Turkey Seasoning

If you’re looking to take your Thanksgiving turkey from good to great, this turkey seasoning is the best way to bring big flavor to your bird. The chances are, if you’re already prepping for your Thanksgiving dinner, you’ve got all the spices needed to make a quick and delicious turkey seasoning. Making your own spice mix not only saves you money, but also gives you the freedom to customize it to your liking (win, win!). Use this turkey seasoning to dry brine your Thanksgiving turkey, or any time you want to roast a big bird. Here’s everything you need to know:

How to season a turkey:
— How much turkey seasoning should I use? This turkey seasoning is a classic poultry blend scaled up to make 1/2 cup seasoning including 3 tablespoons salt, which is plenty enough for a 12-pound turkey. As a guide, we recommend 1 tablespoon salt for every 4 pounds.
— Should I oil or butter my turkey? If you’re planning to use this seasoning as a dry brine for your turkey, we recommend using melted butter before adding your seasoning. 

Turkey seasoning ingredients & variations:
— Kosher salt. Kosher salt’s abrasive texture makes it perfect for meat rubs. You can also use table salt, but scale it down to 2 tablespoons since it's saltier than kosher.
— Freshly ground black pepper. Freshly ground black pepper will produce the best flavor compared to pre-ground.
— Dark brown sugar: Brown sugar makes the skin even crispier and adds a little sweetness to balance out the savory flavors. I prefer dark brown for its deeper molasses flavor, but light brown sugar will work too.
— Aromatic spices. Garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder add intense, needed flavor.
— Dried herbs. Thyme and rosemary are classic poultry herbs, but you can also tag in sage or oregano.

How to use turkey seasoning:
In addition to seasoning or dry brining a whole turkey (of course), you can also rub this blend on a roast chicken, Cornish hens, or even a pork roast. Think beyond the turkey—this seasoning blend can work with practically any roast poultry. 

Storage:
Once mixed, this spice blend will keep stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

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