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My Turkey Rub Recipe will be your new favorite poultry seasoning! The perfect blend of spices comes together to create the most incredible flavor in this easy dry rub for turkey. You’ll want to keep a stock of this spice blend in your pantry! This is the secret to the perfect turkey if you want to make the juiciest and most flavorful turkey!
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Turkey Seasoning Rub
I love cooking turkey. I look forward to making it every year for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and sometimes even Easter, especially when I try something new like grilling a whole turkey.
My favorite mixture rub to use is this dry rub recipe. It’s so flavorful. Pair it with a little garlic butter sauce or Compound Butter for Turkey, and you’ll have the most delicious, juiciest turkey ever.
Whenever I use this rub, I get asked what my secret is. Trust me, you have to try it. It’s so easy, but the flavor combination is just perfect!
I made my turkey using this homemade turkey spice rub and it was the best turkey I have ever made. My family loved it. It was the first time there were no leftovers.
Trisha on Pinterest
Dry Rub for Turkey Ingredients
- smoked paprika
- black pepper or cayenne pepper
- garlic powder
- chicken flavor bouillon powder
- sugar or brown sugar
- dry mustard
Turkey Rub Recipe
- Add the spices for the turkey to a small bowl.
- Whisk turkey rub seasoning together until blended. Enjoy!
It’s that easy!
Rub for Turkey Tips
- I always add the rub to the turkey and gently brush the melted butter. This ensures the crispiest and most delicious turkey skin. Trust me, you will understand why once you do it this way!
- I like to rub the inside of the carcass with these savory spices. This will provide amazing flavor throughout the turkey.
How to Season a Turkey
Whether you’re using the whole bird or just the turkey breast or thighs, there are a few tips you should follow for seasoning a turkey to get the most flavor out of these herbs.
- Generously coat your bird with turkey spices.
- Using your hands, pat down the seasoning and rub it into the skin and meat of the bird.
- Lift the skin and season with dry rub for turkey underneath for even more flavor.
- Gently brush the turkey with plain butter or garlic butter.
How long can I store Turkey Seasoning?
- Room Temperature: Store your turkey rub in an airtight container in a cool, dark place at room temperature, like the pantry, it can typically last for about 6 months while still retaining most of its flavor.
- Refrigeration: If you want to extend the shelf life, you can store your turkey rub in the refrigerator. When stored in the fridge, it can last up to 1 year.
- Freezing: For even longer storage, you can freeze your homemade turkey rub. When frozen, it can maintain its quality for up to 2 years.
However, keep in mind that the flavor and potency of the spices and herbs in your rub may gradually diminish over time. To ensure the best flavor, it’s a good practice to periodically check the rub’s aroma and taste. If it has significantly lost its flavor, consider making a fresh batch.
Additionally, always use clean utensils to scoop out the rub to prevent contamination, and make sure the container is sealed tightly after each use to minimize exposure to air and moisture, which can shorten its shelf life. Proper storage and regular checks for freshness will help you determine when it’s time to replace your homemade turkey rub.
Turkey Rub Recipe FAQs
Seasoning a turkey and letting it rest before cooking it will give you nice and juicy slices. Gently brushing the turkey with butter will also help.
When ready to cook, your turkey will have soaked up all of the delicious seasonings and will retain moisture better when you cook it. Yum!
You can rub your Thanksgiving turkey with seasoning the night before to enhance its flavor.
Pat the turkey dry. Apply a thin layer of oil or a binder. Generously sprinkle on the rub. Gently massage it in.
Turkey Recipes
Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
Try my classic Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe with this easy poultry rub. This is the most delicious turkey recipe with so much flavor from the garlic butter sauce and citrus stuffing. It’s the best!
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
You need to try this easy Instant Pot turkey! It cooks right in the Instant Pot with potatoes, so you can make three of your Thanksgiving recipes at a time: the bird, creamy mashed potatoes, and even the gravy!
Paired with this dry rub, it’s the best turkey breast recipe ever. You will love it – I promise!
Grilled Turkey Recipe
If you have yet to try a grilled turkey, you need to try this recipe! It is so flavorful, smoky, juicy, and delicious. This is one of the best turkey recipes of all time!
Smoked Turkey Recipe
Our smoked turkey recipe is a great choice for using this amazing turkey seasoning. It is crisp and delicious while being moist and juicy on the inside!
Spatchcock Turkey
Another one of our smoked turkey recipes, this Spatchcock Turkey pairs perfectly with our turkey rub!
Deep Fried Turkey
Pair our turkey seasoning recipe with Deep Fried Turkey for an amazing flavor combo!
Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe
My boneless turkey breast recipe is made for this turkey dry rub! We know you’ll love this juicy, delicious dish. It’s perfect for a budget and feeds up to 6.
Cajun Turkey
Try my Popeyes-inspired Cajun Turkey! The delicious spice rub and crispy skin makes for an amazing holiday meal!
Turkey Internal Temperature
For more information on cooking times for turkey, check out our Turkey Temperature Chart! Don’t forget my Leftover Turkey Recipes!
Turkey Weight | People Fed | Roasting Time |
---|---|---|
10-18 pounds | feeds less than 10 people | roast for 3-3.5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed) |
18-22 pounds | feeds 10 to 15 people | roast for 3.5-4 hours at 350°F (unstuffed) |
22-24 pounds | feeds 16 to 20 people | roast for 4-4.5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed) |
24-29 pounds | feeds more than 20 people | roast for 4.5-5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed) |
Turkey Seasoning Blend Recipes
Homemade Seasoning Blends
- Pork Seasoning
- Garlic Parmesan Fry Seasoning
- Rosemary Salt Recipe
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Best Dry Rub for Steak
Recipe
Turkey Rub Recipe
Equipment
- Small bowl for mixing
Ingredients
- 1½ Tbsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. chicken flavor bouillon
- ½ Tbsp. sugar
- ½ Tbsp. dry mustard
See my Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!
Instructions
- Add 1½ Tbsp. paprika, ½ tsp. black pepper, 1 Tbsp. garlic powder, 1 Tbsp. chicken flavor bouillon, ½Tbsp. sugar, and ½ Tbsp. dry mustard to a small bowl.
- Whisk turkey rub seasoning together until blended. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For best results, brush your turkey with butter after seasoning. Trust us, this will give you the crispiest skin for any turkey!
- Pat seasoning over and under the skin of the bird for the best flavor.
OOOUWEE says
Planning on grilling a turkey for the holiday Monday and using your dry rub recipe…will let you know how it works
Isabel Laessig says
That is awesome to hear! I hope you enjoy it, and thank you!