Best Turkey Rub For Smoking

This Best Turkey Rub for Smoking adds fantastic flavor and moisture to your turkey. The dry rub creates a crispy exterior while keeping the meat juicy and flavorful. The blend of herbs and spices will help make your turkey the star of the show. This dry rub is great for any cooking method, such as an electric smoker, oven, air fryer, or Instant Pot. And it only takes 5 minutes to make!

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Summer might be grilling season, but the holidays are all about smoked turkey. This year, ditch the store-bought turkey rub and make your own!

Whether you're making a whole turkey like Smoked Turkey, Smoked Spatchcock Turkey, or Roast Turkey, this dry rub will be delicious. It also tastes amazing on smoked turkey breast, turkey thighs, and turkey legs.

The result is a golden, crispy skin with all the flavor of Thanksgiving in one bite. Seriously, I think this is one of the best dry rub recipes!

I have been making my own bbq rub and homemade seasoning rubs for years, and have received lots of great feedback on my Dry Rub for Chicken; Brisket Rub, Prime Rib Rub, Copycat Texas Roadhouse Steak Seasoning, and Pork Rub.

I have been playing around with turkey rub recipes for about a year now, trying to come up with the perfect recipe, and I have finally nailed it!

The first time I made it, it was way too overpowering. I am NOT a fan of sage.

However, I am glad to say that this rub has a ton of flavor without being overpowering. I have been cooking up a ton of turkey recipes so I can try out this rub, and it is so delicious!

Trust me, your family and friends will ask for seconds (and thirds!). So go ahead and make a big batch; you will need it!

Jump to:

• Why you will love this recipe
• What is a dry rub?
• Turkey rub versus turkey dry brine versus wet rub
• How much rub does this recipe make?
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Top tips
• What to serve with juicy smoked turkey
• FAQ
• Best Turkey Rub For Smoking
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Meet The Author
• 💬 Comments

Why you will love this recipe

• This delicious smoked turkey rub is the perfect way to add amazing flavor and moisture to your holiday bird.
• It's quick and easy to make and only requires a few ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
• Applying the perfect dry rub is a simple step that adds flavor.
• It's perfect for the holiday season, and your Thanksgiving turkey will be moist and juicy.
• You will get crispy turkey skin without overcooking the meat.
• If using a smoker, it is easy to control the smoker temperature. And cooking at a low temperature will cook the whole bird slowly and evenly, giving you a juicy and flavorful turkey.
• It also tastes delicious on both chicken and pork.
• It even works on skinless turkey breasts, legs, and thighs! Plus, it doesn't matter which cooking method you use; this dry rub adds the perfect flavor!

What is a dry rub?

A dry rub is a mixture of spices rubbed onto the exterior of meat before cooking.

The spices in a dry rub create a flavorful crust on the outside of the meat while also infusing the meat with flavor.

A well-made dry rub will include a balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.

One of the great things about using a dry rub on your holiday turkey is that it requires very little prep work.

You don't need to worry about brining your turkey or basting your turkey. The dry rub will do all the work for you.

Mix your spices, rub them onto the turkey, then let the spice blend penetrate the skin and work their magic.

The dry rub seals in moisture, giving you juicy and succulent turkey no matter what cooking method you use.

Turkey rub versus turkey dry brine versus wet rub

A successful Thanksgiving feast depends on a juicy, flavorful turkey and happy, stress-free guests.

The key to achieving both of these goals is proper turkey preparation.

When prepping your bird, you have three choices: a turkey rub, a turkey dry brine, or a wet turkey brine.

A turkey rub is a blend of spices you massage into the turkey's skin before cooking. Rubs are easy to apply and don't require any special equipment.

A dry brine turkey is a mixture of salt and spices rubbed into the turkey's skin. Dry brining takes slightly longer than a rub as the turkey needs to sit in the fridge with the dry brine for at least 8 hours.

A wet brine turkey is a mixture of salt and water the turkey soaks in for several hours (or even overnight). This method requires planning to ensure that your turkey is defrosted before starting the process. You also must ensure you have enough time to allow the turkey to soak, plus have room in your fridge to keep it.

Because I like things simple and easy, I use a dry rub. It is quick and easy, and the turkey is always moist and juicy with a crispy exterior.

How much rub does this recipe make?

This dry rub recipe makes about 3.5 tablespoons, enough for a turkey breast, some turkey thighs, or turkey legs.

