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.
Paprika is a spice that can add a pop of flavor and color to many dishes, including turkey. With its sweet, earthy taste and beautiful red-orange hue, paprika seems like an ideal match for poultry. But is it really worth adding to your Thanksgiving bird or weeknight turkey dinner? Let’s take an in-depth look at whether paprika is a good pairing for turkey.
What Exactly is Paprika?
Before determining if paprika works well with turkey, it helps to understand what this spice actually is. Paprika is made from sweet red peppers that are dried and ground to a powdery consistency. The peppers used come in a range of varieties, but the most common types are:
- Hungarian
- Spanish
- Smoked
Paprika can have different flavor profiles depending on the peppers used and how it is produced The three main varieties available are
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Sweet paprika – Provides a mild, slightly sweet taste. This is the most commonly used for cooking.
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Smoked paprika – Has a deeper, smokier flavor as the peppers are smoked before grinding.
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Hot paprika – Made from spicier pepper varieties and brings some heat to dishes,
What Does Paprika Taste Like?
The exact taste of paprika can vary based on the type, but in general it provides:
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Sweetness – A mildly sweet, peppery flavor.
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Smokiness – Smoked paprika has a deeper, barbecue-like taste.
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Heat – Spicy paprika varieties add a kick of heat.
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Earthiness – An underlying earthy, woody aroma.
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Vibrancy – A hint of fruity brightness.
When added to dishes, paprika combines these taste elements to create incredible depth of flavor. It’s not a hot or overpowering spice, but rather adds subtle and complex seasoning.
Benefits of Paprika for Turkey
Paprika offers several characteristics that can complement turkey perfectly:
Adds Color
The bright reddish-orange hue of paprika provides eye-catching visual appeal to otherwise pale turkey meat. It definitely makes your turkey look festive and appetizing!
Provides Smoky Flavor
Using smoked paprika varieties adds a lovely smoky essence to turkey. This can enhance the flavor tremendously.
Contributes Mild Sweetness
The natural sweetness of paprika plays off the savory turkey beautifully. It adds just a touch of sweetness without overpowering the other seasonings.
Supplies Antioxidants
Paprika contains health-promoting antioxidants like vitamin E. So it can provide some nutritional value in addition to great taste.
Brings Gentle Heat
A small amount of hot paprika can provide a hint of spiciness to balance the other flavors.
Offers Herbal Quality
Paprika has an earthy, aromatic quality that pairs perfectly with poultry.
As you can see, paprika offers many characteristics that seem almost destined to complement turkey.
How to Use Paprika When Cooking Turkey
Luckily, paprika is versatile enough to use in various ways when preparing turkey:
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Make a spice rub – Combine paprika with olive oil and spices like garlic, thyme, oregano or cumin. Rub the mixture directly onto the turkey skin and meat before cooking.
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Marinate the turkey – Add 1-2 tablespoons of paprika to any liquid marinade recipes. Let the turkey soak in the marinade for added flavor.
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Season under the skin – Loosen the skin carefully and rub paprika under there so it penetrates the meat.
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Coat with oil – Mix paprika with olive oil and use it to baste the turkey while cooking for extra flavor and moisture.
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Add to stuffing – Mix a teaspoon or two of paprika into any stuffing combinations for your turkey.
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Sprinkle it on – Use paprika to coat the entire surface of the turkey, including the skin, legs, wings and thighs.
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Make a paste – Blend paprika with a bit of oil or water to create a thick paste. Slather it evenly over the turkey.
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Use smoked varieties – Go for Spanish smoked paprika for incredible depth of flavor.
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Finish with a dusting – Right before serving, dust the turkey with paprika for color and added taste.
What Dishes Pair Well with Paprika Turkey?
Once you’ve cooked your paprika-infused turkey, what side dishes go well with it? Here are some tasty options:
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Roasted root vegetables – The earthiness of paprika turkey is delicious with roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips or carrots.
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Green beans – Fresh green beans balance the spices perfectly.
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Cranberry sauce – The sweet-tart flavors complement paprika turkey wonderfully.
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Stuffing or dressing – Pork-based stuffing or sage dressing tastes amazing with turkey.
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Bread rolls – Warm rolls are essential for sopping up paprika-infused pan juices.
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Pumpkin or pecan pie – These classics make the ideal sweet finish after spicy mains.
So don’t be afraid to get creative with your veggie sides, appetizers and desserts when making paprika turkey. There are endless possibilities for amazing flavor combinations.
Example Recipe: Smoked Paprika Roast Turkey
If you need a bit of guidance, here’s a delicious roast turkey recipe using smoked paprika:
Ingredients:
- 1 12-14 lb whole fresh or thawed turkey
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
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Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove giblets from turkey and pat dry with paper towels.
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Make a spice rub by combining smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.
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Brush turkey all over with olive oil. Coat entire surface with the spice rub, including under skin.
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Roast turkey on a rack in a roasting pan for about 3 hours, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
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Let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving. Serve and enjoy your smoky, paprika-infused holiday bird!
The Verdict on Paprika for Turkey
After looking at the pros, ideal uses and recipe ideas, it’s clear that paprika is an extremely smart choice for seasoning turkey. Its savory qualities, from sweetness to smoke, were seemingly made for poultry. The vibrant color paprika provides is an added bonus.
So don’t be afraid to get creative with paprika at your next turkey dinner. Use it alone as a rub or marinade, or combine it with other spices. Play with different paprika varieties, adding smoked paprika for depth or a touch of hot paprika for a kick.
No matter which preparation method you choose, paprika is sure to make your turkey far more delicious. It adds incredible visual beauty along with layers of flavor. For your next special occasion turkey or weeknight meal, turn to paprika to make it an extra special, mouthwatering dish. This versatile, flavorful spice was truly meant for turkey!
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!
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.
Roasted Turkey With Smoked Paprika
FAQ
What spices pair well with turkey?
- Salt — for the best results, use coarse Kosher salt. …
- Dried Herbs — dried thyme, rosemary, and sage add an herbal depth of flavor commonly found in poultry seasoning blends. …
- Dried Seasonings — in particular, garlic powder, onion, powder, and paprika round out this flavorful turkey seasoning.
What meat is paprika good on?
**After reading about the several different ways that different world regions use Paprika, it is clear that paprika goes well with just about any type of savory food, including: eggs, red meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, stew/soups, vegetables, rices, and creamy sauces.
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 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.
How do you spice up a 12 lb Turkey?
Spice up your holiday bird with the lively flavors of a Cajun blend. Look for paprika, garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme and more. For a 12-15 lb turkey use about 3 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning over and under the skin. 7. Italian Herbs
Can you stuff a Turkey with thyme?
Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves. The maple will caramelize and give great flavor. While stuffing a turkey with aromatics like onions, apples, and herbs is delicious, food safety experts recommend against stuffing to prevent bacterial growth. Instead, rub seasonings over and under the skin for great results.
How do you spice up a Thanksgiving turkey?
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.
Should you stuff a Turkey before carving?
While stuffing a turkey with aromatics like onions, apples, and herbs is delicious, food safety experts recommend against stuffing to prevent bacterial growth. Instead, rub seasonings over and under the skin for great results. Let your seasoned turkey rest at least 15-20 minutes before carving for juicy, flavorful meat.