Turkey Rub (Easy Homemade Turkey Seasoning)

This easy turkey rub recipe is my go-to for adding big flavor without fuss - perfect as a Thanksgiving turkey dry rub, for a smoked turkey breast, or even a simple roasted chicken. This homemade turkey seasoning blend is earthy, herby, and just a little sweet, with rubbed sage, thyme, garlic, and brown sugar to balance it out. Whether you're roasting, smoking, or grilling, this turkey rub seasoning recipe delivers savory flavor every time.

I originally developed this turkey rub seasoning recipe for my Thanksgiving turkey, and now use it for my smoked turkey breast. It's a flavorful change from my BBQ-style rub and works beautifully as a turkey smoking rub or a classic turkey dry rub for roasted poultry. Making your own turkey seasoning blends means no fillers, preservatives, or mystery ingredients - just pure flavor you can trust.

Why You'll Love This Turkey Dry Rub

• Simple to make - This turkey rub recipe comes together with just a handful of pantry spices.
• Clean ingredients - No fillers, preservatives, or mystery additives - just a homemade turkey seasoning blend.
• Salt-free flexibility - You control the salt based on your preferences or needs.
• Versatile - Works beautifully on Thanksgiving turkey, smoked turkey breast, chicken, Cornish hens, and more.
• Big flavor - Balanced with classic poultry herbs, a hint of sweetness, and savory depth.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Brown sugar - Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the savory herbs and helps create a golden crust, especially when using this blend as a turkey dry rub for roasting, grilling, or smoking.
• Sage - Brings classic holiday flavor and is essential in any homemade turkey seasoning. Ground sage is the most common in stores, but rubbed sage works too - it's lighter and less concentrated, so you may need a bit more.
• Garlic - Granulated garlic or garlic powder gives earthy depth and aroma, making this turkey rub recipe richly savory.
• Thyme - Dried thyme layers in herbaceous, woodsy flavor for a smoked turkey rub or roasted turkey.
• Paprika - Use regular or smoked paprika for subtle warmth and rich color - smoked paprika is perfect if you're making this as a turkey smoking rub.
• Onion powder - Adds a mild, savory-sweet note to round out this turkey rub seasoning recipe.

Please see the recipe card for measurements, salt, and black pepper.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are a few ways to adapt this turkey seasoning to fit your preferences or dietary needs:

• Sea salt - Optional in the turkey rub itself. Add salt separately before seasoning for more control, or omit entirely for a salt-free blend.
• Fennel - Add ground fennel for a light licorice note, or try fennel pollen if you want a more aromatic, concentrated flavor. Start with less - it's potent!
• Paprika - Swap regular paprika for smoked paprika for deeper flavor, especially if you're making this as a smoked turkey rub or turkey smoking rub.
• Sugar-free option - Omit the brown sugar or use a golden monk fruit blend for a lower-carb variation (just note the browning will be lighter).
• Herb swaps - You can adapt this turkey rub seasoning recipe with other herbs like rosemary, marjoram, oregano, parsley, or even ground bay leaf for a deeper aromatic profile.

Chef's Tip: Salt in Your Turkey Rub
I don't add salt to my turkey rub seasoning - I prefer to season poultry separately for better control. If you'd like to mix salt in, use 1 to 1½ tablespoons of kosher sea salt per batch (about 7 tablespoons total rub). I like Real Salt Kosher Sea Salt, La Baleine Kosher Sea Salt, and Diamond Kosher Salt, both flakier and milder than Morton kosher, but that works too. Avoid standard table salt - it's dense, overly salty, and tastes flat and metallic due to additives.

How to Make Turkey Rub Seasoning

While you can simply add the spices to a jar and shake well to combine, I like to take it a step further and grind the blend in a mortar and pestle. It brings the flavors together more uniformly and creates a finer texture that clings beautifully to poultry skin-especially helpful when using this turkey rub for smoking or roasting.

This recipe makes about 4 ounces of seasoning-just enough for two whole bone-in turkey breasts or a whole turkey, depending on the size of the bird.

Using This Rub for Roasting vs. Smoking

This turkey rub was originally developed for my smoked turkey breast, where the lower temperature and moist environment let the sugar caramelize slowly and build a flavorful crust. It also works beautifully for rotisserie turkey, where constant rotation helps prevent scorching. Here's how to adapt to your method:

If you're oven-roasting a whole bird at 325°F or higher, sugar can darken faster. Here are a few tweaks for best results:

• Reduce sugar slightly → Use 2 tablespoons instead of ¼ cup per batch (or skip).
• Tent with foil → If the skin gets too dark toward the end of roasting, cover loosely with foil to finish cooking without burning.
• Rub under the skin → Spread some of the rub beneath the skin with butter for flavor without as much surface caramelization.

This turkey rub seasoning is featured in my Smoked Turkey Breast recipe, but it's also fantastic on roasted chicken, Cornish hens, or even pork tenderloin.

Gift Idea: This turkey rub recipe scales easily and takes just minutes to make. Blend a big batch, add it to decorative jars, tie with ribbon or rustic twine, label and date - it makes a thoughtful homemade holiday gift for your favorite cook.

Storage

Turkey seasoning blend keeps well for up to 6 months when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Be sure to label and date.

Recipe FAQs

More Homemade Seasoning Recipes

Making your own seasoning blends at home means better flavor, no unnecessary additives, and full control over what goes into your food.

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