This savory butter turkey injector marinade is the secret to turning a bland turkey into a flavorful, juicy bird with the most delicious buttery finish. It's quick, simple, and made with real ingredients that infuse your whole turkey with tons of savory flavor in less time than traditional turkey brines. It goes perfectly with my Homemade turkey seasoning rub and my herb butter roasted turkey - all 3 make the perfect bird!
Why You'll Love It
If you've ever dealt with a dry turkey, this butter turkey injector marinade is your saving grace! The combination of salted butter, garlic cloves, fresh herbs, and chicken bouillon creates an ultra-flavorful marinade that keeps the inside of the meat perfectly juicy and tender - even at higher temps. The buttery injection seeps deep into the breast meat and the rest of the turkey, giving it that perfect holiday turkey vibe without needing a full brine solution.
I made this recipe as a part of my "perfect turkey recipe" which is honestly INSANE! All you need to do is make a quick and easy garlic and herb compound butter with my go-to turkey rub ingredients, pat the surface of the turkey with paper towels, rub it on your turkey, place it in a roasting pan, add some liquid to create a moist enviroment and roast. This cooking method is foolproof and it's seriously THE BEST TURKEY - especially if you use this savory buttery turkey injector marinade on it. It gives such great flavor and I swear you've never had white meat that tastes this good!
Unlike a Cajun turkey injection recipe, this one leans more classic and savory, with layers of garlic, herbs, and rich buttery flavor instead of spice. But if this is your vibe - go for it!! I just don't like a super spicy turkey because I think it makes the gravy weird tasting. This method is a great way for home cooks to achieve the best results and that are similar to deep-fried turkey without all the hot oil. Just melt everything together in a small saucepan, remove the solids, and inject right into the side of the breast, thighs, or anywhere that tends to dry out.
Whether you're roasting a whole bird or just the turkey breast, this simple recipe ensures you get a moist, flavorful turkey every single time. It pairs beautifully with your my go-to favorite turkey rub, compound butter, and a side of cranberry sauce. It's truly the best way to level up your turkey game this year!!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here's what you'll need to make this savory butter turkey injector marinade. Everything comes together in a few minutes using common ingredients you can find at your local grocery store.
- Salted butter: Adds rich, creamy flavor and helps carry the herbs and garlic throughout the meat. You can use unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt if that's what you have. You could also add some olive oil if you wanted but i think butter is the move here when it comes to turkey meat!
- Garlic cloves: Whole garlic cloves infuse the butter mixture with a subtle garlicky flavor that's not overpowering. If you only have garlic powder, use about ½ teaspoon instead.
- Fresh rosemary and thyme: Fresh herbs give that fragrant, holiday aroma and add depth to the flavor. Dried herbs can work too, but they'll give a slightly different flavor. Just make sure the needle part of your injector can handle the size of dried spices - you don't want the rub ingredients getting stuck in the needle.
- Chicken bouillon paste: Adds a boost of savory flavor that helps prevent bland turkey. You can substitute with chicken stock or turkey stock if needed, though the bouillon paste creates a thicker, more flavorful marinade. It's seriously my favorite.
- OPTIONAL ADDITIONS: If you wanted to add some different flavors - go for it! Adding a tablespoon of creole seasoning, or cajun seasoning with a tablespoon of hot sauce and black pepper would be excellent if you wanted to turn this into some sort of cajun turkey injection marinade. You could also add onion powder, garlic powder or something else if you wanted to. Some people like to add lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to help tenderize the flavorful meat but I think my recipe for my garlic herb butter roasted turkey is seriously the perfect turkey recipe so I don't recommend doing so.
How to Make It
This simple injector recipe is made right on the stove in one pan. You'll have a perfectly pourable, injectable marinade ready in minutes.
- MELT THE INGREDIENTS: Add the butter, garlic cloves, fresh herbs, and chicken bouillon paste to a small saucepan over medium heat.
- COOK UNTIL FRIZZLED: Let everything cook for about 5 minutes, or until the herbs start to frizzle and the butter mixture smells amazing.
- STRAIN THE MIXTURE: Turn off the heat and remove the garlic and herbs using a spoon. Pour the melted butter mixture into a glass measuring cup for easy pouring.
- LOAD THE INJECTOR: Assemble your meat injector (also called an injection needle or large syringe) as instructed. Suck up one vial of the buttery mixture.
- INJECT INTO THE TURKEY: Carefully inject the marinade into different angles of the turkey. Focus on the breast meat and inside of the meat near the thighs. You can do so about every hour during roasting. This recipe makes enough for about four injections, depending on the size of your injector.
- STORE ANY LEFTOVER MIXTURE: If you have a good bit left over, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat it gently over low heat next time you need it.
- SERVE AND ENJOY: Once your turkey is done cooking, let the turkey rest to lock in all that delicious flavor. Serve with your favorite side dishes like cranberry sauce or mashed potatoes.
What to Serve It With
This injector marinade pairs perfectly with your holiday turkey spread. Serve it alongside:
- My Butter Roasted Turkey Recipe for the most flavorful turkey ever
- My Homemade Turkey Seasoning for an extra layer of spice
- Classic Thanksgiving sides like mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and stuffing.
- Homemade cranberry sauce for that sweet and savory combo
- If you have leftovers, try my grilled turkey cranberry sandwich or these hawaiian roll turkey and cheese sliders!
It's the ultimate way to create the best Thanksgiving turkey without spending all day babysitting your roast turkey. And if you want even more delicious Thanksgiving recipes, try some of my classic Southern Thanksgiving dishes!
Recipe
The Best Savory Butter Turkey Injector Marinade Recipe
Equipment
- Cooking Syringe This is the one that I aways use and love!
Ingredients
- 2 sticks Salted butter
- 3 cloves Fresh Garlic whole
- a few sprigs Fresh rosemary and thyme
- 1 heaping tablespoon Chicken bouillon paste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and melt over medium heat.
- Cook for 5 minutes or until the herbs start to frizzle, then turn off the heat.
- With a spoon, remove the garlic cloves and herbs, then pour into a glass measuring cup for ease.
- Assemble your turkey injector and suck up one vial.
- Inject into turkey every hour or so (works for about 4 injections depending on the size of your injector).
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