A great Turkey Brine Recipe is the difference between a good Thanksgiving turkey and a great one that people will be talking about for years to come. Knowing how to brine a turkey will make a huge difference in your bird whether you plan to roast it, smoke it, or deep-fry it! This quick and easy technique will ensure a deliciously juicy, moist turkey every time!

Whether you are planning a big holiday meal or just serving a special Sunday supper, we've got you covered with all the sides you love with a classic turkey dinner, including my favorite turkey gravy. Be sure to check out our collection of the Best Thanksgiving Recipes to see them all!

A turkey soaking in brine with herbs, orange peel, and peppercorns.


Table of Contents
  1. The BEST Turkey Brine
  2. What is Turkey Brine?
  3. Turkey Brine ingredients
  4. How to make Turkey Brine
  5. Tips for the Best Turkey Brine
  6. Best Turkey Brine FAQs
  7. Brine Ratio
  8. More Recipes for your Thanksgiving Table
  9. Best Turkey Brine Recipe

The BEST Turkey Brine

We have been brining our Thanksgiving turkeys for YEARS now and have learned the it is the key to turkey that is tender and juicy. It doesn't matter how you plan to cook your turkey (and we've tried it every possible way from roasting to deep-frying to smoking a turkey), a good soak in a turkey brine makes your bird better every time. And this is the best turkey brine recipe you'll ever find!

We're talking eyes-rolling-back-in-your-head type good. More succulent, tender bites of meat whether you prefer light or dark meat. And of course crispier skin with better flavoring. This brine works like a charm and we absolutely swear by it when it comes to making the best turkey ever for your Thanksgiving dinner!

Best of all, it takes just minutes to prepare this Thanksgiving turkey brine recipe! Then your turkey sits in its briny bath for 12-24 hours until you are ready to pull it out and cook it. In the meantime, you can work on other make-ahead items on your Thanksgiving menu so there is less to do on the big day!

Sliced turkey breast.

What is Turkey Brine?

The brining process involves submerging a larger piece of meat in a water and salt solution. You can do a brine with just the water and salt, but we like to add extra flavor with fresh herbs, brown sugar, some spices, and citrus peel.

There is plenty of debate about how much of a difference this makes and you can get sucked down the rabbit hole of reading about brining techniques for hours, but I can say from much testing and experimenting that it's well worth the minimal effort to brine your turkey.

One caution: Do NOT brine a turkey labeled as kosher. A kosher turkey already has a higher salt content and has essentially already undergone a process similar to brining. So if you brine a kosher turkey, it's going to end up being way too salty.

A side benefit of brining a large turkey is that is solves the age-old dilemma that is every home cook's Thanksgiving nightmare of whether the turkey will be completely thawed in time! Even if your partially frozen turkey isn't quite as thawed as you were intending when you go to brine it, it will be fully thawed after a day in a cold, briny bath!

Turkey Brine ingredients

  • A non-corrosive large stock pot, bucket, large cooler, or other container: If you have a small to medium-size turkey like the 12-pounder we used in these photos, you can usually just use a really large pot, which is my preferred approach because of the easy cleanup and it almost always fits easily in my fridge. If your turkey is larger, you may want to consider a large plastic cooler or even a clean plastic bucket from a hardware store so that you have room for a bag of ice to sit on top to keep the turkey cold overnight while it is brining.
  • Coarse Kosher salt: This turkey brine recipe is pretty much foolproof except you have to make sure you are using the correct type of salt. I have written the recipe using coarse kosher salt, which is what we always use. It's affordable, easily accessible, and gives great flavor without making the meat too salty.
  • Water: Some brining recipes call for apple juice or apple cider but after experimenting, I've decided that we get better results with just 2 gallons of water for the liquid part of this brine recipe.
  • Brown sugar: I love adding a little sweetness to the brine.
  • Black peppercorns: Don't substitute with ground pepper. You want whole peppercorns (any variety will work) for a brine.
  • Garlic: No need to spend time mincing garlic cloves for this brine recipe. Just smash them flat with the back of a knife and throw them in.
  • Fresh herbs: A couple of sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme help infuse the brine with classic holiday flavors.
  • Orange peel: I have found that a little citrus is the key to a really flavorful turkey brine recipe! Just use a vegetable peeler or shape knife to peel off the outer skin of the orange. Lemon peel would work well too, if you don't have oranges on hand.
  • Bay leaves: I always have some dried bay leaves in the cupboard so I throw them in. Honestly, I'm not 100% sure these make a difference, but I always include them anyway figuring it certainly won't hurt!
  • A whole turkey: Obviously you will want a good-sized turkey for a brined turkey recipe. But you could use this wet brine on a whole chicken as well.
An overhead image of turkey brining in a pot.

