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Dry Brined Turkey is my favorite way to prepare a Thanksgiving turkey! Tired of the mess of brining your holiday bird? Try this dry brine turkey recipe for delicious, moist results!

This is my go-to Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe. So easy and the Best Turkey Recipe I’ve made in 30 years!!

Dry Brined Turkey on a platter with herbs and oranges
Table of Contents hide
1 Dry Brine Turkey
2 Frequently Asked Questions
3 Which is Better, Dry or Wet Brine Turkey?
4 Can You Use Regular Table Salt to Dry Brine a Turkey?
5 What Do You Need to Dry Brine a Turkey?
6 How Long Do You Air Dry a Dry Brine Turkey?
7 Can You Stuff a Dry Brine Turkey?
8 Should You Rinse a Dry Brined Turkey Before Roasting?
9 How Do You Roast a Dry Brine Turkey?
10 How Do You Know When Your Turkey is Done?
11 Tips for Making a Dry Brine Turkey
12 Helpful Tools:
13 Recipes for Turkey Leftovers:
14 More Thanksgiving Menu Recipes:
15 Ingredient Notes:
16 Dry-Brined Turkey

Dry Brine Turkey

After years of soaking our turkey overnight in a brine solution, I finally got wise and tried a new method. To make a Dry Brine Turkey, basically, rub your bird with kosher salt and let it rest in the fridge for 3 days. A couple of massages, a flip upside down for the last day and a night uncovered is all that’s needed. Seriously, this is the Best Turkey Recipe! You’ll just need to pick up and have your turkey thawed at least 3 days prior to roasting it. Making the Turkey Brine Recipe is a piece of cake!!

Dry Brined Turkey on a white platter garnished with herbs and oranges

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is Better, Dry or Wet Brine Turkey?

I used a wet brine for years, and the mess and hassle were worth it until I found this easier, tastier alternative. Dry Brining a turkey may take longer, but it’s almost all hands-off time and the results are delicious.

Can You Use Regular Table Salt to Dry Brine a Turkey?

No, table salt is too fine for dry brining. The turkey will be too salty. Instead use Kosher Salt, which is a coarse salt.

What Do You Need to Dry Brine a Turkey?

First, you need a turkey. Do not buy a flavor-injected brand like a Butterball as it is already brined. Also, have on hand some kosher salt, a few dry herbs like sage, oregano, thyme, and poultry seasoning. Plus, you’ll need a turkey brining bag.

How Long Do You Air Dry a Dry Brine Turkey?

The rule of thumb is to brine the turkey covered for 2 days and uncovered, to air dry, for 1 day. Make sure to allow enough time for 3 days of brining.

Can You Stuff a Dry Brine Turkey?

Yes! Ignore any advice to the contrary. If you wet brine your turkey, it must be rinsed thoroughly so the stuffing will not be too salty. With dry brining, you still should do a quick rinse of the cavity. The risk of the stuffing being extra salty is less likely with a dry brined turkey.

Should You Rinse a Dry Brined Turkey Before Roasting?

There is no need to rinse your brined turkey before roasting. The skin will be salty, but I’ve never found it overly salty.  And if you rinse your turkey, the skin will not crisp to perfection.

How Do You Roast a Dry Brine Turkey?

Place your unrinsed turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan. Roast as you would any other turkey, basting with butter or butter and wine as needed. Roast until your turkey reaches the FDA’s recommended temperature for doneness.

How Do You Know When Your Turkey is Done?

Your best bet is to use a meat thermometer. The readings should be: 180°F in the thigh, 170 °F in the breast, and 165 °F in the stuffing, according to Butterball. Make sure the thermometer is inserted deep into the meat without touching the thigh or breast bone.

You can also look at the turkey juices, but this method is not as accurate. When cutting into the turkey, the juices will be clear when it’s fully cooked. If the juices are reddish pink, it’s not done.

As a guideline, look at the packaging of your turkey (or online) for the recommended cooking time for the weight of your turkey. It will vary depending on whether it’s stuffed or not. Start checking your turkey about a half-hour before the time is up so you don’t overcook your bird.

