Flavorful Turkey Seasoning

By Emily Richter

9/7/2025

I am always in charge of the turkey for Thanksgiving Day, and I swear by this turkey seasoning for flavor. It helps create the most amazing crust on the turkey skin and is the best blend of spices for turkey.

I always make sure to make a homemade turkey gravy out of the drippings because the spices create the most amazing gravy flavor. So good that my grandma said it tastes like her favorite gravy from the grocery store deli 🤪

Whether you’re cooking a full Thanksgiving turkey or a smaller turkey tenderloin for Thanksgiving, I’ve used this very turkey seasoning on almost all cuts of turkey and they always come out so flavorful!

This turkey seasoning recipe is one of my most popular Thanksgiving recipes . I use this turkey seasoning every year to season my Thanksgiving turkey, and it’s truly what makes it so amazing.

It’s savory, a little bit smokey, and slightly sweet. It combines some of the best common spices such as garlic powder, thyme, and oregano to create one amazing turkey dry rub.

Featured Comment

Turkey Seasoning Ingredients

I’m betting that the following spices are already in your cupboard. And, I can guarantee you that this seasoning will be more flavorful than any store-bought turkey seasoning + all the benefits of actually being able to pronounce the ingredients:

• Dried thyme
• Dried rosemary
• Dried oregano
• Garlic powder
• Chili powder
• Smoked paprika
• Brown sugar
• Coarse salt
• Pepper

How much does this seasoning for turkey yield?

This recipe yields around 1/3 cup and is enough seasoning for a 15 lb. turkey. For smaller or larger birds, use 1.5 tablespoons of seasoning per lb. of turkey.

How to Season a Turkey

Seasoning a turkey is simple and my #1 tip is to put it everywhere! After mixing up the spice blend, simply sprinkle it on top of the skin and in between the legs. Then, use your hands to rub it in. You can even rub it under the skin for optimal flavor. Not only will it flavor the turkey itself, but it will help create the most flavorful turkey drippings, which will eventually be your turkey gravy.

How to Store Homemade Turkey Seasoning

This recipe yields 1/3 cup. If you have leftover turkey seasoning, transfer it into a jar and tightly seal it shut. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

While these turkey spices are specifically for turkey, they make for a great all-purpose poultry seasoning so don’t be afraid to use it for other cuts of meat!

Glass

Spice Jars

Organize your homemade spices with this empty glass spice jar set!

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

• Smoked Turkey
• Thanksgiving Turkey
• Spatchcock Turkey
• Smoked Turkey Breast
• Smoked Turkey Legs
• Sous Vide Turkey
• Roasted Turkey Tenderloin

Complete Your Thanksgiving Meal

• Whipped Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes
• Healthy Green Bean Casserole
• Sausage Stuffing
• Turkey Gravy

Ingredients1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• ▢ 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
• ▢ 4 teaspoons dried oregano
• ▢ 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• ▢ 4 tablespoons garlic powder
• ▢ 6 teaspoons coarse salt
• ▢ 4 teaspoons pepper
• ▢ 2 tablespoons chili powder
• ▢ 4 teaspoons smoked paprika

Instructions

• Place all ingredients for the turkey seasoning into a large glass container or mason jar.
• Then, stir the spices together to create your rub.
• To season your turkey, generously sprinkle it on top of the entire bird including the breasts, legs, etc. Use your hands to rub it into the turkey skin. You can even rub it under the skin or put it in the cavity if you have extra for optimal flavor.
• Storage: if you have leftover turkey seasoning, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Tips & Notes

• This recipe yields: ~1/3 cup seasoning
• For a 15 lb. turkey, use the entire recipe.
• For smaller or larger birds, use 1.5 tablespoons of seasoning per lb. of turkey.

Watch It

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Shop This Post

Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds , we’d love to see what you’re up to!

The Best Turkey Seasoning

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
• 4 teaspoons dried oregano
• 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons garlic powder
• 6 teaspoons coarse salt
• 4 teaspoons pepper
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 4 teaspoons smoked paprika

Instructions

• Place all ingredients for the turkey seasoning into a large glass container or mason jar.
• Then, stir the spices together to create your rub.
• To season your turkey, generously sprinkle it on top of the entire bird including the breasts, legs, etc. Use your hands to rub it into the turkey skin. You can even rub it under the skin or put it in the cavity if you have extra for optimal flavor.
• Storage: if you have leftover turkey seasoning, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Video

Notes

• This recipe yields: ~1/3 cup seasoning
• For a 15 lb. turkey, use the entire recipe.
• For smaller or larger birds, use 1.5 tablespoons of seasoning per lb. of turkey.

