This bourbon brined turkey is so flavorful and juicy that you’ll never want to cook turkey any other way again. You will need to plan ahead because brining is best at least overnight, but it is well worth the effort.

Here is a great cooking guide for turkeys depending on the size of your bird.

Make this Green Bean Casserole and this Sweet Potato Casserole for your thanksgiving sides with this mouthwatering turkey.

Print Recipe

Bourbon Brined Turkey

Bourbon and brown sugar put this juicy turkey over the top!

Cuisine

American

Keyword

Bourbon, Thanksgiving, Turkey

Prep Time

40 Minutes

Passive Time

48 Hours

Servings

People

Ingredients

Turkey + Brine

• 1 10lb Turkey
• 1 Cup Salt
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar I used light brown because it was cheaper/what I had. Dark brown works too.
• 1/4 Cup Black Peppercorns
• 2 Cups Bourbon I used Bird Dog Praline Whisky. Last year I used Evan Williams Honey and they were both good.
• 1.25 Gallons Water
• 1 Turkey Oven Bag

Turkey Seasoning

• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Paprika
• 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cumin
• 6 Tablespoons Butter Melted

Cuisine American Keyword Bourbon, Thanksgiving, Turkey Prep Time 40 Minutes Passive Time 48 Hours Servings People Ingredients Turkey + Brine 1 10lb Turkey 1 Cup Salt 1 Cup Brown Sugar I used light brown because it was cheaper/what I had. Dark brown works too. 1/4 Cup Black Peppercorns 2 Cups Bourbon I used Bird Dog Praline Whisky. Last year I used Evan Williams Honey and they were both good. 1.25 Gallons Water 1 Turkey Oven Bag Turkey Seasoning 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar 2 Tablespoons Paprika 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder 1 teaspoon Salt 1 teaspoon Black Pepper 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder 1 teaspoon Cumin 6 Tablespoons Butter Melted

Instructions

Brining

1. Thaw the turkey overnight, wrapped, in the fridge. For the brine, mix together the salt, brown sugar, black peppercorns, Bourbon, and water in a large pot big enough to fully submerge your turkey until the salt and sugar are dissolved.
2. Remove the turkey from its packaging and remove and discard the neck and giblets package from inside the turkey. Place the empty turkey into your pot of brine, cover, and refrigerate at least over night. I will usually let it marinate for 1-3 days, depending on how much I've prepared.

Cooking

1. When ready to cook, remove turkey from brine and drain of excess liquid. Discard brine.
2. Season the turkey according to the seasoning directions and place seasoned turkey into a flowered oven bag (follow the directions on the oven bag box) on a baking sheet with a 2 inch lip.
3. Seal the bag and bake according to the chart linked above and in the notes below until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches a minimum of 165F.

Seasoning

1. For the seasoning mix the brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin together in a small bowl.
2. Melt the butter and rub it all over the skin, and under the skin of your turkey. It will probably glob up a little, but that is ok.
3. Sprinkle the seasoning mix all over the outside and inside of the turkey, using the entire mixture up.

Recipe Notes

Cost Per Serving: $2.52

Total Recipe Cost: $25.22

These are the turkey oven bags that I used.

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