Turkey Brine recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 17 hours 10 minutes
Servings 10 -20 servings

Jump to Recipe

Kick your holiday turkey up a notch with this quick and easy, 10-minute Turkey Brine! It’s a simple mixture of salt, sugar, herbs, and spices that will result in the most tender and flavorful turkey!

whole roast turkey in roasting pan with golden skin

Have you ever spent hours laboring over your big holiday turkey dinner only to end up with dry turkey? Have you wondered where you could have gone wrong and why you just can’t seem to get the perfect roast turkey every time?

Wonder no more! This turkey brine is exactly what you need to take your turkey from good (or not so good) to great. It adds tons of moisture and flavor to a turkey and makes it so much easier to knock holiday cooking out of the park.

Who knew an extra 10 minutes of prep could make such a big difference?

Want to try a dry brine? Check out my Garlic Brown Sugar Dry Brine Turkey.

What is turkey brine?

A brine is a liquid in which meat is soaked over a long period of time so it can absorb moisture and flavor. In its simplest form, brine is made up of water and salt. However, a brine can contain other ingredients such as herbs and spices to add even more flavor to the meat.

This turkey brine recipe is a saltwater mixture, but it also contains flavorful spices, herbs, brown sugar, and butter. It’s a simple recipe that will take any turkey to the next level!

Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox. You’ll also get new recipes and a free monthly menu plan!

Turkey brine ingredients:

  • Water and Table Salt: the base for the brine. You’ll use 1 cup of salt for an 11-12 pound turkey, which is what I used, but if you have a smaller turkey I recommend reducing the salt to ¾ cup.
  • Brown Sugar: adds a delicious warm, caramel-y sweetness to the meat.
  • Italian Seasoning and Black Peppercorns: a simple blend of seasonings that gives the turkey tons of flavor. The Italian seasoning provides warm, earthy, subtly sweet tones while the peppercorns add a kick of spice.
  • Garlic: there’s no need to mince the garlic first. The brine helps break down the cloves so you still get all that flavor.
  • Bay Leaves: infuses the turkey with a subtle minty flavor and also helps to enhance the other flavors within the brine.
  • Ice Water: helps quickly cool down the brine. Make sure the brine is fully cooled before adding the turkey. You can start with 1 ½ gallons, but add more ice as needed until it has fully cooled.
  • Unsalted Butter: melted and brushed on the outside of the turkey after brining to give it that golden-brown finish. Make sure you use unsalted butter. The brine gives the turkey plenty of salt.
  • Turkey: I use an 11-12 pound turkey for this recipe.
turkey brine ingredients measured out in small bowls
Gather brine ingredients

How to brine a turkey

This turkey brine recipe really couldn’t be easier! Just 10 minutes of extra time for a perfectly moist, extra flavorful turkey? Count me in.

  1. Combine and cook brine ingredients: in a large pot, mix water, salt, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, peppercorns, garlic cloves, and bay leaves. Bring that to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for a few minutes so the salt can dissolve.
  2. Cool it down: remove the brine from the heat and mix in ice water to cool it down. You can add more ice if necessary to cool it down more quickly.
  3. Brine the turkey: place the turkey into a stockpot and pour the brine over top. Make sure the brine fully covers the turkey. If it doesn’t, simply add more water. Refrigerate the turkey for 12-18 hours.
  4. Cook the turkey: remove the turkey from the brine, rinse it to remove excess salt. Place it in a large roasting pan and let it sit for 1 hour, then brush the turkey with melted butter and roast for 20 minutes at 425ºF. After 20 minutes, reduce the heat to 350ºF and cook for another 2-2 ½ hours.
  5. Serve: let the turkey rest for 30-60 minutes before slicing then serve with your favorite side dishes!

Why should you brine a turkey?

There are a few different reasons why you should brine your turkey…and yes, it is worth it!

  • Texture: Turkey is naturally lean meat, meaning since there isn’t a lot of fat it’s more prone to drying out than other types of meat. Brining it gives it an opportunity to soak in more moisture which results in a juicier, more tender turkey. It also gives you a bit of a moisture cushion if you accidentally overcook it a bit. An overcooked turkey that hasn’t been brined is much more likely to be dry.
  • Flavor: Soaking the turkey in brine for a long period also allows the seasonings to soak in so you get great flavor throughout the turkey, not just on the surface.
  • Exterior: The salt in the brine changes the texture of the skin, so when you cook it, you end up with that crispy, golden-brown look.

How long to brine a turkey

This depends on the size of the turkey, but I recommend 12-18 hours for an 11-12 pound turkey, which is what I used in this recipe.

If you are going to brine your turkey for more than 18 hours, I would reduce the amount of salt from 1 cup to ¾ cup so it doesn’t become too salty. I also wouldn’t let the turkey sit in the brine for more than 24 hours. If it sits in the solution too long, you’ll end up with meat that is too salty and the texture may become spongy.

fork and knife being used to slice brined roast turkey

Does turkey need seasoning after brining?

Nope! The brine adds plenty of flavor to the meat. The only thing you’ll add after you brine the turkey is melted butter so the skin can get that golden, crispy finish.

