Turkey Brine Recipe

Turkey Brine is what makes your Turkey Juicy and Tender. Even if you overcook your Turkey you'll still end up having the juiciest meat. But until now Turkey brine was simply warm water and salt. That's so boring and bland.😑

This Turkey Brine Recipe has a zesty orange flavor, Fresh Herbs like Rosemary and Thyme and a hint of warm fall spices. Submerge your Turkey in this homemade flavorful Turkey brine and you'll have guests raving about your Turkey.

Perfectly juicy and tender even when you overcook this Thanksgiving Turkey brine recipe has to be your #1 choice for the holidays🎄

Even if you are cooking your Turkey in the last-minute, I still recommend submerging your turkey for at least an hour or two in this Secret Turkey Brine for best taste and flavor.

Complete your Thanksgiving dinner with these Most Loved Thanksgiving Sides

Grandma's Turkey Gravy Recipe

Green Beans Almondine,

Maple Mustard Glazed Green Beans,

Green Bean Cheddar Casserole,

Sweet Potato Casserole,

Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and don't forget to finish it off with Mom's Turkey Stuffing, or Grandma's Sausage Herb Stuffing and of course some of our favorite Thanksgiving desserts like this Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie, and last but not the least Best Homemade Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Pie because without Pumpkin Pie, its surely not Thanksgiving-y!!!

The Secret to a Moist, Juicy & Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey 🤫

Do you know what is the secret to a good Thanksgiving turkey?

It is not the spices, the cooking method, or even what turkey you get.

The secret to any great turkey is its brine, and so many people get it wrong!

Some would season it too much, or someone would make brine so simple that it may as well be water!

Well, all of that stops right here with our homemade turkey brine recipe! It is not only quick and easy to make but will also work for many other recipes besides just Thanksgiving.

Just keep on reading and you can make this Turkey brine recipe right at your home in just a span of a few minutes!

Jump to:

• The Secret to a Moist, Juicy & Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey 🤫
• What is Turkey Brine?
• Ingredients - What do you need to make a Turkey brine? 
• Instructions - How to Make Turkey Brine Recipe
• How long should we brine a turkey? 
• So how long should you brine your turkey for perfect results?
• How to store brined turkey?
• Cooking Variations of turkey brine for smoking or grilling
• Top Tips for Traditional Turkey Brine
• Also try these Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
• Recipe
• Turkey Brine Recipe

What is Turkey Brine?

First of all, what is a brine? It is basically a solution made of water and salt, although many brines have some additional ingredients. You must have heard of pickle brine before, but that is not the same as a Turkey brine.

A turkey brine contains not only salt but also other ingredients like whole spices and fresh fruits which enhance the flavor of the brine. 

When a turkey is soaked in brine it not only absorbs all the flavors but also prevents the turkey from drying out.

If you want a Thanksgiving Turkey that is succulent and moist on your plate, then making a perfect brine for your turkey is an absolute must! 

Ingredients - What do you need to make a Turkey brine? 

Making a brine does not require any special ingredients. To make a brine for Turkey you would require some more additional ingredients but they are also not out of anyone’s budget. You can find everything you need to make a Turkey brine right at your nearest grocery store.

• Warm Water 
• Kosher Salt 
• Fresh Orange Slices
• Lemon slices
• Onions
• garlic
• Fresh Rosemary Sprig
• Fresh Thyme Sprig
• Peppercorn 
• Turkey 

See recipe card for quantities.

Jump to Recipe

Instructions - How to Make Turkey Brine Recipe

If you are already familiar with making brine then making Turkey brine would be child’s play for you. Even if you are not aware of how brine works it is still very easy for any beginner to learn.

You don’t need any upper-tier cooking skills to make a Turkey brine. Just follow the steps given below and you will be able to brine your Thanksgiving Turkey perfectly just on your first try! 

