11 Turkey Brine Recipes to Take Your Turkey to the Next Level

The secret to a perfectly moist and delicious turkey lies in the prep. Taking extra the time to brine the turkey is well worth the effort. Since I started brining my turkeys I have never went back. They always come out so moist and flavorful compared to every other way I’ve tired. Turkey is such a lean and dry meat that is takes in the flavors of the brine quite nicely. All you need is a brine bag or a bucket and a little bit of time and you’ll have a turkey that has everyone raving!

Beer Brined Turkey | Brooklyn Brew Shop

Yum. The beer lends earthiness and rounded flavors to the bird while also keeping the meat juicy and tender. This turkey gobbles up an entire 6 pack of beer in the making.

Sage & Citrus Turkey Brine | Simply Recipes

The flavor they give the meat is fairly subtle, but I feel like the real impact is in the skin. A good, well-seasoned brine gives you some of the best turkey skin you’ve ever had.

White Wine Turkey Brine | Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen

With white wine, spices, herbs, and citrus, this is seriously the BEST brine for your holiday turkey.

Dry Brined Orange Rosemary Turkey | Flavor the Moments

Dry Brined Orange Rosemary Roasted Turkey is the easy way to brine your turkey with no messy liquid! Roast it to perfection for a juicy, flavorful turkey with the crispiest skin ever.

Pioneer Woman Turkey Brine | Food Network

It’s beautiful! It’s stunning! It’s the centerpiece of the whole meal! And here’s the great news: It’s not hard to make at all. Promise.

Cranberry Turkey Brine | Tasting Table

Chef Greg Baxtrom of Olmsted in NYC shares his recipe for a cranberry-brined turkey, packing herbs and spices into every bite. After roasting to golden perfection, the drippings are transformed into a hard cider gravy that puts this bird over the edge.

Cajun Turkey Brine | Lake Geneva Country Meats

This brine adds a kick of spicy Cajun flavor to your turkey. We think it’s a fun way to make a turkey that’s a little different than normal without going too crazy!

Maple & Brown Sugar Turkey Brine | The Spruce Eats

This brine offers a sweet maple flavor and can be used on any kind of poultry and pork. Try it on your holiday turkey, large pork roasts, or weeknight pork chops.

Sweet & Spicy Turkey Brine | Spices Inc

This turkey brine is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet with its concoction of honey, soy sauce and red pepper flakes.

Whole Foods Basic Turkey Brine | Whole Foods Market

Here’s a simple, adaptable brine recipe that will give roasted turkey a terrific flavor base. This produces 1 gallon, which should be adequate to submerge a small turkey (up to 12 pounds). Double the recipe for birds up to 20 pounds.

Alton Brown’s Traditional Turkey Brine | Food Network

This makes a juicy, flavorful turkey with a pleasantly crisp, brown skin that tastes terrific even without the assistance of stuffing or gravy.

Pro Tip: Don’t have the time to grab all the ingredients in these turkey brine recipes? Did you know you can buy ready made brine kits that you just add to boiling water: