This Turkey Injection Recipe is a fast, easy recipe with melted butter, lemon juice, chicken broth, hot sauce, garlic, and onion. It's the best way to infuse your Thanksgiving turkey with rich, savory flavor, so you'll never have bland turkey again. Serve alongside Wild Rice Sausage Stuffing and Sweet Potato Casserole for a complete Thanksgiving dinner.
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This rich, savory turkey injection marinade recipe is a great way to flavor your turkey from the inside out for a moist, juicy bird and the most delicious, flavorful meat. And it's really easy to do -- all you need is a meat injector and a handful of simple ingredients.
❤️You're Going to Love These
- Rich, flavorful turkey that's moist and juicy.
- Keeps the meat from drying out -- no more dry turkey!
- Savory turkey injection delivers flavor deep into the meat
- Add juiciness by plumping up the meat with flavorful marinade
🍋Ingredients
See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts.
- Butter*. Melted butter keeps the turkey meat juicy.
- Lemon juice. Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Not bottled.
- Chicken broth*. Chicken broth adds rich, savory flavor.
- Tabasco sauce. For zingy flavor.
- Garlic & onion powder: Add savory depth without chunks that clog the injector.
*I use unsalted butter and reduced-sodium chicken broth with frozen turkey that contains a salt solution. For fresh turkey, add one teaspoon salt.
🌿Variations or Substitutions
- Liquid. Instead of broth, try beer or apple cider.
- Citrus. Try orange juice for a sweeter flavor.
- Seasonings. Add different flavors with seasonings and dry herbs like paprika, poultry seasoning, or Cajun seasoning.
- Sweetener. For a touch of sweetness, add a little honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar.
🥣How to Make Turkey Injection Marinade
Step 1. Melt butter in the microwave. Add remaining ingredients and warm until the mixture easily stirs together. Let it cool to room temperature.
Step 2. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Inject about 2 teaspoons of liquid per injection into the thickest parts of the bird from different angles.
Place the injected turkey in the fridge and allow it to marinate for 12-36 hours. For crispy skin, leave the turkey uncovered for up to 24 hours.
Step 3. Cook the turkey as desired. I like to rub it with butter and cook the turkey in a roaster oven. It's faster than a regular oven and leaves room for sides and desserts.
Step 4. Let it rest 20 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute and enjoy!
👉Helpful Hint: For maximum flavor, inject up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate.
✅Top Tips
- You can also melt the butter and warm the liquid in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- If liquid leaks out of the holes, wipe it away or rub it over the surface of the turkey.
- Whisk the injection liquid together if it separates.
- If you add herbs to the marinade, you may need to use a larger needle injector to prevent clogging.
🎁Storage
Store leftover injection marinade in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Rewarm gently to melt the butter, then let it come to room temperature before using.
🗓️Make Ahead
You can make the injection marinade up to 3 days ahead. Store it in the refrigerator, then warm just enough to melt the butter before injecting the turkey, then let it come to room temperature. Inject up to 24 hours before cooking for best flavor distribution.
❓FAQ
Use about 2 cups of injectable marinade for a whole turkey and one cup for a turkey breast.
Yes. You can skip the hot sauce completely or swap it with Worcestershire or a pinch of cayenne.
Absolutely. This turkey injector marinade works for roasting, smoking, or deep frying.
Inject it right before cooking or up to 24 hours ahead. Keep the turkey refrigerated the whole time.
😋Easy Turkey Dinner Sides
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📖 Recipe
Turkey Injection Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Melt butter in the microwave. Add the rest of the ingredients and briefly warm until it whisks together into a cohesive mixture. Let it cool to room temperature.
- Pat the turkey dry with paper towels and place it in a roasting pan. Fill the injector by inserting the syringe into the liquid and pulling the plunger up. Inject the mixture all over into the thickest parts of the turkey from different angles. Insert about 2 teaspoons of liquid per injection. Some liquid may leak out of the holes. That's okay, you can wipe it away or rub it into the skin, if you like.
- Place the turkey in the fridge and allow it to marinate for 12-36 hours. For crispy skin, leave the turkey uncovered for up to 24 hours. Roast, smoke, or deep fry the turkey, as desired.
Notes
- You can also melt the butter and warm the liquid in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- If liquid leaks out of the holes, wipe it away or rub it over the surface of the turkey.
- Whisk the injection liquid together if it separates.
- If you add herbs to the marinade, you may need to use a larger needle injector to prevent clogging.
- For maximum flavor, inject up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate.
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