Perfectly Spiced Turkey Rub Recipe

Spice up this year’s holiday birdusing my signature smoky, spicy, sweet, herby, and oh so delicious Homemade Turkey Rub!

It’s time to upgrade that holiday turkey with my homemade turkey rub. Those flavors are poppin, and it couldn’t be any easier boos. Just grab your pantry staples and in five minutes, you will build this delish signature smoky, spicy, sweet, and herby seasoning blend that is ready to flavor your bird to drool worthy levels. And the best part is this turkey rub recipe couldn’t be easier to make.

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Turkey rub recipe in a small jar with a full wooden spoon on gray countertop.

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They’re Lovin’ It! Here’s what They’re Sayin’:

“This rub is so flavorful I use it on everything! Turkey, chicken, and my favorite – pork tenderloin. I think I may try it out on some seafood next.”

—STEPHANIE

Now y’all know the best, moistest, most flavorful turkeys start with a bold spice blend, and my homemade turkey rub is bringing the goods. Whether you decide to fry, grill or roast it, start right here with this recipe.

This easy-to-make spice blend turns a regular old bird into something extraordinarily delicious.

Table of Contents

The Lowdown of This Turkey Rub recipe

Closeup of Jocelyn in pink dress smiling

Cuisine Inspiration: Classic Southern American Vibes

Primary Cooking Method: Roasting, Grilling or Smoking

Dietary Info: Gluten-Free

Key Flavor: Smoky, spicy and herby exposion

Skill Level: Easy y’all (No Sweat Fam!)

Beyond Easy and Adaptable

It’s so dang on easy to make a flavorful spice rub right at home! Homemade rubs allow you to control spice measurements and make larger batches so you can tuck them in the pantry for later y’all.

So Versatile

While this recipe is specific to turkey, you can add it to legit any and everything you can think of from chicken and seafood to roasted veggies and even popcorn boos.

Flavor on Flavor

Y’all my rub for turkey is seriously so bold. It brings out all of the best essences in your turkey. By the time you rub this one, you will be seasoning your bird like a pro.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Turkey Seasoning Rub

Small bowls filled with individual spices to make turkey seasoning rub

Paprika: This is mild and sweet and pairs well with literally everything.
Chili Powder: Chilis are smoky, rich, and deep in flavor and indulgence. And that gorgeous color just pops.
Cumin: Rich, earthy, and hearty with an edge of citrus, cumin adds so much depth to any dish.
Granulated Sugar: This enhances and balances the savory spices.
Garlic + Onion Powder: These mimic the flavor of the aromatic undertones you get from roasted or sautéed onion and garlic.
Ground Mustard: This sharp, fresh spice adds some tangy heat!
Oregano: This is legit a robust herb with a peppery bite. It adds some much depth.
Cayenne Pepper: We gotta bring a little heat and warmth to this rub so it kicks things up just a notch without spicing up the party too much.

How To Make Turkey Rub

Colorful spices in a large mixing bowl ready to mix into dry turkey rub.

Measure out spices into a small glass bowl or quart container.

A whisk in a bowl of spices to make homemade turkey rub seasoning.

Whisk everything or if using a container, just shake it up.

A wooden spoon in a mixing bowl of rub for turkey

Once all combined, it’s good to go. Spread the rub all over the turkey and cook it according to the directions of your recipe of choice. If you’re not using all of the rub right away, store it in an airtight container for later use.

How To Perfectly Season A Turkey

It ain’t that hard to get your turkey perfectly seasoned. Whether you use turkey wings, turkey legs or the whole dang on turkey, make sure you follow these steps. Start by rinsing and pat drying the entire turkey. For extra browning on the skin (and to help the seasoning stick), rub olive oil or some melted butter over the skin before working in the turkey seasoning rub.

Next, use your hands to really rub in the smoked turkey rub to all exposed parts of the turkey. This includes the inner cavity! If you can get a bit of the seasoning under the skin too, you’re gonna get a ton of extra flavor ya dig.

How to Serve Turkey made with Turkey Spice Rub

Easy Weeknight Dinner: Rub this dry turkey rub on some chicken wings and serve along with Mexican rice, fried cornbread and steamed vegetables.
Easy Holiday Meal: Make the roasted turkey legs with this turkey spice rub along with garlic mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, oyster dressing, and creamed spinach.
Classic Southern Christmas: Get this sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and potato rolls on the table with your turkey.
Soul Food Thanksgiving: Y’all better serve up my aunt’s cornbread dressing made with Southern cornbread, homemade gravy, and Southern collard greens so you will enjoy the turkey a little bit more.

A wooden spoon in a mixing bowl of homemade turkey rub.

Recipe Variations

Granulated Sugar: Try using brown sugar for a deeper, sweeter flavor in your turkey seasoning rub!
Paprika: Grab smoked paprika rather than regular for more depth.
Cumin: Use ground celery seed instead of cumin.
Dried Rosemary: Use oregano instead.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Use Fresh Spices: Want to upgrade this turkey seasoning rub even more? Go for fresh spices like whole cumin and coriander and grind yourself. Just toast the whole spices in a dry pan for a few minutes before grinding.
Do You Boo: Feel free to adjust the turkey dry rub recipe to your liking. Want more sugar? Add it! Want more heat? Add it. Build it based on your preferences.
Let it Marinate: I recommend rubbing your turkey at least 6 (but up to 24) hours before cooking. Be sure to properly cover and refrigerate the turkey as it marinates!

How to Store Turkey Rub

This homemade rub for turkey should be stored in an airtight container and kept in a cool, dry place for 6-12 months. You can use this homemade turkey rub recipe to add life to just about any cut of poultry, steak, or pork!

A small wooden spoon filled with dry turkey rub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use oil when applying this homemade turkey rub?

I usually do but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I just find that the added fat helps to kickstart the cooking process and gets the browning going. From a neutral oil to melted butter, you can do you.

Can I prep my turkey ahead of time with this turkey seasoning rub?

Absolutely boos! In fact, I highly encourage it! Seasoning your turkey ahead of time will help to tenderize the meat and infuse the most amount of flavor possible.

How much turkey rub spice should I use?

I go generous on the turkey because it requires a lot of seasoning so it ain’t bland y’all.

Y’all this turkey rub recipe is absolutely fantastic on basically anything you want to add bomb flavor to. Whether you pull this out for your Thanksgiving turkey or you add it to your weeknight chicken recipe, it’s gonna be a win.