• Take a large pot and fill it up with water and turn on the heat. The water should be enough to submerge one full-sized Turkey in it. When the water is sufficiently warm go ahead and add a generous amount of salt.
• Now take a large bowl that can easily contain your Turkey. Place your Turkey in this large bowl and fill it with water till the bird is fully submerged.
• Add the rest of the ingredients in the Turkey brine to add flavor. Don’t miss out on any of them!
• Now cover the bowl with a plate or seal it on the top with plastic wrap. Keep this Turkey brine bowl inside your fridge for at least one day. At the same time, don’t keep it there for more than three days. 
• Once your turkey has stayed in the brine for sufficient time you can take it out of the fridge. Your Turkey is now fully brined and ready to be roasted! Just make sure you pat the turkey completely dry with paper towels over a rack before you roast it. 

How long should we brine a turkey? 

The duration for how much you brine your turkey is very important to how your turkey turns out to be.

Brine for too long and your turkey will end up mushy when you roast it or worse, too salty on the inside.

On the contrary, if you don't brine it long enough, then your turkey will end up under seasoned and not tender or juicy.

So how long should you brine your turkey for perfect results?

It depends on a few factors:

• Size - Your turkey's size will influence how long is needed for the brining process to take place and be completed. The bigger the turkey, the longer time. 
• Salt - The next influencing factor is the amount of salt you add to the brine. At least one cup of salt for every gallon of water you use is necessary for making a 24 hours brine. If you use less salt then your brining time would extend furthermore. 
• Duration - You should always keep aside at least 12 hours for your turkey to brine successfully. If you are brining a large family-sized turkey then 3 days should be sufficient. 

How to store brined turkey?

When you make a turkey brine you cannot store it for a long duration. Once the brining process is complete you are supposed to drain away the brine and pat your turkey dry so that it can be used for your recipes. But this doesn't mean storing brine turkey is supposed to be taken lightly.

• For the brining process you need to keep your turkey brine in a sealed bowl inside your fridge. Depending on the size of your turkey used, you have to keep the turkey brine in the fridge for one to three days. 
• Alternatively, you can use a cooler if there is not enough space in your fridge. Just make sure that the temperature inside the cooler stays below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• You can use a partially frozen turkey in the brine, but we suggest you use a fresh turkey instead. You will need a larger pot and extra few days for your frozen turkey to brine properly. 

Cooking Variations of turkey brine for smoking or grilling

• Apple Cider Vinegar - You can add in 2-3 cups of Apple Cider vinegar for a tarty taste and irresistible fall freshness.
• Brown Sugar - Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for a slight sweetness in your recipe.
• Bay Leaves - Add 5-6 large dried bay leaves for a fresh and aromatic taste.
• Sage - Although Sage has a sharp taste but you can definitely add in some sage for a festive touch.

Top Tips for Traditional Turkey Brine

• Some turkeys sold in the market can come already brined. Make sure you get a turkey that has no salt-enhancing agents inside them. 
• If your turkey is a little on the frozen side then don’t worry too much. It will thaw normally once you place it in a brine. 
• Make enough space in your fridge to place your bowl of brine turkey inside it. Or you can keep it in a cooler as well. 
• Use kosher salt instead of table salt which is more difficult to measure. You can never get measurement wrong with kosher salt! 
• Brined turkey will cook at a little faster rate compared to a normal turkey. It will also come out as a little pink when it comes out cooked. Don’t worry as this is perfectly normal! But if you are in doubt, then just insert a meat thermometer and measure the cooked Turkey temperature. If it is above 180-185 degrees Fahrenheit and you are all good!

Also try these Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

• Southern Buttermilk Ranch Mashed Potatoes
• Southern Creamed Corn
• Creamed Broccoli with Crispy Bacon
• Spicy Hot Creamed Corn with Crispy Chicken
• Creamed Spinach Recipe
• Grandma's Sausage Herb Stuffing
• Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Bacon & Maple
• Sweet Corn Casserole {5-ingredient} with Jiffy Mix in the Crockpot
• Roasted Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
• Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

Recipe