Tips for Making a Dry Brine Turkey

I didn’t realize the meat market was closed on Monday last year, so I didn’t get the full 3 days of dry brining. This year, I’m better prepared. The turkey was still a show stopper. Crispy skin and moist, lightly salted meat. I actually roasted a 22-pound bird and half was eaten by the end of the day. It is amazing what two twenty-something sons can pack away. PRO-Tip: Buy your turkey early enough so that it’s thawed and ready to brine on the Monday before Thanksgiving.

  • The process is a piece of cake compared to filling a huge bag with a brine of water, salt, sugar, and spices, lifting a slippery turkey into its bath, and placing it in a cooler. Then if you happen to have a paranoid husband who is sure that raccoons will break into our cooler set on the patio overnight, you will also need to rig it so it is critter-proof.
  • PRO- Tip: The main point is to allow enough time for the osmosis to take place. Your turkey should be defrosted 3 days prior to roasting.
  • Use kosher salt and pick your favorite herbs for turkey. Sage, rosemary, bay, poultry seasoning, and thyme come to mind. You can just use 2 or 3.
  • Whiz them together in a food processor so they’re well interspersed with the salt.
  • Generously cover your dried turkey (pat the skin dry with paper towels) with the salt mixture place in a large food-safe plastic bag.
  • Rub the turkey with the turkey brine recipe each day, and flip on the 3rd day.
  • PRO-Tip: Make sure you wash your hands frequently when dealing with raw turkey. Poultry is known for harboring bacteria like salmonella.
  • Bring the turkey to room temperature for about an hour before roasting. Baste with butter, then roast until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees both in the breast and inner thigh.

I’m exhausted just thinking of our previous exploits. If you haven’t heard of using a dry brine for your Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe, I think you’ll be delighted with the results if you give it a shot.

P.S. I have a delicious Holiday Honey Brined Turkey Recipe if you’d like to experiment with wet brining.

Overhead view of Dry Brined Turkey with sage, rosemary and oranges

Helpful Tools:

Recipes for Turkey Leftovers:

More Thanksgiving Menu Recipes:

Ingredient Notes:

PRO-Tip: DO NOT use a turkey that’s already brined, like a Butterball.

  • Turkey – not brined (Butterball and other turkeys are already brined. Double brining will make a very salty turkey!)
  • Kosher Salt – Table salt is too fine 
  • Dry Herbs – rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, sage. used about 1+ teaspoon of dried herbs. If you use fresh, use 1 tablespoon.
  • Butter – I use salted
Dry-Brined Turkey
The Recipe:

Dry-Brined Turkey

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Yield 12

This winning recipe from the L.A. Times will make for a juicy and crisp turkey without the mess of traditional brining.

Ingredients

  • 16 pound turkey, defrosted, giblets removed (just adjust salt if using a different weight turkey)
  • 3 tablespoons kosher salt (1 tablespoon for each 5 pounds of turkey)
  • Herbs, optional (I used rosemary, thyme and bay leaves)
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter, to baste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and dry turkey. In a food processor, process salt plus about a tablespoon of any herbs you'd like to use (rosemary, thyme, bay).
  2. Lightly salt the inside of the turkey, then sprinkle the breast side with a bit more than a tablespoon of the herbed salt, and each side with a bit less than a tablespoon of salt. Place the turkey in an oven bag and remove the air before closing it with a twist tie. Place on rimmed baking sheet.
  3. Refrigerate for 3 days, starting breast side up, rubbing the skin through the bag once a day. Flip on day 3, then remove from bag to let skin dry 8 hours before roasting.
  4. Let sit at room temperature for one hour before roasting. Place on rack in roasting pan.
  5. Preheat oven to 425º, brush with melted butter and roast for 30 minutes. Decrease oven temperature to 325º, cover top with foil if browning too fast and cook till turkey reaches desired temperature, basting as needed. May add some wine and chicken broth to bottom of roaster as needed.

Cook time varies depending on size of turkey.

Notes

Do not use a turkey that has already been brined or injected (like a Butterball) or your results will be too salty.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 423Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 31gCholesterol: 196mgSodium: 722mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 58g

Data from the LA Times recipe

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© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American / Category: Holidays