Turkey Injection Recipe (3 Different Options!) (2024)

Thanksgiving is just around the corner so it’s almost turkey time! If you’re looking to mix things up and add an extra burst of flavor to your bird, a turkey injection recipe is the way to go. Using a meat injector helps ensure your turkey is juicy and flavorful throughout!

This method not only ensures your turkey recipes are juicy and flavorful, but also allows you to get creative with different flavor profiles. Whether you’re preparing a whole turkey, turkey breasts, or even a deep-fried turkey, injecting it beforehand prevents it from drying out and is an easy way to enhance the flavor.

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Benefits

There are quite a few benefits to using a turkey injector to help nail your Thanksgiving recipes:

  • Marinating Meat Quickly –Using an injectable marinadecuts down on the brining and marinating time. This is particularly useful for thick cuts of meat that typically require long marination periods.
  • Enhancing The Flavor –Using a meat injector to infuse herbs, spices, and liquids into turkey, ensures the flavors permeate throughout the bird.
  • Moistening Dry Cuts of Meat –Helps prevent lean cuts of meat from drying out during cooking.

Turkey Injection Kit

The only special equipment you need for a turkey injection recipe is a turkey injection kit. There are quite a few options on the market, so grab one with great reviews that’s in your price range. I personally use this model and highly recommend it.

Recipes for Injecting A Turkey

Below is a list of some of our favorite turkey injection recipes to take your holiday season feast to the next level. We’ve tested and honed these butter injections for turkey to compliment and enhance popular turkey recipes and any turkey rub.

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Garlic Butter and Herbs

This is the best turkey injection recipe if you’re going for a classic Thanksgiving Turkey flavor- it’s a savory turkey injection loaded with garlic and herbs and adds a ton of buttery goodness.

To make this mix, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Un-salted butter
  • ​Low sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • Lemon juice
  • Garlic powder
  • Dried herbs
  • Seasoned salt
  • Black pepper
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Garlic Lemon

This is the turkey injection seasoning to use if you’re looking to add a citrus element to a classic herb mix. It’s loaded with garlic and fresh lemon juice for a bright and savory garlic butter sauce.

To make this mix, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Un-salted butter
  • ​​Low sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • Lemon juice
  • Garlic powder
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt
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Cajun

This is a cajun turkey injection that will compliment a Cajun Turkey! This cajun sauce mix is loaded with your favorite cajun seasoning or creole seasoning to add a ton of spicy buttery goodness.

To make this creole butter injection, you’ll need the following

  • Un-salted butter
  • ​Low sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • Lemon juice
  • creole seasoning or cajun seasoning
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • Black pepper
  • Cayenne pepper

Want to add an extra hit of spicy flavor to this butter creole injection recipe? Add some hot sauce!

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Turkey Injection Marinade

Any of the above turkey injection recipes can be doubled to use as an injection mix and marinade. You’d use the first half to inject and the second half to marinade and/or baste the injected turkey.

Turkey Recipes

These turkey injection recipes can be used on any turkey recipe – not just roast turkey! Here are a few of our favorite turkey recipes to use a turkey injection recipe on:

  • Smoked Turkey (Smoked Turkey Injection)
  • Smoked Turkey Breast
  • Sous Vide Turkey Breast
  • Roasted Turkey Legs
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When To Inject

There are two thought processes when it comes to actually injecting the bird – both have pros and cons.

Inject Before Cooking

Pro –You can inject the bird up to 36 hours before cooking. Injecting it early won’t add much in terms of flavor as the butter firms back up when cold. It’s a convenience factor if you’re looking to knock things off your holiday “to do” list.

Con –The downside is inserting the melted butter into a cold turkey will immediately turn the butter into clumps and may clog the needle (depending on the size you’re using). If you find it difficult to insert as the butter keeps clogging the needle, I recommend stopping and inserting during cooking.

