Last Updated on April 24, 2023
Are you looking for a delicious dry rub for your Thanksgiving turkey? This turkey seasoning recipe is AIP compliant and super easy to make. It’s a spice blend that can be used on a whole turkey, turkey breast, ground turkey, or as any type of poultry seasoning.
Turkey Seasoning Recipe
This turkey seasoning recipe is perfect if you want to roast a turkey breast or make a flavorful turkey for Thanksgiving or any other day. It’s an easy seasoning mixture to make, and you can do so in advance and use anytime. It’s similar to my savory dry rub for chicken and tastes delicous on turkey!
This homemade turkey rub uses dries spices instead of fresh herbs, but feel free to swtich it up.
Turkey Seasoning Ingredients
What’s in turkey seasoning? This seasoning blend of 5 spices makes the perfect turkey for your holiday dinner.
- rosemary
- dried minced onion or onion powder
- dried savory
- garlic powder
- dried thyme
- sea salt (not table salt)
Flavor Variations
Of course, if you aren’t following an AIP Paleo diet, then you can add even more flavor by the addition of other spices such as black pepper, cayenne pepper, or smoked paprika. Some more ideas are below, the ones starred are not AIP complaint.
- *celery salt
- lemon zest
- orange zest
- parsley
- tarragon
- fresh herbs
- ground ginger
- *ground cardamom
- *garam masala
- sage
*Not AIP compliant
What does this seasoning taste like?
This turkey seasoning recipe makes the best turkey for those on an AIP diet, in my opinion. If you aren’t on a special diet, then you’ll enjoy the savory flavors too.
There’s nothing worse than a bland turkey (okay, there are lots of worse things). But, I promise you will enjoy the great flavor; it’s the perfect blend of spices.
Turkey Rub or Turkey Dry Brine
This homemade turkey rub recipe is way better than using store-bought turkey seasoning. You can make it and rub it all over your turkey and cook it right away, or you can dry brine your turkey and rub it on a day in advance.
The longer you let the turkey seasoning sit on your turkey – the more flavorful, yet salty it will be.
Ways to Use Turkey Seasoning
Although I have dubbed this recipe a homemade turkey seasoning, it can really be used on any type of poultry. It will taste great used on chicken, cornish hens, or even porkchops, which aren’t poultry, of course.
How Much Seasoning for Turkey?
This recipe can be scaled using the scale buttons on the recipe card. It will make just over 1/2 cup of dry rub ingredients. If you are making turkey breasts, you probably won’t need it all.
For a small turkey, you will definitely use it all, and you may even want to double or triple the recipe for a whole bird, depending on how large it is.
Making the Rub
Making this turkey rub recipe is simple! All you do is combine all ingredients together and store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.
It’s an easy recipe for a delicious turkey dinner.
How Much Seasoning for Turkey?
Depending on how flavorful or salty you want your turkey, you can use more or less of the spice blend. I use about 3 TBSP for every 6 lbgs of turkey. So, if I have a 12 pound turkey, I’d use about 6 tablespoons of the poultry spice rub.
How to Season a Whole Turkey
1.) First you will rinse the entire turkey and then pat it dry with paper towel. You will want to take your time and season the WHOLE bird!
2.) Next, get under the skin of the turkey with your spice blend. Rub some olive oil all over the skin and be liberal with your seasoning of the outside of the turkey.
3.) Be sure to wipe some of the seasoning inside the cavity of the turkey too. Trust me, when you use the pan juices for gravy later, you will thank me!
4.) finally, roast your turkey as you normally would.
Note: If you are planning on deep frying your turkey, skip the rub-down of olive oil.
Cooking a Turkey Breast
If you want to just cook a roast turkey breast, you can follow the steps in the second recipe card below.
More Holiday Cooking Recipes
- AIP Holiday Beverages
- AIP Holiday Dessert Recipes
- AIP Holiday Side Dishes
- AIP Holiday Main Dishes
- Paleo AIP Christmas Morning Breakfasts
Turkey Seasoning Recipe (AIP, Paleo, GAPS, SCD)
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP ground rosemary
- 2 TBSP dried minced onion or onion powder (I like the texture of minced onion)
- 2 TBSP dried savory
- 2 TBSP garlic powder
- 1 TBSP dried thyme
- 1 1/2 TBSP sea salt
Instructions
- Be sure all spices are gluten free.
- Mix together and keep in a small glass jar at room temperature.
- NOTE: If I had dried sage on hand, I would have added that too – so feel free!
Roasted Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 1/2 turkey breast, bone in and skin on
- e.v.o.o.
- turkey seasoning recipe
- 8 carrots, peeled and sliced into thick rounds
- 1 sweet onion, peeled and cut into eighths
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the carrots and onion in a 9×13 baking pan or large oval baker. Drizzle a little e.v.o.o on the carrots and onion.
- Place the turkey atop the carrots and onion. Drizzle with more e.v.o.o.
- Generously sprinkle turkey with poultry spice blend.
- Insert probe thermometer into thickest part of turkey breast.
- Roast until temperature comes up to 162F. It should continue to raise to 165F.
- Remove turkey and place on cutting board. Allow to rest.
- Turn oven up to 450F and place carrots and onion back in until easily pierced with fork.
- Slice turkey and serve with carrots and onion.