The best way to figure out how much rub to cover an entire turkey is to estimate one tablespoon for every pound of meat.

So if I were cooking a 7-8 pound turkey, I would double this recipe.

I would quadruple this recipe if I were cooking a large turkey of about 14-16 pounds.

Ingredients

Making a flavorful dry rub for your Thanksgiving turkey is easy. All you need are basic pantry staples that you can easily find at your local grocery store.

• Brown sugar caramelizes on the surface of the meat, creating a delicious outer crust. Plus, the molasses in brown sugar give the rub a deep, rich flavor that compliments the other spices perfectly.
• Smoked paprika adds both flavor and color.
• Sea salt can help break down tough proteins in the meat, making it more tender and flavorful.
• Garlic powder adds excellent flavor to this dry rub.
• Onion powder pairs well with garlic powder, adding great flavor to the turkey.
• Black pepper adds great flavor to the outer crust of the meat.
• Rosemary, crushed, has a pleasant aroma and flavor that pairs perfectly with turkey.
• Poultry seasoning has a lovely blend of herbs that complement the flavor of turkey very well. Just a little is needed to get a subtle taste of sage without it being overpowering.
• Ground thyme has a flavorful and earthy taste and pairs well with the other spices to make this delicious dry rub.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

First, add all of the ingredients to a small bowl or jar.

Stir with a spoon or fork to combine. (You can also use a small glass jar instead of a bowl. Place the lid on the jar and shake until all the ingredients are mixed).

Before using the dry rub; however, use a paper towel to pat dry the outside of the turkey.

Then, brush on some olive oil or butter, covering the entire outside of the turkey.

Then, sprinkle dry rub liberally on the whole turkey with a spoon or your hands.

You can also place the rub on a plate and roll the meat in it until coated. Make sure to cover the whole bird; including the top, bottom, and sides.

Then cook your turkey on the electric smoker, or whatever cooking method you use, according to your recipe.

If you want to make turkey gravy, place a drip pan on the pellet grill underneath the grate.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to know when your turkey is cooked.

Hint: If not grilling or smoking the turkey right away, place it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

Substitutions

A homemade dry rub is the key to a delicious turkey dinner. However, if you don't have all of these ingredients on hand, several substitutes will work just as well:

• Brown sugar: Use raw sugar, coconut sugar, maple sugar, or plain white sugar.
• Smoked paprika: Use regular paprika.
• Salt: Use kosher salt or sea salt. Do not use table salt. It will give your turkey a metallic taste.
• Garlic powder: Use granulated garlic or garlic flakes.
• Onion powder: Use granulated onion or onion flakes.
• Black pepper: Use coarsely ground black pepper, fine black pepper, or white pepper.

Variations

No matter what your holiday feast looks like this year, a dry-rubbed turkey deserves a spot on the table.

An excellent dry rub should be flavorful but not overpowering, and it should complement the natural flavor of the turkey. Here are a few variations to try:

• Spicy: Add cayenne pepper or chili powder to the mix.
• Sweet: Add more brown sugar to the mix if you want a little bit of extra sweetness.
• Cajun: Make a Cajun turkey rub by adding Cajun seasoning to the mix.

Equipment

The only equipment you need to make this homemade smoked turkey rub, besides the ingredients, is a small bowl or glass jar with a lid and a spoon.

Mix the ingredients in the bowl, or shake together the ingredients in a glass jar.

Plus, any type of smoker will work for this recipe; a charcoal grill, pellet grill, Traeger wood pellet grill, and even a gas grill.

Storage

• Store the homemade turkey rub in an airtight container, such as a glass jar.
• Store it in a cool, dark place like a pantry or cupboard, where it will keep for up to 3 months.
• Label the container with the date of preparation and the expiration date (three months from preparation).
• To prolong the freshness of the spices, store the rub in the fridge or freezer for up to 6 months.

What to serve with juicy smoked turkey

Serve your turkey with favorites like green bean casserole, twice-baked mashed potatoes, roast squash, cranberry sauce, and air fryer carrots.

Don't forget pumpkin pie for dessert! Try smoked pumpkin pie or crustless pumpkin pie.

FAQ

A dry rub is a great way to add flavor to your turkey. You can create the best turkey that will impress your family and friends with just a few simple ingredients.

Try this recipe next time you're looking for a tasty way to prepare turkey! I hope you enjoy this homemade turkey rub as much as I do!

If you tried this recipe, please take a moment to leave a star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and/or comment below to let me know how it turned out!

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