Turkey Marinades

Classic Turkey Marinade for Injecting

Use this marinade to inject your turkey with super hydration and ensure ultimate moistness in the meat. Cayenne and Louisiana hot sauce add the Cajun flare that was originally created for deep frying turkey, but you can add tasty marinades to any turkey, no matter how you plan to cook it.

• 1 can chicken broth
• 3 fluid ounces garlic oil
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 4 tablespoons Louisiana Hot Sauce
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Combine the ingredients and use a coarse needle injector to distribute it to all sections of the turkey. It's recommended for best results to inject the marinade about 24 hours prior to cooking.

Zesty Citrus Marinade

• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 1/2 tablespoon black pepper (may also use white pepper)
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 5-6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  

Combine ingredients in blender (or food processor) until thoroughly blended. Use your favorite injector to insert marinade, usually about 2 ounces per pound of turkey. Deep fry for fantastic flavor.

Lemon Pepper/Garlic Marinade

3 tablespoons melted butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup chicken stock
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon garlic power
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Tabasco, or to taste (optional)

Combine ingredients into a small pan and cook over medium heat until well blended and all spices are dissolved. Allow marinade to cool to room temperature. After cooling, stir well before loading injector. This recipe makes enough marinade for an 8-15 lb turkey. After injecting, deep fry as normal. Yummy!

Honey/Beer Marinade

1/4 C. apple juice or apple cider
1/2 C. good quality honey
1 C. medium bodied ale
1-2 tsp. Cajun seasoning
2 tsp. garlic juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Use a blender to thoroughly combine the apple juice (or cider), garlic juice and the Cajun seasoning. When mixed well, pour into a small pan and warm with the honey until they're all well combined. Then add the remaining ingredients. This marinade needs to be injected while still warm, otherwise as it begins to cool, it begins to thicken as well, making injection more difficult, if not impossible!

 Cajun Kicker Marinade

8 oz. Italian salad dressing
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. paprika
2 tsp. poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. crushed cayenne pepper
1 tsp. hot sauce (like Tabasco)
1/3 C. medium ale

Blend all ingredients until smooth, then stir in 1/3 cup beer. Be cautious when injecting so you don't use so much that you overwhelm the flavor of the turkey.

Hot & Spicy Marinade

• 1 cup olive oil
• 3 1/2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons salt

Mix ingredients until salt is completely dissolved. Remember to inject evenly throughout the turkey so you don't wind up with pockets of cayenne flavored turkey.

Best Ever Beer and Butter Marinade

• 1/2 pound butter
• 1/2 can beer
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons Tabasco
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder

Combine all ingredients and heat on low, stirring until the salt is completely dissolved and the marinade is runny. Inject while still warm so it doesn't become too thick to pass through injector needle.

Bayou Classic 5011 2-oz. Stainless Steel Seasoning Injector w/2 Stainless Needles: one for liquid marinaide, and one for minced herbs

There are, of course, other injectors available on the market. Many are cheaper, plastic models that don't seem to last beyond one or two injections. After much research, the Bayou Classic 5011 Stainless Steel Injector gets our vote for best injector for the money.

For less than $30, this injector will last through many seasons of deep frying turkey, as well as for injecting all your other meats throughout the year. It comes complete with 2 different needles, one for liquid marinades and one for minced herbs if you'd rather use a dry rub recipe.