Rub Your Thanksgiving Turkey - with Dry Rub Seasonings!

A dry rub for turkey is an easy way to add taste to an already tasty meal. While there are commercial rubs available, such as the ones from The Rub Co., there's also many dry rubs you can make at home. When going through your Thanksgiving turkey recipes consider using a rub to add to the taste of the meal.

For example there's the Magic Dust recipe which is always good to have on hand. Like most rubs this has salt, sugar, pepper, cayenne pepper and various other ingredients. If one rub doesn't suit your tastes keep trying until you find one that does!

Another very easy rub is made with 2 tablespoons onion powder, 1 tablespoon each garlic powder and paprika, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon each celery salt, black pepper, powdered sage and a half teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Mix these ingredients together thoroughly. Lightly oil the turkey with vegetable oil or melted butter then lightly coat the turkey with the rub mix. Ideally let this sit for an hour or so in the refrigerator before baking at 350F until done. If you like a spicy turkey, double the pepper and cayenne.

If you like to have a rub on hand for not only turkey but Cornish game hens, chicken and other birds, make up and bottle a rub in bulk. Combine ¾ cup paprika with ¼ cup each black pepper, celery salt and sugar. Add in two tablespoons each dry mustard powder, onion powder and finely minced lemon zest, then add 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper and garlic powder. This is a nice rub to have on hand!

A word to the wise when working with rubs - pay attention to not rub your eyes when working with these! It'll get your attention in a hurry!

If you have a prolific rosemary bush as I do, use ¼ cup of fresh rosemary and 8 cloves garlic as a basis for a rub. Combine in a blender with the zest from two lemons, 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon each lemon juice, oil, and a teaspoon each salt and pepper. Spread all over the turkey.

If you dry rosemary you can also create a rub with that, onion powder, pepper, dried thyme and garlic powder.

These add seasonings and flavor to your turkey. Spread all over the skin and if you can get it under the skin so much the better!