Roast Turkey (Dry Brine Recipe)

Last Updated January 4th, 2024 at 11:09 pm by Lisa

A Turkey Dry Brine adds bold flavor to your whole Thanksgiving bird, and is easy to put together with a good spice blend right from your kitchen pantry. Skip those store-bought mixes. A perfect turkey has a great flavor that starts with the best seasoning.

With step-by-step instructions and simple ingredients, you can mix a big batch of this turkey rub recipe. Use it to make a beautiful dinner anytime during the holiday season with the juiciest slices and golden crispy skin...

Turkey Dry Brine Recipe

All these Thanksgiving turkey spices are easily available at any grocery store. You can buy large spice jars online, I love to make a double batch and put this homemade turkey rub recipe in a small clamp spice jar. Be sure to print the recipe card below and save it for that special time of year during the holidays. Here is what you will need to prep for the perfect roast turkey, and be sure to watch the video in the recipe card below!

• whole turkey (I roasted a 12 pound bird)
• chicken stock - homemade or storebought
• whole lemons and lemon zest
• granulated garlic powder
• granulated onion powder
• brown sugar
• sea salt (I use Morton kosher salt)
• black pepper
• dried parsley
• dried thyme
• crushed rosemary
• paprika (not smoked or hot)
• poultry seasoning

PRO TIP: For maximum potential flavor in your roasted turkey, use good quality new seasonings and fresh spices. Go through your spice cupboard and replace anything expired or older than a year. Write with a black marker the date opened, which makes it easy to toss the ones that have lost the original herb's aromas and flavor.

Make The Dry Brine Mixture

To make this dry brine turkey recipe, first put all the spices and seasonings in a small bowl, and whisk to combine well. You can keep it in a large clamp spice jar or an airtight container if you make it ahead of time.

Roasting Pans

You will need a large shallow roasting pan with a rack. Remove the wrapper, and take out the neck and giblets. Place it on the wire roasting rack down on the bottom of the roasting pan.

Apply The Rub

Pat the surface of the bird dry with paper towels. This helps the turkey skin turn golden brown. You can preseason it, and keep it in the fridge overnight. This is a great way to prep ahead, and helps the skin get golden and crispy.

Season the outside of the turkey and the breast of the turkey. Tuck wing tips under so they don't overroast.

Adding Flavor & Moisture While Roasting

Put lemons cut in half in the cavity, squeezing the lemon juice inside. You can also add fresh herbs. Place a fresh herb mixture with sprigs of rosemary, parsley, and sage leaves inside the bird. Or garlic cloves for additional flavor!

Pour 4 cups of chicken stock into the bottom of the pan. This liquid helps keep the moisture high and the meat juicy. Plus it creates pan juices for gravy. In a pinch, you can use cold water, with some chicken bouillon.

Roasting

Preheat oven temperature to 400 degrees. Roast for 1 hour, check, and, if it is browning too fast tent it with a piece of aluminum foil. Pour 4 more cups of chicken stock into the pan, and baste using a bulb baster. Note: This initial higher temperature helps roast the meat faster and speeds up cooking time.

Turn oven down to 375 degrees, and roast for another 90 minutes. Tent with foil if the skin is browning too fast. I recommend this at the 60 minute cooking time mark.

Temperature Check

Use a good wireless meat thermometer with probes or instant-read thermometer. The wireless probe thermometers are great, with a Bluetooth one, you can monitor with your phone! You want the breast meat to be 165 degrees f temperature in the thickest part of the breast. Be careful to not have the thermometer tip touching the breast bone or that throws off the accuracy of the reading.

Also, check the thickest part of the thigh, it needs to reach 175 degrees. Once it reaches a safe temperature, it rest for 10-15 minutes on a large cutting board. This makes the most juicy turkey, as the juices stay in the meat! Don’t cover it so the skin stays crisp. Carve with a sharp knife, and serve warm with side dishes or use in other recipes.

