This marinade for turkey is an easy and quick way to flavor your holiday turkey with minimal effort. It’s made with olive oil, fresh herbs, spices, and citrus. The result is the most tender and juicy turkey ever! .
There are many different ways to prepare turkey for Thanksgiving, including this marinated, deep-fried, or smoked turkey. Serve your turkey with my favorite Instant Pot cranberry sauce for a memorable dinner. It’s a surefire way to always have a gorgeous and delicious bird! .
I’ve made turkey in a variety of ways, but my favorite way to flavor this classic Thanksgiving dish is with a turkey marinade. This combination of olive oil, herbs, and spices not only gives the turkey a rich, complex flavor, but also prevents it from drying out in the oven.
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, a delicious turkey. But how can you make sure your turkey is cooked to perfection—meaty, flavorful, and moist? The secret is marinating. Your Thanksgiving turkey can be elevated from ordinary to extraordinary with a well-crafted marinade that will add vibrant flavors and keep it juicy throughout cooking.
This comprehensive guide to turkey marinating is based on two outstanding recipes: “The Best Turkey Marinade Recipe from Dinner at the Zoo” and “Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade” from Allrecipes. By merging the best features of both recipes and adding professional advice, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide to making the best Thanksgiving turkey ever.
Unveiling the Secrets of the Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade
The Allrecipes recipe takes a unique approach by employing a two-stage marinating process. This method ensures that the turkey is infused with flavor from the inside out, resulting in a truly succulent and flavorful bird.
Stage 1: The Brine
The first stage involves a brine, a salt-water solution that helps tenderize the turkey and retain moisture The recipe recommends a simple brine made with salt, orange juice, brown sugar, water, and a cinnamon stick. This combination creates a balanced flavor profile that complements the turkey’s natural taste.
Stage 2: The Marinade
The second stage introduces a flavorful marinade that adds depth and complexity to the turkey. The recipe calls for a medley of citrus fruits onions bell peppers, parsley, cloves, garlic powder, cinnamon sticks, paprika, olive oil, and black pepper. This vibrant mix of ingredients creates a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
The Best Turkey Marinade Recipe: Simplicity and Elegance
A simpler method of marinating is provided by the Dinner at the Zoo recipe, which concentrates on a single marinade that produces amazing results. The use of fresh herbs and spices in this recipe results in a traditional and refined flavor profile.
The Marinade Ingredients: A Symphony of Flavors
Olive oil, soy sauce, lemon and orange juice, fresh herbs (parsley, chives, sage, rosemary, and thyme), garlic, sweet and smoked paprika, salt, and pepper are the ingredients of the marinade. The savory, citrusy, and herbal notes created by this mixture of ingredients perfectly balance the natural flavor of the turkey.
Combining the Best of Both Worlds: A Masterful Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade
By combining the best features of both recipes, we can make a Thanksgiving turkey marinade that is simply amazing. Here’s our recommended approach:
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 gallon water
- 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
- 1 (15-pound) turkey, thawed if purchased frozen
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 cup parsley leaves, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chives, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup sage leaves, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons rosemary leaves, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup thyme leaves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
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Prepare the Brine: In a large non-reactive container, whisk together salt, orange juice, brown sugar, water, and cinnamon stick. Stir until salt and sugar dissolve completely. Submerge the turkey in the brine, ensuring it’s fully covered. Refrigerate overnight.
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Prepare the Marinade: In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, orange juice, lemon zest, orange zest, parsley, chives, sage, rosemary, thyme, garlic, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper.
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Remove the Turkey from the Brine: Discard the brine and pat the turkey dry. Place the turkey in a clean container and pour the marinade over it, ensuring it’s evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours, or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor infusion.
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Cooking the Turkey: Remove the turkey from the marinade and pat it dry. Discard the marinade. Roast, smoke, or grill the turkey according to your preferred method.
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Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Feast: Savor the juicy, flavorful turkey that’s the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving celebration.
Additional Tips for a Thanksgiving Turkey Masterpiece
- Use a high-quality turkey: Choose a fresh or thawed turkey that is free of any bruises or tears.
- Don’t overcook the turkey: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Let the turkey rest: Allow the turkey to rest for at least 15 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute.
- Pair with delicious side dishes: Complement your turkey with classic Thanksgiving side dishes like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use a different type of oil for the marinade? Yes, you can use any type of oil you prefer, such as vegetable oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil.
- Can I substitute fresh herbs with dried herbs? Yes, you can substitute fresh herbs with 1/3 of the amount of dried herbs.
- How long can I marinate the turkey? You can marinate the turkey for at least 12 hours, or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor infusion.
- Can I reuse the marinade? No, it’s not recommended to reuse the marinade due to the risk of cross-contamination.
By following these tips and using the provided recipe, you’ll be well on your way to creating a Thanksgiving turkey that is the star of your feast. Remember, the key to a successful turkey is proper preparation, including a flavorful marinade that enhances its natural taste and keeps it moist and juicy. With a little effort, you can impress your guests and create a Thanksgiving memory that will last a lifetime.
How do you make turkey marinade?
Whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, orange juice, fresh herbs, garlic and seasonings. Pour the mixture over a thawed turkey. Let the turkey sit in the marinade until you’re ready to cook it. Remove the turkey from the marinade, cook as desired, then slice and serve.
This recipe calls for simple ingredients that you may already have on hand.
- Olive Oil: This forms the base of the marinade. Any type of olive oil will work, but extra virgin is what I usually use.
- Soy Sauce: While it may seem odd to add soy sauce to turkey, it actually adds a savory, complex flavor and some much-needed salt.
- Citrus Juice: I use a mixture of orange and lemon juice, and freshly squeezed juices are best.
- Zest of Citrus: To extract the zest, grate or microplane one orange and one lemon.
- Herbs: I use a range of fresh herbs, including chives, sage, thyme, and parsley. In a pinch, you can use one-third as much dried herb even though fresh herbs taste better.
- Garlic: Add a large amount of finely minced garlic to the turkey to enhance its flavor.
- Spices: I add salt, pepper, sweet paprika, and smoked paprika to finish the marinade.
Tips for the perfect marinated turkey
- Ensure that you massage the marinade all over the bird and under the skin. You can store the turkey while it marinates in a large pot, a brining bag, or a baking dish that is covered with plastic wrap.
- This is almost like a wet rub, so there won’t be a lot of messy liquid to deal with, and the marinade will sit on the skin and flesh of the turkey, infusing it with flavor.
- A marinade is not the same as a turkey brine. Turkey brine is a liquid concoction of salt, sugar, and water. You can use my turkey brine recipe if you’d like to employ a specific method.
- This marinade can be prepared up to two days ahead of use. Store it in the fridge so you can use it to coat your turkey.
- You can roast, smoke or grill your marinated turkey. Whichever way you choose, just be sure to use a thermometer to check when the turkey is cooked through and suitable for consumption. A meat thermometer should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the thigh or breast.
- Use this marinade to coat a 12- to 14-pound turkey on average. If your turkey is larger, you may need to increase the marinade by two times.