This turkey rub is a blend of savory spices that come together to make the ultimate poultry seasoning. Spice rubs you make yourself will give your Thanksgiving turkey a lot of flavor. They also work well on chicken, pork, and beef.
My homemade turkey rub is the main thing I use to season my turkey when I want to make a turkey that will impress. I pair my turkey with traditional sides like sweet potato casserole and cranberry relish to make a meal that people will remember.
Turkey can be brined, roasted, deep-fried, and many other ways. This turkey rub makes a regular roasted turkey taste amazing. Best of all, it takes just 5 minutes to make!.
Salt, brown sugar, paprika, pepper, thyme, rosemary, sage, garlic powder, and onion powder are just some of the herbs and spices that are used in this recipe.
As Thanksgiving approaches, home cooks everywhere are gearing up to make the perfect holiday turkey With so many different methods and recipes out there, it can be tricky to know how to prepare the bird just right One secret trick used by experienced cooks is to rub seasoning directly onto the turkey meat under the skin. This simple technique helps infuse tons of flavor into the turkey and keeps it incredibly moist and delicious.
Why Rubbing Seasoning Under The Skin Makes Turkey More Flavorful
Normally when you season a turkey, you just sprinkle spices and herbs over the outside of the skin. While this adds some flavor, a lot of it just gets wasted and doesn’t really penetrate into the meat. Rubbing the seasoning right onto the turkey flesh before roasting allows it to deeply permeate and marinate the meat. Basically, you get a turbo-charged infusion of taste!
The skin also forms a protective barrier that locks all those flavors inside even as the turkey cooks. As the natural juices are released the seasoning blends with them to create an intensely savory gravy in the bottom of the pan. Your turkey will be bursting with juicy, delicious spiced flavor in every bite instead of just being bland and dry.
How To Get The Seasoning Under The Skin
Getting the seasoning underneath the skin is easy. Here are step-by-step instructions:
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Pat the turkey dry and remove any giblets or neck from the interior cavities.
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Carefully loosen the skin from the breast meat by gently working your fingers under it, being careful not to tear the skin. You can also use a metal spatula or spoon to help lift the skin.
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Rub softened butter or olive oil underneath the skin to help the seasoning stick. Make sure to get it over the breast, thighs, legs and as much of the turkey as you can.
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Sprinkle your favorite dry seasoning blend under the skin and directly onto the meat, gently massaging it in with your fingers. Some good options are poultry seasoning, herbes de provence, cajun seasoning, lemon pepper or just salt and pepper.
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Use plenty of seasoning – don’t be shy! The turkey meat will absorb a lot of flavor.
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Smooth the skin back over the turkey breast and thighs. Use toothpicks to secure any loose areas or tears.
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Tie the turkey legs together with butcher’s twine so they stay closed.
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Roast the turkey as normal, basting occasionally with the pan juices.
Make Sure To Let The Turkey Rest Before Carving
Once your turkey has finished roasting and the meat has reached 165°F, remove it from the oven. Let it rest for 30-45 minutes before slicing so the juices can redistribute through the meat. All that wonderful seasoning and natural flavor will get sucked back in, making sure your turkey doesn’t turn out dry.
Use the rest time to make your gravy using the delicious seasoned drippings in the pan. When the turkey is carved, you’ll have tender, juicy meat with tons of aromatic flavor in every single bite. Your family will be begging for seconds!
Other Tips For Extra Moist, Flavorful Turkey
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Brine the turkey in saltwater for 12-24 hours before cooking to infuse it with moisture and enhance the flavor.
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Rub softened butter under and on top of the skin too for even more richness.
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Place aromatics like onion, garlic, lemon and fresh herbs inside the turkey cavity.
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Start your turkey breast down in the pan and flip it over to brown and crisp the skin for the second half of roasting.
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Let roasted turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing to retain juices.
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Carve across the grain of the meat for super tender slices.
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Make gravy using the flavorful pan drippings.
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Serve with cranberry sauce, gravy and your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes!
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Use leftovers for sandwiches, casseroles and soups.
Enjoy Your Best Thanksgiving Turkey Yet!