Inject During Cooking

Pro –Butter melts at a temperature of 90°F, so wait to inject the buttery goodness until the bird hits 90°F. This allows the butter to free flow through the needle with no issues.

Con –It adds another “to do” step to your already busy holiday cooking schedule.

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How To Inject the Turkey

Once you’re ready to inject: Place the turkey in the roasting pan (if you’re doing it before cooking) and start at the top of the breast working your way down. Inject the top of the breast and the sides of the breast, as well as the top of the legs and wings and the sides of the legs and wings. You should see the bird plump as it’s filled.

Tips For Success

  • This can be a messy task so make sure to have paper towels on hand and go slow.
  • Make sure the spices aren’t large in nature as they will clog the needle. Run it through a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to break down before mixing into the melted butter.
  • If you don’t have a microwave to melt the butter, use a small saucepan instead.
  • Distribute the injection evenly and at different angles for the best results.
  • Discard any leftover mix that’s come in contact with raw meat.
  • Experiment with flavors – light beer and white wine both make great additions.
  • It’s important to watch the sodium content, especially if you use a turkey brine or salt-heavy turkey rub. Use a no-sodium broth and unsalted butter to manage levels. The only thing worse that dry turkeys is over-salted turkeys.
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Turkey Injection Recipe FAQ’s

Can I Use Fresh Herbs?

You can absolutely use fresh herbs – fresh rosemary, thyme and sage work wonderfully! The key is to ensure they’re small enough in size to fit through the tip of the needle. Use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle for best results.

Do You Brine Turkey Before Injecting?

You can absolutely brine and inject a turkey or just stick with one. Injecting places the butter mix between the muscle fibers, while brining adds salt into the fibers. Essentially they’re placing seasoning into two separate parts of the meat.

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The possibilities are endless when it comes to a turkey injection recipe. Feel free to get creative and experiment with different flavors to create your own signature injection recipe. Just say no to dry and bland turkeys! Happy cooking, and happy Thanksgiving!

Additional Resources

  • Best Wine With Turkey
  • Best Wood For Smoking Turkey
  • 20 Tips ForSmoking Turkey
  • Turkey Gravy

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3 Turkey Injection Recipes

Thanksgiving is around the corner. Mix things up and add an extra burst of flavor to your bird with a turkey injection recipe. Using a meat injector helps ensure your turkey is juicy and flavorful.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 Use

Calories: 862kcal

Author: Darcey Olson

Cost: $2.50

Ingredients

GARLIC BUTTER AND HERBS

  • ½ cup unsalted butter ((*Note 1))
  • ½ cup low sodium chicken or turkey broth ((*Note 1))
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp dried herbs of choice ((*Note 2))
  • ½ tsp salt ((*Note 1))
  • ½ tsp black pepper

GARLIC LEMON

  • ½ cup unsalted butter ((*Note 1))
  • ½ cup low sodium chicken or turkey broth ((*Note 1))
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt ((*Note 1))

CAJUN

  • ½ cup unsalted butter ((*Note 1))
  • ½ cup low sodium chicken or turkey broth ((*Note 1))
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tbsp cajun seasoning or creole seasoning
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • tbsp Optional: Hot Sauce

Instructions

  • Place butter and broth into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir and repeat in 15 second increments until fully melted. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Let stand for 10 minutes to slightly cool.

  • Slowly draw the marinade into the syringe and inject every 2" into all sides of the breast, legs and wings.

Notes

Note 1 – If using a turkey brine, make sure to use unsalted butter and stock.

Note 2 – Rosemary, thyme and sage all work well. We prefer a mix of rosemary and thyme. Make sure to finely grind to avoid clogging the needle.

Note 3 – Discard any leftover mix that’s come in contact with raw meat.

Nutritional information is based on the garlic butter mix. It’s only an estimate and not exact.

Nutrition

Calories: 862kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 93g | Saturated Fat: 58g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 246mg | Sodium: 1615mg | Potassium: 234mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2864IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @foodieandwine or tag #foodieandwine!

