Best Smoked Turkey Injection Recipe
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Take your turkey to the next level with our easy smoked turkey injection recipe. This secret sauce is a game-changer for your holiday bird. It’s all about infusing that juicy, complex flavor deep into the meat. If you’re ready to take your Thanksgiving to the next level and make the most tender and moist turkey you’ve ever had, you’ve come to the right place!
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When cooking a turkey it is important to tenderize and add flavor to the meat before cooking, otherwise you end up with dry turkey, and nobody wants that! You can brine the turkey or, as is my preference, inject it.
Why I love this recipe
This injectable marinade has the perfect balance of amazing flavor to compliment the smoky wood flavor when smoking a turkey. It requires only a few simple ingredients and a few minutes of your time as you prep your turkey.
What is a meat syringe?
A meat syringe is used to inject marinades into any type of meat. You can purchase them at most big box stores or online. I use one I purchased with a premade cajun injection kit years ago but this is a nice and affordable meat injector one on Amazon with a variety of tips.
Step by step
- Prep the turkey: remove the neck and giblets, pat dry with paper towels, and place on a rack in a large roasting pan. Allow to rest at room temperature while you prepare the injection marinade.
- Melt a stick of butter in a large (at least 2 cup) glass measuring cup or bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir to mix.
- Use a meat injector to insert the liquid throughout the turkey. Use different angles and be sure to get it deep within the thickest part of the breast.
- Add your favorite turkey rub to the skin and cook the injected turkey as desired. You can use this injection recipe for a smoked turkey but it works for roasting or frying as well.
Tips for best results
- always make sure your turkey is completely thawed before injecting and cooking, do not inject a frozen turkey regardless of the method of cooking you choose
- patting the turkey skin dry ensures you end up with crispy skin, don’t skip that step
- you can customize this recipe with other herbs and seasonings such as Worcestershire sauce or creole seasoning, just make sure the spices won’t clog the holes of the injection needle
- this marinade also makes a great liquid for basting the turkey while smoking it
FAQs
You don’t have to inject the turkey but I highly recommend it. You can opt to brine it instead.
I have injected a turkey less than an hour before placing it in the smoker and up to 24 hours before. Either way the turkey meat turns out juicy and flavorful.
No, these are two methods for the same process-brining tenderizes the meat and flavors it from the outside in while injecting it adds the extra flavor and tenderizer directly to the meat.
I inject into both the legs and breast when prepping my turkey. The legs are more moist naturally and a little more difficult to inject so you can skip them if you prefer.
Make this marinade ahead of time up to 3 days. Simply microwave it in 30 second intervals before injecting. Be sure to throw it away it has contact with the raw poultry though.
I prefer to use an herb rub on the outside of the turkey skin but it is not necessary, the injection mixture flavors the meat regardless.
If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
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Best Smoked Turkey Injection Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Take your turkey to the next level with our easy smoked turkey injection recipe. This secret sauce is a game-changer for your holiday bird. It’s all about infusing that juicy, complex flavor deep into the meat. If you’re ready to take your Thanksgiving to the next level and make the most tender and moist turkey you’ve ever had, you’ve come to the right place!
Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large (at least 2 cups) glass measuring cup or bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir to mix.
- Use a meat injector to insert the liquid throughout the turkey. Use different angles and be sure to get it deep within the thickest part of the breast.
- Add your favorite turkey rub to the skin and cook the injected turkey as desired. You can use this injection recipe for a smoked turkey but it works for roasting or frying as well.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: seasoning
- Method: none
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 852
- Sugar: 2.2 g
- Sodium: 3354.9 mg
- Fat: 92.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.5 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 3.6 g
- Cholesterol: 247.9 mg