Getting seasoning deep into the turkey meat under the skin is really game-changing for flavor and texture. Your holiday bird will be unbelievably moist, tender and tasty when cooked this way. Bring wow-factor flavor to the table this Thanksgiving by using this handy trick that all the best chefs rely on. Your family will be amazed and delighted at how delicious your holiday turkey turns out.
How do you make turkey rub?
Place the salt, sugar, herbs and spices in a bowl, then stir until everything is well mixed. Use the seasoning right away, or store it in an airtight container for future use.
Tips for the perfect seasoning mix
- The amount of rub in this recipe is just right for a 10–12-pound turkey. You should double the recipe if your turkey is bigger.
- You can use fresh herbs instead of dried ones if you’d like. Just make sure you use three times as many fresh herbs as dried ones.
- Kosher salt is not the same as table salt, but this recipe calls for it. Use kosher salt, which you should be able to find in any grocery store, for the best results.
Season the turkey’s outside with a lot of salt and pepper, then rub it into the skin and meat with your hands. I also think you should loosen the skin on the turkey breast and thighs and add some of the rub to the meat under the skin to make it taste even better.
You can absolutely season a turkey the night before, in fact, I recommend doing this whenever possible. The turkey will be more tender and juicy when cooked if you leave the rub on it overnight. This lets the salt and spices soak into the meat. Spread the rub on your turkey, then cover it loosely with plastic wrap. Put it in the fridge up to 24 hours before you want to cook it.
Pepper, garlic, onion, lemon, oregano, chives, thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, basil, paprika, and a lot of other herbs and spices go well with turkey. There is just a hint of brown sugar in this spice blend to balance out the salt, herbs, and spices. Brown sugar is also helpful for making a golden brown crust on the turkey, which is an added bonus.
I really like this spice mix just the way it is written, but you can change this recipe to suit your tastes by adding other flavors.
- Sugar: Instead of brown sugar, you can use maple sugar, muscovado sugar, or coconut sugar. You can also make a wet rub by mixing the spices with honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup.
- You can add other herbs, like dried oregano, basil, marjoram, savory, or dried parsley, to the mix.
- Spices: Cayenne pepper, mustard powder, smoked paprika, or chili powder are some other great spices that you can add to this rub.
- Wet Rub: To make a wet rub, mix your spice mix with 2 tablespoons of melted butter or olive oil.
- Smokey Rub: If you’re going to smoke your turkey, use my smoked turkey rub.
This rub is great for roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, and beef all year long. I like to make half or three times as much of it. With this spice blend, you can make your turkey extra special this year, and everyone will love it.
My INCREDIBLE Smoked Turkey Rub | Backyard Test Kitchen
FAQ
What to put under the skin of turkey?
Should I put butter under the skin of a butterball turkey?
Should I dry rub my turkey overnight?
How do you rub a Turkey under the skin?
To rub a turkey under the skin, you’ll need the following ingredients: * 1 cup of your favorite dry rub * 1 tablespoon of olive oil * 1 teaspoon of garlic powder * 1 teaspoon of onion powder * 1/2 teaspoon of salt * 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper Instructions: 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 2.
Can you use a wet rub on a roasted turkey?
For oven roasted turkeys, the wet rub works great because it infuses the meat and the skin with flavor. All you have to do is make one recipe of this turkey rub and mix it with ¼ cup melted butter or olive oil to create a paste. With your hands, lift the skin and separate it from the turkey meat. Using a brush, brush the paste onto the turkey skin.
What is a good brine rub for a Turkey?
Homemade Turkey Rub is a tasty way to kick up the flavor on your turkey. This is a great dry brine rub for any turkey. Simple pantry staples will give you one amazing turkey. Combine all ingredients; paprika, Kosher salt, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk until fully combined.
How do you cook a rubbed Turkey?
Here are some tips for cooking a turkey that has been rubbed under the skin: * Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. * Place the turkey in a roasting pan and roast it for 15 minutes per pound. * Baste the turkey with the pan drippings every 30 minutes. * Cover the turkey with foil if it starts to brown too quickly.