This homemade turkey dry rub is the perfect combination of herbs, spices, salt, and sugar to season a whole turkey or spice up a weeknight meal. Don’t be intimidated by making a whole turkey thought, because this recipe for turkey rub works every bit as well on turkey breasts, wings, or legs.

Be sure you keep this turkey dry rub recipe as a staple in your kitchen. On busy days you can make a quick main dish by seasoning chicken or turkey breasts, drumsticks, thighs, and wings.

savory turkey dry rub in a jar with fresh sage and rosemary near the jar

What Is A Dry Rub?

Simply put, a dry rub is a combination of herbs, spices, salt, and sugar. Usually, dry rubs are used on meats like chicken or pork. Dry rubs are used to season meat and infuse flavor into it, and the salt in the rub also helps the meat to stay moist as it cooks. They are a simple way to add a lot of flavor to all kinds of meats and side dishes.

Why Dry Rub A Turkey vs Brining

Using a dry rub achieves similar flavor results to brining. Brining involves soaking the meat in a saltwater solution to tenderize the meat and make it extra fall-off-the-bone tender. Brining works well for smaller cuts of meat, but brining a whole turkey can be complicated and messy.

Using a dry rub to season a whole turkey is much simpler and cleaner than using a wet brine, giving the turkey a more complex flavor.

If you enjoy making your own seasoning blends, be sure to try this Thai spice blend. I like to use it on grilled chicken. My coffee dry rub is great for pork and steaks, especially if you use your grill. The coffee flavor really compliments the smokiness from the grill. And if you love tacos, this all-purpose Mexican spice blend is the perfect way to infuse your favorite Mexican flavors into all your recipes.

Making this turkey recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? You can’t go wrong serving this with a sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, and other classic sides. Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving sides you can make ahead.

Why I Always Keep This Turkey Rub In My Spice Drawer

Turkey dry rub is an excellent way to spice up your standard Thanksgiving turkey, but it’s also great for adding flavor to weeknight dinners. It has a long shelf life, so you can always have some around when the mood strikes to make a turkey breast recipe for dinner. It’s also great as a seasoning mix-in for ground turkey burgers.
If I need an easy make ahead dinner I use this dry rub recipe on my Slow Cooker Turkey Wings. Turkey and gravy is pure comfort food for a busy or stressful day.
I love this dry rub because it’s versatile and simple to make. I usually have all the spices in my cabinet, so it’s a great last-minute seasoning choice.
Dry rub (and dry brining) is an easy way to have perfectly seasoned poultry. The skin always turns out crispy and delishous.
Kids love this dry rub on drumsticks and bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.

Turkey Dry Rub Ingredients

To make this easy turkey dry rub recipe, you’ll need a few common herbs, brown sugar, and a spice grinder.

Salt: I use kosher salt for almost all of my recipes, but you can use whatever salt you have on hand. Salt is the most important aspect of the rub since it seasons the meat, keeps it moist as it cooks, and makes turkey and chicken skin extra-crispy.

Garlic powder: Garlic powder has a mild garlic flavor, but is not as strong as raw garlic.

Smoked paprika – Smoked paprika brings a dark color to the meat and a, smoky flavor to the spice rub.

Dried thyme – Thyme is a classic herb to pair with turkey, and this rub is no exception. It’s slightly floral, herbal notes are a welcome addition to the dry rub.

Sage and rosemary: These are the classic aromatic herb that fills your kitchen when cooking a classic turkey dinner.

Brown sugar – Brown sugar offers sweetness and a light caramel note to the dry rub. It also helps the skin of the turkey to get deeply golden brown as it roasts in the oven.

The complete ingredient list with precise measurements can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to Make Homemade Turkey Dry Rub Recipe (Step-By-Step)

In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, ground sage, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

whole herbs, such as oregano and rosemary in a spice grinder with salt, pepper, brown sugar and garlic powder in a small bowl.