How to make Turkey Brine

  1. Mix the water, salt, and sugar together until the salt and sugar dissolves. I recommend heating 4 cups of water on the stove with the salt and sugar for 10 minutes or so since that helps them dissolve more easily, then adding the rest of the water later. But I have also done it where you just stir them into the cold water and they will eventually dissolve without heat as well. Add all of the remaining brine ingredients (including the remaining cold water or enough ice to cool the brine if you chose to heat it to dissolve the salt and sugar), then stir.
  2. Prep the turkey by removing neck, gizzards, and any plastic packaging and sticking it in your brine container. I don't recommend rinsing the turkey before adding it to the brine. Place the turkey breast side down in your brining container. (I know the pictures in this post show the turkey breast up in the brine, but that was totally just a vanity move and I flipped it over before sticking it in the fridge.)
  3. Cover the turkey with the brine. Carefully pour the brine over the turkey, making sure the entire bird is completely submerged in the liquid. This brine recipe makes enough to easily cover a 12-pound turkey, but you might want to do 1 ½ times the recipe if using a larger bird. Cover the container and transfer to the fridge, if you have room. If not, you can use a bag of ice poured over the top of the turkey brine to keep it safe and cold overnight.
  4. Dry really well before cooking. After brining, remove the turkey to a large roasting pan or baking sheet and pat the turkey completely dry, both inside and out with lots of paper towels. I do not rinse my turkey after removing it from the turkey brine and have never found it to be too salty. Let it air-dry uncovered in the fridge for a bit, if you have the time. This helps give you crispy skin when you roast the turkey. Even just 30 minutes helps, although if you plan far enough ahead, you could even let it air-dry in the fridge overnight and then cook the turkey the next day.
A roast turkey on a platter.

Tips for the Best Turkey Brine

  • Use the correct amount of the correct type of salt listed in this turkey brine recipe.
  • Don't try brining a Kosher turkey. It already has higher salt content than normal.
  • Be sure to completely cover the turkey with the brine solution. If it wants to float up to the top of your brining bucket, weigh it down with a bag of ice or a heavy plate with some cans set on top. Some people find it helpful to use a brining bag if their container is large to make sure the turkey stays fully submerged.
  • Remember that there is no need to salt the turkey after brining it. It absorb a significant amount of salt from the brine solution, and any drippings for gravy will already have a good amount of salt to them, so you may not need any additional salt.
  • Be sure to put the turkey into the brine solution with the breast side down for the best penetration. If your turkey brine doesn't quite cover your bird, then rotate it partway through brining for even coverage.

Best Turkey Brine FAQs

How long to brine a turkey?

The size of your turkey will influence how long you will want to brine it. If your turkey is less than 15 pounds, I recommend brining for 12 to 24 hours. Larger turkeys can brine for up to 2 days.

What salt should you use for brining?

We always use coarse kosher salt for brining, but table salt will work as well, though not in the same proportion. It's really important to note which type of salt you are going with because there are different measurements for each one.

Brine Ratio

  • Table salt: Mix ½ cup of table salt for every 1 gallon of water.
  • Coarse Kosher salt: Mix ¾ cup of coarse kosher salt for every 1 gallon of water.

In case you are like me and wondering how many cups are in a gallon, it's 16 cups. So you will be measuring out 32 cups of water for this recipe that calls for 2 gallons.

A turkey in brine in a pot.

More Recipes for your Thanksgiving Table

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Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.

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Best Turkey Brine

5 from 25 votes
Amy Nash
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Additional Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 13 minutes
Course Marinades & Rubs
Cuisine American
Servings 2 gallons
A great Turkey Brine Recipe is the difference between a good Thanksgiving turkey and a great one that people will be talking about for years to come. Knowing how to brine a turkey will make a huge difference in your bird whether you plan to roast it, smoke it, or deep-fry it! This quick and easy technique will ensure a deliciously juicy, moist turkey every time!

