Go Back
–+ servings
Spice up Your Thanksgiving with This Smoked Turkey Injection Recipe

Smoked Turkey Injection Recipe

This recipe is a great way to add extra flavor to your turkey, whether you're smoking it, roasting it, or grilling it. The injection marinade is made with a combination of savory and spicy flavors, including garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and creole seasoning. This recipe is perfect for the holiday season, especially Thanksgiving.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Course Main Course
Cuisine Creole, Southern
Servings 10
Calories 600 kcal

Equipment

  • Meat injector
  • Large pot
  • Paper towels
  • Meat thermometer
  • Roasting pan
  • Pellet grill (if smoking turkey)
  • Instant Pot (if brining turkey)
  • Spice grinder (if grinding spices)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole turkey
  • 1 cup of olive oil
  • 1 cup of chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp of soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp of lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp of maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp of brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp of garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp of onion powder
  • 1 tbsp of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp of creole seasoning
  • 1 tbsp of kosher salt
  • 1 tsp of black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cup of white wine
  • 1 cup of red wine
  • 1 stick of butter melted

Instructions
 

  • Start by cleaning and preparing your turkey. Remove any giblets and pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
  • In a large pot, combine the olive oil, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, creole seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper.
  • Heat the mixture over medium heat and stir until the sugar and salt have dissolved.
  • Remove the pot from heat and let the marinade cool to room temperature.
  • Using a meat injector, inject the marinade into the thickest parts of the turkey, such as the breast and legs. Be sure to inject the marinade into various angles to distribute the flavor throughout the bird.

If smoking turkey:

  • a. Preheat the pellet grill to 225F.
  • b. Place the turkey on the grill grate and smoke for 2-3 hours or until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165F in the thickest part of the breast.
  • c. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.

If roasting turkey:

  • a. Preheat the oven to 325F.
  • b. Place the turkey in a roasting pan and roast for 2-3 hours or until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165F in the thickest part of the breast.
  • c. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.

Notes

  • If you want to add extra smoke flavor to your turkey, you can add wood chips to your pellet grill or soaked wood chips to your roasting pan.
  • If you want to add extra flavor to your turkey, you can also brine your turkey in an Instant Pot before injecting the marinade.
  • If you don't have a meat injector, you can also rub the marinade on the surface of your turkey.
  • This recipe is a good way to add extra flavor to your turkey, but it's important to note that it will not make a dry turkey moist, it will only add flavor to the meat.

YOUR OWN NOTE

Click here to add your own private notes.

Nutrition

Calories: 600kcal
Keyword Smoked Turkey Injection Recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!