In a small coffee grinder, add the dried thyme, rosemary, sage, and marjoram. Pulse the grinder a few times to finely chop the dried herbs to make a fine powder.

turkey dry rub in a spice grinder and in a small bowl ready to rub on a turkey

Combine the herbs ground in the spice grinder with the other spice powders in the bowl. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
Store the spice rub in an airtight container, or use it right away.

Pro Tip

I like to use a dedicated coffee grinder to grind whole spices. This Mr Coffee Electric Spice Grinder from Amazon is affordable and has a clear lid so you can easily keep an eye on the consistency of your herbs when grinding.

Tips and Helpful Hints

This recipe makes enough rub to season a 10 to 12-pound turkey. If your turkey is larger, you should double the recipe to ensure you have enough seasoning for the whole bird.

Use high-quality herbs and spices. Dry herbs and spices lose their flavor as they sit in your cabinet, so check the expiration dates on what you already have so you know what to stock up on. If you’re unsure how long something has been in the cabinet, that’s a good sign it might be time to buy a fresh jar. I like to use a permanent marker to label the lids of my spices with the date I opened them.

You should plan to season your meat at least eight hours before you want to start cooking. This allows enough time for the dry rub to penetrate the meat and dry out the skin fully.

How to Use the Turkey Dry Rub for the Best Flavor

With a few tips, you can apply this turkey dry rub to create an amazing tasty turkey.

Prep the Turkey

Start with a Thawed Turkey: If you’re working with a whole turkey, make sure it’s fully thawed. Pat it dry with paper towels—this step helps the seasoning stick and gives you that deliciously crispy skin.
Using Turkey Parts? The same drying rule applies if you’re seasoning turkey breasts or thighs.

How To Apply Dry Rub On A Turkey

Loosen the Skin: Gently use your hands to separate the skin from the meat. Be careful not to tear it—you’re just creating little pockets where the rub will work its magic.
Season Under the Skin: Take a good amount of the dry rub and massage it directly onto the meat underneath the skin. This way, the flavors really soak in, keeping your turkey flavorful and juicy.
Season the Outside Too: Use the rest of the rub to coat the outside of the turkey. Don’t forget the wings and legs! Press the rub into the skin so it adheres well and covers everything evenly.

Allowing The Dry Rub To Season Your Meat

Refrigerate for Maximum Flavor: Pop the seasoned turkey into the fridge, uncovered, and let it rest. Aim for at least 1 hour, but if you can leave it overnight (up to 24 hours), the flavor will be even better. Plus, the skin will dry out a bit, giving you a beautifully crispy texture when it’s cooked.
In a Rush? Even 30 minutes in the fridge will make a difference, but if you can plan ahead, overnight is worth it!

Your turkey is now seasoned and ready to cook in your oven, smoker, or grill. Follow cooking time and temperature according to your turkey’s weight and cooking application directions.

Turkey Rub Questions

How can I make the dry rub spicy?

If you like your seasoning blends with a bit of spice, you can include 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, chili flakes, or dried hot peppers like serranos or habaneros. You could also use ground chipotle powder for smoky heat. You could also add a dried ancho or guajillo pepper when you grind your spices.

Can I use a dry rub on a deep-fried turkey?

You sure can! In fact, dry rub is ideal for deep frying turkey because you don’t want to add other liquids, such as a marinade on your turkey’s skin when cooking in hot oil.

How to Store A Spice Rub

Storage: Store the dry rub in an airtight jar or Tupperware container in your spice drawer or cabinet. Just remember, the longer spices sit, the more flavor they lose, so plan to use the rub within 3 months.

Make It A Holiday Meal

Making this turkey recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? You can’t go wrong serving this with a sweet potato casserole and creamy dairy-free mashed potatoes. Also, let me help make your Thanksgiving easier with these Make-Ahead Dressing Recipes For Thanksgiving.

Do you have a question about the recipe? Feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!

The Perfect Turkey Dry Rub Recipe

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