After cooking dozens of turkeys for friends and family, we’ve learned a thing or two about the process. The biggest takeaway is that consistently wowing the ones we love with a juicy, flavorful turkey largely boils down to three steps: brining the turkey, seasoning it with a quality seasoning rub, and cooking it to an internal temperature of 160ºF.
Every turkey seasoning blend includes salt, pepper, and garlic. Most blends also include herbs and spices associated with the holidays, like sage, thyme, or rosemary. But maybe you’re itching to buck tradition and go outside the box with turkey seasonings this year. We have three great options that are guaranteed to wow your guests.
It might seem unthinkable to break tradition, but there is some delicious precedent for doing so. Take the Turducken, for example. Layers of turkey, duck, and chicken bring together three types of poultry for a delicious main course. Thanksgiving Egg Rolls are another delicious example as they combine a crunchy exterior with a warm and flavorful Thanksgiving-inspired filling that’s accompanied by a cranberry sweet and sour dipping sauce.
Best Non-Traditional Turkey Seasonings
1. Cajun - Cattleman’s Grill Cajun Fusion Rub
Cattleman's Grill Cajun Fusion Rub is built on a foundation of sea salt and white pepper, which provide a natural base for the accompanying bold flavors in this seasoning rub. An earthy chile flavor, along with cajun herbs and spices like oregano, basil, and thyme, add aromatic depth to the blend. Paprika, garlic, and onion add a smoky and subtly sweet layer to this subtly spiced blend.
This rub is a key element of the ATBBQ Cajun Turkey Kit, along with Cattleman’s Grill Pit Fire Hot Sauce and Butcher House Brine. The cayenne pepper and vinegar in the Pitfire Hot Sauce add a zesty kick to the turkey while the Butcher House Brine accentuates the smoky elements.
Alternate Cajun Seasoning: Cattleman's Grill Blackening Seasoning is a versatile seasoning rub with a tangy Cajun twist that works well on a wide array of meats and vegetables.
2. Smokey BBQ - R Butts R Smokin' Cherry Habanero Rub
Included in the ATBBQ Smoked BBQ Turkey Kit, R Butts R Smokin’ Cherry Habanero Rub balances sweetness with a touch of heat for a traditional BBQ flavor profile. It’s the perfect rub for those who plan to smoke their turkey or those who want to add the essence of BBQ to an oven-cooked bird.
Alternate Smokey BBQ Seasoning: Butcher BBQ Wild Cherry Seasoning, a complex combination of paprika, black pepper, red pepper, cherry, coriander, rosemary, and thyme. With a touch of molasses added to bring a sweet richness to the mix, this handcrafted small-batch rub is always perfectly blended.
3. Honey Chipotle - ATBBQ Honey Chipotle Smoked Turkey Kit
Built around Cattleman’s Grill Roadhouse Steak Rub and Brisket Bath Brine Concentrate featuring ancho and chipotle seasonings, this turkey kit crosses streams with the help of Kansas Wildflower Honey to bring sweet and smoky chipotle flavors to your smoked turkey. Packed with savory and sweet elements that work perfectly together, tamarind and brown sugar are the perfect complements to the savory peppers in the brine concentrate.
Alternate Honey Chipotle Seasoning: Kosmo's Q Killer Bee Honey Chipotle Rub is a rare honey-forward dry rub that also works great on ham, making it a holiday cooking go-to.
Turkey Seasoning Tips and FAQs
What is the best way to season a turkey?
First, gently lift the skin without tearing it, and make sure to apply seasoning directly to the meat. Then, resituate the skin and apply seasoning on to the outside of the turkey. Also, spatchcocking a turkey makes it easier to season and allows you to directly apply seasoning to more of the bird.
For a complete rundown, check out the ATBBQ guide to Seasoning a Turkey For Maximum Flavor.
How can I improve my turkey flavor?
Brining and injecting a turkey not only adds much-needed moisture to prevent it from drying out, but those steps also allow flavors to penetrate into the deepest sections of meat.
Check out the ATBBQ guides on How to Inject a Turkey and How to Brine a Turkey for a complete walkthrough of each process.
Which spice is best in turkey?
Turkey seasoning rubs are built around salt, pepper, and garlic. From there, nearly innumerable options exist to create tastes and flavors to suit your mood. When looking for the perfect pre-made seasoning blend, avoid those that include artificial ingredients, colorings, and fillers.
Should I put butter or oil on my turkey?
If you are following the ATBBQ three-step process of brining, seasoning, and cooking your turkey to 160ºF, butter or oil isn’t necessary.
Looking for more insights on how to prep an epic turkey dinner? Be sure to subscribe to our email newsletter, where we share every new recipe video, check out some of our all-time favorite turkey recipes, and take a look at our turkey kits and accessories. You’ll find plenty of tips and tricks that we’ve learned over the years and continue to use when preparing holiday meals for our families.