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Turkey Seasoning Recipe: Flavor & Variation Ideas

Some people swear by their flavor injector (I just ordered one to make a new grilled turkey breast recipe for you all so stay tuned!), while others prefer a dry brine overnight like this one, a wet rub, or a wet brining solution.

How To Make a Wet Rub

You can take this dry rub recipe, and turn it into a wet rub by adding a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil until it turns into a paste-like consistency.

You can also try my Cajun Seasoning to create one of the best cajun turkey rubs, and it has a bit of cayenne pepper so it is spicy!

Adding Even More Flavor

Put lemons cut in half in the cavity, squeezing the lemon juice inside for more flavor. Oranges would also work well, and be sure to squeeze the orange juice into the cavity for flavor and to keep it moist.

You can also add fresh herbs! Place fresh rosemary sprigs, parsley and sage leaves inside the cavity to add lots of flavor. These really are the best herbs for turkeys, and garlic cloves are always good too!

Safe Cooking Temperatures

1. Use a good wireless meat thermometer with probes or instant-read meat thermometer, you want the internal temperature to be 165 degrees f in the thickest part of the breast and the thigh at 175 degrees f.
2. Transfer to a carving board, and a general rule of thumb is to let it rest for 10-15 minutes to let the juices stay in the meat. But don’t cover it, so the skin stays crisp. Carve and serve warm or use in other recipes.

More Turkey Dinner Holiday & Christmas Recipes

And for leftover turkey, try either my Empanadas, hand pies filled with holiday leftovers, or my Turkey Shepherds Casserole!

Here are some other great recipes for the holidays, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Make these Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes with 5 Ways to Reheat them for your holiday party. And one of them is in your slow cooker with cream and melted butter!

Sausage Dressing is the BEST holiday side also known as sausage stuffing, it has the best rich flavors! You can use hot and/or mild Italian sausage, cornbread, crunchy celery, soft French bread, sweet dried cherries, and tart dried cranberries. This dish takes traditional stuffing to a whole new level!

A festive, easy, Christmas Tree Salad with a Cranberry Vinaigrette (made in a Mason jar) will be the talk of your holiday party. Shape this salad like a Christmas tree and decorate it with "garland, ornaments, and snow".

This Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is Ruth Chris's Thanksgiving side dish made with pecan crumble topping, vanilla extract, and a bit of maple syrup.

More Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Make a Cranberry Orange Relish, and delight your friends and family. It has a light fresh taste, a little bit of a crunch, and less sugar than a traditional cranberry sauce. 

Dinner Rolls is a pull-apart bread, people go crazy for these decorated with cheese and herbs are a party hit every time.

For sweet potatoes, try either Coconut-Pecan Sweet Potatoes with little marshmallows or Sweet Potato Casserole with a crumble topping and 2 secret ingredients... SO good!

This tropical Pineapple Orange Cranberry Sauce will be a great addition to take or serve at your holiday feast. It is made in a food processor in minutes, and so clean and refreshing with rich holiday dishes!

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More Thanksgiving Dinner Turkey Recipes

With this complete guide and step-by-step recipe, a Spatchcock Turkey gives every bit of the surface a chance to turn and even golden brown all over. Turkey meat like turkey legs and the breast all cooks at different times. Light meat or white meat, cooks faster than thigh meat or dark meat. This cooking method is an effective technique to roast the entire bird so it is all done at the same time and doesn't over cook any one part.

Cooking a Turkey Breast is easy using a boneless breast and you will love the flavorful Turkey Gravy made from the pan drippings!

This is the best Thanksgiving turkey recipe to serve a small number of people or to have for leftovers the next day!

Dotted with Herb Butter, this compound butter mixture keeps the meat tender and moist. Plus adds amazing flavor from the fresh herbs into the best turkey recipe and the gravy...

Wondering what to do with Thanksgiving leftovers? Make Thanksgiving Empanadas (Hand Pies)or bake a Leftover Casserole that is just like a Shephard's Pie and the best recipe for leftovers.