Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade

Name: Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 2 d 25 min
Yield: 1 marinated turkey
Ingredients: 1 cup salt; 1 cup orange juice; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 gallon water; 1 (3 inch) cinnamon stick; 1 (15 pound) turkey, thawed if purchased frozen; 3 oranges, sliced; 3 lemons, sliced; ½ cup chopped onion; ½ cup chopped green bell pepper; ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley; 1 tablespoon whole cloves; ¼ cup garlic powder; 2 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks; 2 tablespoons paprika; ¼ cup olive oil; 3 tablespoons ground black pepper

Rating: 4.76 stars

29 Ratings
21 Reviews
11 Photos

This recipe has two different marinades that are started on Tuesday morning. This is a marinade recipe only, and makes a pre-Thanksgiving marinade for a juicy turkey with lots of flavor.

By jaclynfarr

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Recipe Summary

prep:

25 mins

additional:

2 days

total:

2 days

Servings:

Yield:

1 marinated turkey

Nutrition Info

Directions

Step 1
On the Tuesday morning before Thanksgiving, whisk together salt, orange juice, brown sugar, a cinnamon stick and water in a large nonreactive container with a cover, such as a large stainless steel stockpot. Stir until salt and sugar dissolve, about 5 minutes. Place the turkey into the brine, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

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Step 2
The next day, remove turkey from the first marinade, shake off excess, and pat the bird dry. Discard the brine. Clean the stockpot or brining container.
Step 3
In the clean stockpot, make the marinade by stirring together together sliced oranges, sliced lemons, onion, green bell pepper, parsley, cloves, garlic powder, cinnamon sticks, paprika, olive oil, and pepper. Place the turkey into the stockpot and rub the marinade into the turkey. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Step 4
On Thanksgiving Day, remove turkey from the marinade and shake off the excess. Discard the remaining marinade. Roast the turkey using your favorite method.

Editor's Note:

If there is not enough brine to completely cover the turkey, make additional. Do not dilute the brine with water, or the flavor will be weakened.

Always brine foods in a food-grade, nonreactive container such as a stainless steel or enameled stockpot, a brining bag, or a food-grade plastic bucket. Never use ordinary trash bags, plastic trash cans, or metal buckets or containers not meant for food use.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

814 calories; protein 93.3g; carbohydrates 27.1g; fat 35.7g; cholesterol 267.6mg; sodium 238.1mg. Full Nutrition

Reviews (21)

Most helpful positive review

Karizma

11/27/2008

This turkey marinade is awesome the taste it gives is undeniably the best i have EVER EVER EVER had including in the restaurants!! Read More

Helpful

(38)

Most helpful critical review

amydoll

11/19/2009

This did produce a tender turkey but I was sooo thirsty after eating it! And I tried to get off as much as the brine as I could. Also the turkey picked up none of the flavor of the marinade whatsoever. I think Turkey Mercedes from this site is a comparable and far superior recipe. Read More

Helpful

(7)

29 Ratings

5 star values: 24
4 star values: 3
3 star values: 2
2 star values: 0
1 star values: 0

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

Karizma

11/27/2008

This turkey marinade is awesome the taste it gives is undeniably the best i have EVER EVER EVER had including in the restaurants!! Read More

Helpful

(38)

dola

11/30/2009

My turkey turned out so well. It had an awesome flavor to it. I was scared that the brine was going to make it salty, but it didn't. It was very moist and tender. This is going to be ther only way I make my turkeys for now on! Read More

Helpful

(25)

Anna

12/07/2009

This was really good! I had to double the recipe on the brine because I had a 27 pound turkey, but it was easy and it added a lot of flavor to the turkey. Family said that it was the best turkey that they ever had! Read More

Helpful

(19)

SMMSUSAN

12/02/2008

Turkey was excellent! This redcipe made it juicy and flavorful. DH said this was the best turkey he'd ever had. And he is not a big turkey fan. Read More

Helpful

(11)

Mikaela

11/30/2010

The first picture of this recipe is the turkey I made for Thanksgiving today! This is absolutely the best turkey I've ever made! It was so tender that the breast meat actually slid off of the carcass in the oven and into the pan below! The meat is tender and unbelievably juicy. The flavor is wonderfully savory and fragrant. Definitely worth the work! Highly recommended! Me and my parents have been picking at the meat all morning and are making plans to buy another bird to use this recipe with! Read More

Helpful

(11)

Lisa Roberts

11/23/2009

This is well worth the time. Great recipe wouldn't change a thing. Read More

Helpful

(7)

amydoll

11/19/2009

Helpful

(7)

LauraE

12/26/2008

Just used this recipe for Christmas 2008. Turkey was moist and very flavorful. I highly recommend it. Read More

Helpful

(7)

sandy08

11/25/2011

Best brine method.. My turkey was great! Read More

Helpful

(3)

More Reviews

Back to Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade

All Reviews for Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade

- of Reviews

Juicy Two-Stage Thanksgiving Turkey Marinade

Servings Per Recipe: 15
Calories: 814.1

% Daily Value *

protein: 187 %

carbohydrates: 9 %

dietary fiber: 14 %

sugars:

fat: 55 %

saturated fat: 49 %

cholesterol: 89 %

vitamin a iu: 14 %

niacin equivalents: 261 %

vitamin b6: 95 %

vitamin c: 84 %

folate: 11 %

calcium: 16 %

iron: 39 %

magnesium: 36 %

potassium: 32 %

sodium: 10 %

thiamin: 27 %

calories from fat:

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.