Homemade Poultry Seasoning Recipe – Learn how to make your own herb-based spice blend and transform bland and boring chicken or turkey into a bold and flavorful family meal.
What I love about making my own homemade seasoning is that I have the freedom to add more or less of my favorite herbs and seasoning so that it tastes exactly how I like it. I can also make an extra-large batch so I don’t have to worry about running out of one of my most-used seasoning blends right in the middle of cooking my favorite recipes like this Baked Chicken Parmesan or Baked Chicken Thighs.
As Thanksgiving approaches, many home cooks are starting to think about how to perfectly season and flavor their turkey. One seasoning blend that frequently comes up is poultry seasoning. But what exactly is in this popular blend that gives it its distinctive aroma and taste?
I wanted to find out more about poultry seasoning so I could understand how to use it effectively for my turkey. In my research, I discovered that while recipes can vary, there are several key herbs and spices that feature prominently in most blends. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients typically found in poultry seasoning for turkey.
The Main Herbs and Spices
Sage is the starring herb in most poultry seasoning blends. With its earthy, woodsy, and slightly pine-like flavor, sage is a classic pairing with turkey and poultry. It provides a robust base note to the blend.
Thyme also shows up frequently, offering brightness to balance out sage’s deeper flavor. Thyme has lemon and minty undertones that work well with poultry.
Rosemary brings its characteristic pine-forest fragrance to many blends The addition of rosemary introduces a touch of evergreen aroma
Marjoram provides a delicate herbal sweetness with hints of citrus. Its mild minty-floral taste adds depth and nuance.
Black pepper delivers a bit of spicy kick and heat to rounding out the flavor profile. The pepper helps give the blend some punch.
Nutmeg lends its warming, slightly bittersweet spice flavors. It contributes subtle warmth and intricacy.
Other Common Ingredients
In addition to the main herbs and spices, poultry seasoning blends also frequently contain:
- Celery seed – Savory and earthy notes
- Ginger – Bright spicy zip
- Orange peel – Bright citrus aroma
- Onion powder – Savory, slightly sweet
- Garlic powder – Pungent, aromatic
- Parsley – Fresh, peppery flavor
- Bay leaves – Subtle herbal finish
Some blends also include allspice, cinnamon, cumin, or other spices to provide further depth and complexity.
Creating a Custom Blend
The great thing about making your own poultry seasoning is you can customize it to suit your personal taste. Get creative with the herb and spice combinations!
Try adding smoked paprika for richness, lemon zest for brightness, oregano for robust herby notes, tarragon for anise-like flavor, or cayenne pepper for some heat.
You can also vary the proportions of the herbs and spices to create your own signature seasoning. Want more rosemary aroma? Add a bit more. Think it needs more sage earthiness or thyme lemon? Adjust the amounts until you love the blend.
How Much to Use on Turkey
When seasoning a whole turkey, a general guideline is:
- 1-2 teaspoons per pound of turkey
- For a 12-14 lb turkey, use 2-3 Tbsp total
- For a 15-18 lb turkey, use around 3-4 Tbsp
- For an 18-22 lb turkey, use 4-5 Tbsp
Sprinkle the blend evenly over the turkey meat, cavity, and under the skin. Mix some into a compound butter too.
For stuffing, start with 1 tsp per 2-3 cups of stuffing, adjusting to taste. Add more if you want robust seasoning flavor.
Ways to Use Poultry Seasoning
While poultry seasoning shines with turkey, don’t relegate it to just Thanksgiving! This versatile blend can enhance many dishes:
- Stuffing, breadcrumbs, cornbread
- Roasted vegetables – carrots, Brussels sprouts, squash
- Adds flavor to chicken soups, stews, gravies
- Mixed into ground poultry for patties or meatballs
- Whisked into salad dressings, dips, marinades
- Added to biscuit dough, scones, muffins
- Rubbed on chicken or pork before grilling
- Sautéed with apples and honey for a snack
Poultry seasoning is an aromatic blend that brings warmth, herby flavor, and complexity beyond just poultry dishes. With its balanced blend of herbs and spices, it can provide that special “something” to elevate many recipes. Keeping poultry seasoning stocked in your spice cabinet is a must for enhancing everyday cooking and meals.
So next time you’re cooking turkey or chicken, don’t forget to add a dash of this savory, woodsy blend. Let poultry seasoning work its flavor magic! With a touch of sage, thyme, rosemary and more, it will lend its distinctive aroma, taste and flair that is sure make your food memorable.
What is in poultry seasoning
The ingredients in homemade poultry seasoning include,
- Dried Thyme – Earthy and more delicate flavoring. Thymes lemony undertones blend well with just about everything.
- Dried Oregano – Oregano is more flavorful when dried than fresh. Aromatic, warm, the potential to be quite spicy and somewhat bitter, its intensity varies by quality and region of cultivation.
- Dried Basil – Unlike oregano, basil has a much weaker flavor when comparing dried versus fresh. Still an essential part of any seasoning blend, its taste is more grass-like, a little like a mixture of hay and licorice.
- Dried Marjoram – A member of the mint and oregano family, marjoram and oregano, when fresh, are often confused as they look quite similar. Unlike oregano, however, marjoram is typically sweeter, more delicate, and less spicy when compared to oregano.
