The Most Incredible Flavorful Turkey Marinade You’re Ever Gonna Have!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I’ve got turkey prep on my mind! That’s why I’m so excited to share my BEST Citrus-Chipotle Turkey Marinade, a recipe I’ve been using for years. I’ll be honest—cooking a turkey can be tricky! Trust me, I’ve had more turkey fails than I’d like to admit, some of them as memorable as the famous Griswold family turkey. LOL! But after all those attempts, I finally found a marinade that brings out the best in this holiday bird. My family isn’t usually the biggest fan of turkey; they find it bland and dry. So, I set out to create a marinade that would pack a punch of flavor. I mixed and matched anything I thought would bring life to the turkey, and this Citrus-Chipotle marinade became our favorite. It’s sooo good! This marinade is bursting with bold flavors that will have everyone saying “adios” to bland and boring turkey. Let’s get started and make this the tastiest turkey yet!
Brine the Turkey!
Brining the turkey is highly recommended. During the brining process, the turkey will absorb the salt solution making the turkey meat tender, juicier, and more flavorful.
My Favorite Easy Turkey Brine
You’ll need:
Water Apple Cider Salt Brown sugar You can add herbs, such as thyme, oregano, or sage, to the brine for more flavor. Or even 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon of whole peppercorns, and slices of lemons and oranges.
Place the turkey, neck first, in a large plastic bag. Add 1 gallon of water, 2 cups apple cider, 1 1/2 cups salt, 1 cup brown sugar, and herbs of your liking. Close the bag, pressing out as much air as possible, and shake it to mix the ingredients and dissolve the salt and sugar. Brine the turkey in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Pro Tip: Do not go past 24 hours, or your turkey could be overly salty.
Garlic cloves: There is not such a thing as too much garlic, so I use lots of garlic in this recipe. Vegetable oil: You can use any other light-tasting oil that you prefer. Orange and lemon juice: I use a combination of both orange and lemon juice, and freshly squeezed juices are best. Apple cider vinegar Salt: I prefer kosher or sea salt. If you only have table salt handy, I recommend reducing the amount to half. Spices: You’ll need cumin, coriander powder, and onion powder. Chipotles in adobo: Available in most grocery stores in the international section or online here. The chipotles in adobo will add a little kick to the marinade without making it too spicy. My kids eat it without complaining; however, feel free to add just 2 chipotles for a super mild flavor. Check out my Ultimate Guide to Cooking With Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce. Yellow pepper paste: This yellow paste is key for this marinade. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find in the regular grocery store, so I usually buy it online here. Herbs: I like to use sage and oregano, but you can add other herbs, such as chives, parsley, and thyme. While fresh herbs have the best flavor, in a pinch, you can substitute 1/3 of the amount of dried herbs.
Make sure the turkey is completely thawed so the marinade will be able to infuse flavor into the turkey. Rub the marinade all over the entire turkey, including under the skin. This marinade makes enough to cover an average 8 lb turkey. You may need to double the marinade if you’re using a larger turkey. I recommend letting your turkey sit in the marinade for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.
More Eggless Thanksgiving Recipes You’ll Love!
Soft No-Knead Eggless Dinner Rolls Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Slow Cooker Easy Green Bean Casserole Easy Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Easy Eggless Pumpkin Pie Eggless Pecan Pie Cheesecake Easy Eggless Pecan Pie Instant Pot Apple Butter Eggless Pumpkin Roll
Pro Tip: Scrape any large pieces of garlic and/or herbs off the marinated turkey so that they won’t burn when cooked.
Recipe Card 📖
This recipe was originally published in October 2018. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information have been added to the post in October 2022 to make it as helpful as possible!
