Make This Your Best Thanksgiving Turkey Ever

Marinating is an easy way to take your Thanksgiving turkey up a notch this year. Follow this simple guide for a moist, delicious, and flavorful holiday bird the whole family will love!