Turkey Injection Recipe (3 Different Options!) (2024)

FAQs

Do you rub or inject turkey first? ›

After the dry brine, brush the excess rub off your turkey and let the turkey cool to room temperature. Once at room temperature, begin injecting your turkey with the marinade.

What is Butterball turkey injected with? ›

Injected and Baked Whole Turkey, Water, Salt, Dextrose, Sodium Phosphate, Carrageenan, and Natural Flavors.

Is it better to inject or brine a turkey? ›

For brining, injection shortens the time it takes for the brine to get into the meat and really helps with big, irregularly shaped things like a turkey or a pork butt.

What to season turkey with? ›

Stick with salt and pepper, put herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to work, or take spicy Cajun seasoning for a spin for some kick. Whatever blend you choose, spread it all over the turkey—on top, underneath, between the body and wings and legs, under the skin, and even in the cavity of the bird.

How long before baking should I inject my turkey? ›

Once you've made the injection fluid, be sure to keep it warm so the butter doesn't solidify. After injecting the turkey, rub it with your favorite dry rub to add even more flavor. Then stick that bird back in the fridge and let it sit until you're ready to cook it—you can inject it up to 36 hours ahead.

Should you wash your turkey before you cook it? ›

Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it's virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.

Can I keep a fresh turkey in the fridge for a week? ›

If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days. How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge? If you have leftovers that include cooked turkey, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

Does Butterball inject their turkeys with butter? ›

In fact, there is no actual butter in or on a Butterball turkey. The fresh turkeys are injected with a basting solution made of salt water and “common household spices,” one brand representative told me. Butterball will not share the ingredients of its secret basting formula.

Can you brine a turkey after injecting it? ›

While properly brining a turkey won't make it too salty, it does add salt to the meat. If you then add a salty rub or injection marinade you can end up with a turkey too salty to eat.

Are Butterball turkeys brined? ›

Butterball Fresh Whole Turkey is all natural*, never frozen, gluten free, and raised without hormones on American farms. Every fresh turkey is pre-brined before packaging for meat that's always tender and juicy. *All natural means minimally processed and no artificial ingredients.

Is turkey brine worth it? ›

"And a brine is a really great way, even if you go a few degrees over your desired cooking temperature, if you forget the turkey in the oven for some reason [to help avoid over-cooking]. You have a much greater range where you're still going to have moist, delicious meat because that salt is in there."

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

Oven-Roasted Turkey

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

What can I put in the turkey for best flavor? ›

Instead of filling your bird with stuffing, fill it with aromatics. (News flash: Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can be dangerous.) The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges.

Should I put butter or oil on my turkey? ›

Don't butter your bird

Placing butter under the skin won't make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before you roast.

How do you inject turkey with seasoning? ›

If you are using a needle injector you may have to use a coffee or spice grinder to make sure all dry herbs are small enough to fit through the needle and insert it into the breasts and thighs of the turkey. Inject each thigh and each side of the breast with 1/2 an ounce of marinade for every 5 lbs. of turkey.

Should I put rub under turkey skin? ›

Dry rubs and pastes are rubbed into the skin, which should be scored first with a meat tenderizer to allow the flavor to permeate the turkey. Rub the spices under the skin and on the outside of the turkey before roasting.

Can you brine and inject a turkey at the same time? ›

While properly brining a turkey won't make it too salty, it does add salt to the meat. If you then add a salty rub or injection marinade you can end up with a turkey too salty to eat. For this reason, if you are brining your bird, make sure you rinse it thoroughly after it comes out of the brine.

Can you brine and inject a turkey before smoking? ›

Just be sure and inject the turkey with fresh ingredients not any of the leftover brine materials or liquid. Keep in mind the brine will be salty so don't add any or very little salt containing ingredients to the injection. If injecting with any butter make sure it's not salted.

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