Ingredients
  

Brine

  • 2 gallons cold water (8 quarts or 32 cups of water)
  • 1 ½ cups coarse Kosher salt or 1 cup table salt
  • 1 ¼ cups packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons whole black peppercorns
  • 2 Tablespoons allspice berries
  • 3-5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 5 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1-2 oranges, rind peeled off in ribbons
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 bag ice
  • 1 clean 5-gallon bucket, pot, or other large container

Turkey

  • 1 (12-15 pound) turkey

Instructions
 

  • Combine 4 cups of the water with the salt and brown sugar in a large pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring frequently, until the salt and sugar have dissolved. Add remaining brine ingredients, including remaining cold water. Make sure the brine is completely cool before adding it to the turkey.
  • Remove neck, giblets, and any plastic packaging from the turkey and place it in a very large non-corrosive pot, bucket, or even cooler with the breast side down. There is no need to rinse the turkey first.
  • Pour the cooled brine over the turkey so the turkey is covered with the brine. If it's not completely covered, you can turn the turkey partway through the brining time so all sides get brined, or make another half batch of brine to add to the container. Cover and transfer to the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. If there isn't room in your fridge, you can place a bag of ice on top of the turkey in the brine and leave it on the counter or in the garage overnight.
  • Remove the turkey from the brine and pat completely dry both inside and out using plenty of paper towels. Let the turkey air-dry for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the fridge, then cook the turkey using your preferred method.

Notes

  • Table salt: 1 cup of salt to 2 gallons of water
  • Coarse Kosher salt: 1 ½ cups salt to 2 gallons of water

Nutrition

Calories: 611kcal | Carbohydrates: 157g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 85117mg | Potassium: 571mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 140g | Vitamin A: 347IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 421mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @HouseOfNashEats or tag #houseofnasheats!

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About the author

Hi, I'm Amy

I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking.

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Reader questions and reviews

  1. I completely agree, Amy - brining a turkey is the magic step! We started using Alton Brown's recipe for it a few years back, but the ginger can be difficult to find, and then I never have another use for it. I am saving your recipe to try this year!

  2. What a pity that the recipe does not include an option to switch between Imperial and Metric measures - and sensible metric measurements with grams instead of cups!

  3. Oh my gosh, this brine created the most delicious and moist turkey! Everyone said this was the best turkey I’ve ever made. Thank you for a great recipe! I’ll be using it every year! 

      1. I’m new to this as my bride usually does this but do i just use the orange peels in the brine or the oranges too? And if the oranges too do i cut them up and put in or what?

  4. Since covid put us in a position to host our own, separate dinner for the first time, we had never done the turkey. I decided to brine our thanksgiving turkey the day before it was set to fry. Your recipe and instructions were easy to follow, and the turkey turned out great! Thanks!

  5. I am have a question about the salt... I have coarse sea salt, is that the same as coarse kosher salt?
    Also I have a 25 pound turkey, so will doubling this recipe work?

    1. Yes, you can use coarse sea salt as a 1-to-1 replacement for coarse kosher salt. You could definitely double the recipe for the larger turkey, but you might actually be okay with just the regular recipe, since the liquid will just be displaced. It's not like a recipe where the amounts have to be doubled because they are being consumed. The brine just needs to cover your turkey.

  6. I followed this recipe minus the brown sugar but when in tasted it seemed really salty. I used the 1 1/2 cups of kosher salt to two gallons of water. Im using it for an 18lb turkey to be fried. Is it normal to be salty to The taste.

  7. 5 stars
    I want to thank you for your recipe! This was my very first time brining a turkey and it wont be the last! Probably the best turkey I have ever made! So much flavor and was moist!

  8. 5 stars
    This really was the best brine! I did make a few tweaks where I didn’t have an ingredient or wanted to use something up. I used juniper berries in place of the allspice berries (didn’t have those) and added a teaspoon of allspice. I also used half water and half apple cider so I could use some cider up, and finally, I sliced the orange that I peeled the ribs from and threw those slices in. After 12-15 hours of brining, the end result was the most delicious and moist Turkey! Thank you for sharing your recipe!

  9. Used your brine last year and was poking around looking for it again! So thought I'd leave a comment, my turkey was so moist and delish!

  10. 5 stars
    This is the first time I used this recipe, and the turkey was the best we’ve ever had! Extremely moist, tender, and flavorful. I left the 20lb turkey in the brine for 36 hours. It was the perfect amount of time. I will always use the recipe now!!