- Dried Rosemary – Stong, flavorful, and somewhat bitter, dried rosemary is woodsy, similar to thyme, but more bitter if too much is added.
- Garlic Powder – Garlic powder, like fresh garlic, is super flavorful. I wouldn’t add too much. To this recipe, I added just 1 tablespoon.
- Paprika – Mild and somewhat sweet, this spice is used to season and color various dishes.
- Onion Powder – dehydrated, ground onion, you’ll find onion powder in all kinds of different spice mixes or seasoned salts.
Optional additions:
- Dried Sage – (dried sage is actually highly recommended, approximately 2 tablespoons). Sweet and somewhat bitter with notes of eucalyptus and citrus. The most important thing to note about dried sage, however, is that dried sage does not have a long shelf life. In other words, it isn’t recommended that you add year-old dried thyme to your homemade poultry seasoning.
- Red Chili Flakes – I love just the tiniest little hint of heat. If you’re not a fan or you’re cooking for super sensitive kiddos, you may want to leave out the red chili flakes.
What is poultry seasoning?
Poultry seasoning is a simple seasoning blend typically used to season chicken, turkey, or other Thanksgiving favorites, like stuffing! Often you’ll see blends with higher ratios of sage and thyme but may also include black pepper, nutmeg, and ginger.
Homemade Poultry Seasoning Recipe – Bell’s Turkey Seasoning Copycat Recipe
FAQ
What is in poultry seasoning for turkey?
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SageA key ingredient in poultry seasoning that gives it a woodsy flavor -
ThymeAn aromatic herb that pairs well with sage
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RosemaryA dried herb that adds flavor depth
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MarjoramAn herb that complements the other herbs in poultry seasoning
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OreganoA member of the mint family that adds flavor
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ParsleyA fresh or dried herb that can be used in poultry seasoning
What is a good substitute for poultry seasoning?
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ThymeA one-to-one substitute for sage, thyme adds floral, earthy, and peppery notes. It goes well with hearty dishes like mushrooms, root vegetables, and game meat.
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SageYou can substitute 2 teaspoons of sage for 1 tablespoon of poultry seasoning.
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MarjoramYou can substitute 1 teaspoon of marjoram for 1 tablespoon of poultry seasoning.
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Parsley, rosemary, and thymeYou can combine these herbs to create a basic substitute for poultry seasoning.
What is the best seasoning to put on a turkey?
Dried Herbs — dried thyme, rosemary, and sage add an herbal depth of flavor commonly found in poultry seasoning blends. This gives the seasoning blend, and therefore the turkey, a deep savory flavor. Dried Seasonings — in particular, garlic powder, onion, powder, and paprika round out this flavorful turkey seasoning.
Is chicken bouillon the same as poultry seasoning?
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Flavor profile:Chicken bouillon provides a strong, salty chicken taste, while poultry seasoning offers a more nuanced blend of herbs and spices.
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Ingredients:Bouillon mainly contains chicken extract, salt, and sometimes other flavor enhancers, whereas poultry seasoning typically includes dried herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, and celery seed.
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Usage:Bouillon is often added to liquids like soups and stews to create a base flavor, while poultry seasoning is usually rubbed directly onto meat or added to dry ingredients like stuffing.
Does poultry seasoning make a Turkey?
Well, as anyone who’s ever started prepping that Thanksgiving bird, only to realize that they forgot to buy poultry seasoning can attest: the right poultry seasoning can make your bird. The aromatic blend typically includes sage, thyme, celery seed, marjoram, black pepper and nutmeg, and is an all-in-one way to season your turkey.
Can you use poultry seasoning for turkey stuffing?
“Whatever spice blends you use for your turkey or other roasted birds can and should be used for your sides and even desserts,” Sercarz says. Poultry seasoning is a natural addition to Thanksgiving stuffing. But it can also spruce up classic roasted vegetables (think Brussels sprouts, carrots and potatoes).
What can you eat with poultry seasoning?
But it can also spruce up classic roasted vegetables (think Brussels sprouts, carrots and potatoes). For apps and salads, try mixing a tablespoon of poultry seasoning with Greek yogurt to make a dip for a crudité platter, or whisk some seasoning with lemon juice, salt and olive oil to make salad dressing.
What is poultry seasoning?
Poultry seasoning is a six-ingredient blend of flavorful and aromatic spices. It adds depth to any recipe, including vegetarian dishes. It’s also one of our must-know spice blends that will change the way you cook Don’t miss our genius storage ideas for spices and spice blends.
Does Turkey seasoning make a good Thanksgiving spread?
Don’t limit yourself to turkey — poultry seasoning is also a powerhouse player in your spice pantry that can really spice up your Thanksgiving spread. “Whatever spice blends you use for your turkey or other roasted birds can and should be used for your sides and even desserts,” Sercarz says.
Can you make poultry seasoning at home?
You can prepare a whole batch with six simple ingredients. You can find poultry seasoning next to the spices in the grocery store. It’s simply a mixture of several dried herbs, used to season many dishes. But for cooks who already have the ingredients for poultry seasoning on hand, it’s a snap to make this blend at home.