Tips and tricks for making turkey brine

  • Fully submerge the turkey. Be sure that the brine completely covers the turkey in the pot. You can add water if necessary until it’s totally submerged. If you don’t have a pot big enough you can use a (very thoroughly cleaned) cooler or a turkey brine bag.
  • Cool the brine completely. You want the turkey and the brine to be in the same temperature range when you start the brining process. You can let the brine sit at room temperature to let it cool or add more ice cubes until it has reached the right temperature.
  • Rinse it. After you brine it, be sure to rinse the turkey to remove any excess salt.
  • Dry it. Before you cook your turkey, pat it dry and let it sit for 1 hour at room temperature. The dryer it is after brining, the crispier and more golden-brown the skin will be.
  • Start at a high temp. The first 20 minutes at 425ºF gives the skin a chance to get crispy while the 2-2 ½ hours at 350ºF allows the turkey cook all the way through.
  • Let it rest. After it’s done cooking, let the turkey rest for 30-60 minutes before slicing into it. In that time, the moisture and flavor will settle back into the meat. If you slice into it too soon, all of that moisture will seep out.
sliced turkey breast with golden skin on a plate

What to serve with turkey

Here are a few of my favorite side dishes to serve with roast turkey!

Can brine be made ahead of time?

Yes! To prep your brine ahead of time, you can simmer the aromatics in the water as directed, then cool the brine fully and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

How to store cooked turkey

To store leftover cooked turkey, portion it out into smaller pieces, then store it in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months.

To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then microwave or warm in the oven until heated through.

More turkey recipes:

ashley avatar

Pin this recipe to save for later

Pin this recipe to your favorite board

Turkey Brine

4.60 from 10 votes
Kick your holiday turkey up a notch with this quick and easy, 10-minute Turkey Brine! It's a simple mixture of salt, sugar, herbs, and spices that will result in the most tender and flavorful turkey!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Brining time: 14 hours
Total Time 17 hours 10 minutes
Cuisine American, canadian
Course Main Course
Servings 10 -20 servings
Calories 455cal

Ingredients

  • 2 litres or quarts water
  • 1 cup table salt (reduce to ¾ cup for a smaller turkey, or if brining longer than 18 hours)
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoons black peppercorns
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 ½ gallons ice water
  • ¼ cup melted unsalted butter
  • 1 whole turkey (mine was 11-12 pounds)

Instructions

  • In a large pot, combine water, salt, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, peppercorns, garlic cloves, and bay leaves.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium heat and simmer, stirring often, until salt is dissolved (just a few minutes).
  • Remove from heat and stir in ice water. Let brine sit until cooled to room temperature, or add additional ice to cool it more quickly if necessary.
  • Place turkey in a large stock pot and pour the brine over top, submerging as much of the turkey as possible. If the brine doesn't cover the turkey, add water until it reaches the top.
  • Refrigerate for 12-18 hours. If you need to refrigerate longer than that, you may want to reduce the amount of salt by ¼ cup so that the turkey doesn't become too salty.
  • Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse well to remove excess salt.
  • Place the turkey in a large roasting pan and pat dry. Allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Brush the turkey with melted butter and roast for 20 minutes, before reducing the heat to 350 degrees F for 2-2½ hours, until a meat thermometer inserted in the breast reaches 170 degrees F. Let rest 30-60 minutes before slicing.

Notes

*Keep in mind that not all of the salt is consumed, so the sodium in the nutrition information will not be accurate.
Storage:
Leftover cooked turkey will last in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then microwave or warm in the oven until heated through.
Tips:
  • Fully submerge the turkey. Be sure that the brine completely covers the turkey in the pot. You can add water if necessary until it’s totally submerged. If you don’t have a pot big enough you can use a (very thoroughly cleaned) cooler or a turkey brine bag.
  • Cool the brine completely. You want the turkey and the brine to be in the same temperature range when you start the brining process. You can let the brine sit at room temperature to let it cool or add more ice cubes until it has reached the right temperature.
  • Rinse it. After you brine it, be sure to rinse the turkey to remove any excess salt.
  • Dry it. Before you cook your turkey, pat it dry and let it sit for 1 hour at room temperature. The dryer it is after brining, the crispier and more golden-brown the skin will be.
  • Start at a high temp. The first 20 minutes at 425ºF gives the skin a chance to get crispy while the 2-2 ½ hours at 350ºF allows the turkey cook all the way through.
  • Let it rest. After it’s done cooking, let the turkey rest for 30-60 minutes before slicing into it. In that time, the moisture and flavor will settle back into the meat. If you slice into it too soon, all of that moisture will seep out.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 455cal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 198mg | Sodium: 11639mg | Potassium: 635mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 318IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg
Keywords turkey brine, turkey brine recipe

Want to save this recipe?

Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again.

Register Now

Tried this recipe?

Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel —
I love to see what you’re making!

Tag @thereciperebel

Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

Read More

You May Also Like

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sandy says

    What about using a turkey that says โ€œpre brinedโ€ itโ€™s a frozen turkey I purchased at Wegmans. I think itโ€™s just injected with a salt solution. Wondering if I can prepare your brine recipe without the salt?

  2. Chris says

    My best turkey yet!
    I think the secret to this recipe is adding all the spices together and cooking then allowing the turkey to soaking for a full 24 hours. I did NOT rinse! I rubbed with unsalted butter and cooked exactly as the recipe states. Excellentโ€ฆ The flavor was throughout the entire 14lb turkey! The husband said we didnโ€™t have to wait until next year to have turkeyโ€ฆproofโ€ฆ. Best Recipe ๐Ÿฆƒ

  3. Martha says

    Hi! Do I need to use a turkey stock when cooking the turkey after the brine? I plan on cooking onions, celery and carrots in the pan with the turkey.

4.60 from 10 votes (8 ratings without comment)

Leave A Reply

Have you tried this recipe? Leave a rating