Turkey Seasoning

This all purpose Turkey Seasoning gives the perfect amount of flavor to your Thanksgiving bird. Turkey dry rub is simple to make by blending dried herbs, spices, sugar, and salt, and is oh, so delicious.

I know that Turkey is a Thanksgiving thing, but in my house, we eat Turkey a few times a year, so I make this Turkey Seasoning recipe often. If you have a big freezer, it can be a great idea to get a few of those discounted November turkeys from the grocery store and keep them until a rainy day. 

Anyways, I always have a batch of this Turkey Seasoning in my cupboard. I use it with turkey, chicken, and sometimes even pork. It’s an all-purpose and tasty dry rub that is definitely the best seasoning for turkey. 

Prefer to use Poultry Seasoning for your Turkey? I highly suggest that you make your own homemade poultry seasoning using this recipe. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Make Ahead: You can make this seasoning for turkeys months ahead of time if you like. It will be ready to go in the pantry whenever you want to roast a turkey. 
2. Good on Everything: I’ve been known to rub down a spatchcock chicken, cornish game hens, and even a pork roast with this mixture. It’s truly the best seasoning for roast turkey or spatchcock turkey too. 

Turkey Seasoning Ingredients

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Kosher Salt: I like using kosher salt for meat rubs because it’s abrasive and helps to tenderize, but table salt will work in this recipe too. 
• Brown Sugar: This adds just a bit of sweetness, which balances out the salt and spice in this recipe perfectly.
• Dried Herbs: Thyme, rosemary, oregano, and sage are the perfect turkey seasoning herbs. 
• Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and ground black pepper all work together to make this turkey rub super flavorful. I love the smokiness that the smoked paprika adds the most. 

How to make the best seasoning for turkey

1. Mix: Place all of the ingredients into a bowl, and mix until well combined. 
2. Rub: Rub the seasoning mix all over the turkey, and cook according to your recipe. 
3. Store: If not using right away, store this turkey seasoning in a sealed container at room temperature for up to two months. 

How to season a turkey

Start by patting dry the turkey with paper towels.

For extra browning on the skin and to help the seasonings stick, rub olive oil or melted butter over the skin before rubbing in the spice rub.

When seasoning a turkey with a dry rub, it’s important to use your hands to really rub in the seasoning to all exposed parts of the turkey. This includes the inner cavity. 

What to Serve with a super flavorful thanksgiving Turkey

Thanksgiving turkey rubbed with this turkey seasoning deserves some tasty side dishes and desserts to go with it. 

Get your sides planned out by visiting my Thanksgiving recipes page. You’ll need Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, and Homemade Cranberry Sauce to start. 

Then get creative with the rest of the menu. Crockpot Green Bean Casserole, Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, and Texas Roadhouse Rolls could be excellent additions to your table.

FAQs

Now that you have the best turkey seasoning recipe, you will be unstoppable when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner prep. Make sure to save this recipe to make year after year.