Nutrition

Flavorful Turkey Seasoning

By Emily Richter

9/7/2025

I am always in charge of the turkey for Thanksgiving Day, and I swear by this turkey seasoning for flavor. It helps create the most amazing crust on the turkey skin and is the best blend of spices for turkey.

I always make sure to make a homemade turkey gravy out of the drippings because the spices create the most amazing gravy flavor. So good that my grandma said it tastes like her favorite gravy from the grocery store deli 🤪

Whether you’re cooking a full Thanksgiving turkey or a smaller turkey tenderloin for Thanksgiving, I’ve used this very turkey seasoning on almost all cuts of turkey and they always come out so flavorful!

This turkey seasoning recipe is one of my most popular Thanksgiving recipes . I use this turkey seasoning every year to season my Thanksgiving turkey, and it’s truly what makes it so amazing.

It’s savory, a little bit smokey, and slightly sweet. It combines some of the best common spices such as garlic powder, thyme, and oregano to create one amazing turkey dry rub.

Featured Comment

Turkey Seasoning Ingredients

I’m betting that the following spices are already in your cupboard. And, I can guarantee you that this seasoning will be more flavorful than any store-bought turkey seasoning + all the benefits of actually being able to pronounce the ingredients:

• Dried thyme
• Dried rosemary
• Dried oregano
• Garlic powder
• Chili powder
• Smoked paprika
• Brown sugar
• Coarse salt
• Pepper

How much does this seasoning for turkey yield?

This recipe yields around 1/3 cup and is enough seasoning for a 15 lb. turkey. For smaller or larger birds, use 1.5 tablespoons of seasoning per lb. of turkey.

How to Season a Turkey

Seasoning a turkey is simple and my #1 tip is to put it everywhere! After mixing up the spice blend, simply sprinkle it on top of the skin and in between the legs. Then, use your hands to rub it in. You can even rub it under the skin for optimal flavor. Not only will it flavor the turkey itself, but it will help create the most flavorful turkey drippings, which will eventually be your turkey gravy.

How to Store Homemade Turkey Seasoning

This recipe yields 1/3 cup. If you have leftover turkey seasoning, transfer it into a jar and tightly seal it shut. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

While these turkey spices are specifically for turkey, they make for a great all-purpose poultry seasoning so don’t be afraid to use it for other cuts of meat!

Glass

Spice Jars

Organize your homemade spices with this empty glass spice jar set!

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

• Smoked Turkey
• Thanksgiving Turkey
• Spatchcock Turkey
• Smoked Turkey Breast
• Smoked Turkey Legs
• Sous Vide Turkey
• Roasted Turkey Tenderloin

Complete Your Thanksgiving Meal

• Whipped Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes
• Healthy Green Bean Casserole
• Sausage Stuffing
• Turkey Gravy

Ingredients1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• ▢ 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
• ▢ 4 teaspoons dried oregano
• ▢ 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• ▢ 4 tablespoons garlic powder
• ▢ 6 teaspoons coarse salt
• ▢ 4 teaspoons pepper
• ▢ 2 tablespoons chili powder
• ▢ 4 teaspoons smoked paprika

Instructions

• Place all ingredients for the turkey seasoning into a large glass container or mason jar.
• Then, stir the spices together to create your rub.
• To season your turkey, generously sprinkle it on top of the entire bird including the breasts, legs, etc. Use your hands to rub it into the turkey skin. You can even rub it under the skin or put it in the cavity if you have extra for optimal flavor.
• Storage: if you have leftover turkey seasoning, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Tips & Notes

• This recipe yields: ~1/3 cup seasoning
• For a 15 lb. turkey, use the entire recipe.
• For smaller or larger birds, use 1.5 tablespoons of seasoning per lb. of turkey.

Watch It

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Shop This Post

Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds , we’d love to see what you’re up to!