Homemade Turkey Rub

5 from 5 votes

Make this homemade turkey rub with paprika, thyme, rosemary, garlic and onion powder for roasting, grilling, smoking or frying a turkey.

Prep Time5

Cook Time0

Total Time5

Course: rub/ seasoning

Cuisine: American

Servings: tablespoons

Calories: 15kcal

Cost: $4

Combine all ingredients in a small-medium mixing bowl and whisk until fully combined.
Store in a sealed jar or container in a cool, dry area for up to 3 months.

If you would like to skip the paprika, you can, as it’s mostly to give a nice color to the finished turkey. With the paprika, you’ll get a nice dark, almost rust color, but will get more of a deep golden color if you remove it. It’s totally up to you.
If your turkey is already brined, kosher or injected with a salt solution, reduce the salt in this seasoning blend or leave it out to avoid an overly salty turkey
For the best results with this rub, cover the entire turkey well with the mixture and then let it rest in the fridge overnight. You can also do it about 30 minutes before taking the next steps in the cooking process. You can cook right away, but by keeping the rub on overnight, the flavor will have longer to sink in. If you can get the rub up under the skin, that’s even better.
I use 3-4 tablespoons of this rub for one 8-12 pound turkey. This recipe makes enough for 2 smaller turkeys or one big turkey where you will probably have some seasoning left over.