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    Home » Recipes » Turkey Recipes » Turkey Injection Recipe

    Turkey Injection Recipe

    Published: Sep 10, 2023 Modified: Sep 18, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    Jump to Recipe

    Learn how to inject a turkey for extra flavor and moisture by following my recipe for the best Turkey Injection Recipe! Using a butter turkey injection creates the most tender turkey meat.

    injecting a turkey with butter injection for turkey
    Jump to:
    • Butter Injection for Turkey
    • Turkey Butter Injection Ingredients
    • Turkey Injection Recipe Instructions
    • How to Inject a Turkey
    • Turkey Internal Temperature
    • Turkey Injection Recipe FAQs
    • Best Turkey Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Butter Injection for Turkey

    I look forward to the holiday season every year – especially cooking turkey! Turkey is one of my favorite main course meals, so I relish having the chance to prepare it. The only issue with cooking turkey is it can be easy to accidentally overcook the meat and have it dry out.

    By using my savory turkey injection, you can cook a moist and tender turkey without any need for brining. The turkey butter injection will add richly flavorful seasoning to the meat while also keeping it moist. Best of all, you can cook your turkey however you like!

    Whether you’re roasting a Thanksgiving turkey with turkey dry rub, smoking turkey, cooking a turkey on the grill, or even making a turkey in the Instant Pot, this butter injection recipe will enhance your turkey’s flavor.

    slicing smoked turkey with a knife and fork

    Turkey Butter Injection Ingredients

    • Salted butter, melted butter
    • Old Bay seasoning
    • Paprika
    • Garlic powder
    • salt (optional) if you use unsalted butter
    • Black pepper or white pepper (optional)

    I use a mix of Old Bay seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder to create a liquid for incredible flavor in my turkey. However, you can mix up the ingredients to create any kind of seasoning mixture with a lot of flavors. I have used lemon juice when I want to mix it up.

    Using garlic powder rather than minced garlic, you could even create a garlic butter turkey injection following my garlic butter recipe.

    Turkey Injection Recipe Instructions

    1. Melt salted butter in the microwave. Add it to a bowl with Old Bay seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix until thoroughly combined.
    butter injection for turkey mixed in a measuring glass

    How to Inject a Turkey

    1. Take half the mixture into your meat injector or syringe and inject it evenly into both thighs and both sides of the turkey breast. Use the remaining half of the mixture to baste the turkey every 30 minutes throughout the cooking process.
    injecting a turkey in the left thigh with butter injection

    Turkey Internal Temperature

    Top tip for cooking turkey: No matter what method you use, the internal temp for turkey will read 180°F with a instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh and 170°F when inserted into the breast. When measuring internal turkey temperature, always use a meat thermometer.

    Turkey WeightFeedsHow Long to Roast Turkey
    10-18 poundsfeeds less than 10 peopleRoast for 3-3.5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed)
    18-22 poundsfeeds 10 to 15 peopleRoast for 4.5-5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed)
    22-24 poundsfeeds 16 to 20 peopleRoast for 4-4.5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed)
    24-29 poundsfeeds more than 20 peopleroast for 4.5-5 hours at 350°F (unstuffed)

    For more info on turkey cooking times and temps, including times for different sizes of deep-fried turkey, take a look at our Turkey Temperature Chart!

    Turkey Injection Recipe FAQs

    What should you inject in turkey?

    You can inject turkey with a mixture of butter, spices, and herbs. In the case of my butter injection recipe, use a mixture of salted butter, Old Bay seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder. I recommend stuffing the bird with herbs and citrus. If you’re cooking a Spatchcock Turkey, you can season the outside of the bird with your regular seasoning and herbs in addition to the injection rather than stuffing.

    Can you inject a Butterball turkey?

    You can inject a butterball turkey using this butter injection recipe. Inject the thigh and breast on each side of the turkey for the best results.

    Do you inject flavor to the turkey while cooking?

    Inject the turkey with the butter turkey injection before cooking, then baste the turkey on the outside with the same mixture throughout the cooking process for best results – do not inject it while it is cooking.

    Where is the best place to inject a turkey?

    The best place to inject a turkey is in both sides of the breast, and both thighs. This will give you the best results and juiciest meat.

    Does injecting a turkey make it juicier?

    Injecting a turkey helps keep the meat from drying out and will make the meat juicier as if it were brined.

    Best Turkey Recipes

    • Air Fryer Turkey Breast
    • Spatchcock Turkey
    • Boneless Turkey Breast
    • Deep Fried Turkey
    • Turkey on the Smoker

    Don’t forget the sides! Try my Turkey Gravy, Dry Turkey Brine, Compound Butter for Turkey, and Leftover Turkey Recipes too!

    smoked turkey sliced on a platter with citrus and herbs

    📋 Recipe

    whole smoked turkey on a tray with herbs, citrus, and apples

    Turkey Injection Recipe

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to inject a turkey for extra flavor and moisture by following my recipe for the best Butter Injection for Turkey!
    4.50 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 cup or so
    Calories 1737 kcal

    Equipment

    • Injector

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 Sticks of Salted Butter 1 cup
    • 2 Tablespoons Old Bay
    • 2 Tablespoons Paprika
    • 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Melt butter in a small dish in the microwave. Add all spices to it and mix well.
      2 Sticks of Salted Butter, 2 Tablespoons Old Bay, 2 Tablespoons Paprika, 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
      butter injection for turkey mixed in a measuring glass
    • Take half of the mixture and inject it into the breast and thighs of the bird, saving the other half for basting throughout the smoking process.
      injecting a turkey in the left thigh with butter injection

    Notes

    • I use a mix of Old Bay seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder for incredible flavor in my turkey. However, you can mix up the ingredients to create any kind of seasoning mixture you’d like. Using garlic powder rather than minced garlic, you could even create a garlic butter turkey injection following my garlic butter recipe.
    • For best results, inject the turkey in both sides of the breast and both thighs.
    • You can use a butter injection for turkey following any turkey recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup or soCalories: 1737kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 7gFat: 186gSaturated Fat: 117gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 48gTrans Fat: 7gCholesterol: 486mgSodium: 1474mgPotassium: 619mgFiber: 7gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 12754IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 179mgIron: 7mg
    Keyword Butter injection for turkey, injecting turkey with butter, Turkey butter injection, Turkey Injection Recipe
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

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