Smoked Turkey Rub: a weeknight method

A jar of smoked turkey rub surrounded by herbs and winter squash.

This smoked turkey rub recipe is the reliable blend of sweet and savory ingredients to produce the signature tender, juicy and flavorful smoked turkey. A quick and straightforward spice mix that takes just minutes to put together.

Every year for the holidays, I make a delectable smoked turkey made with turkey brine and kitchen-made smoked turkey rub. Add some side dishes such as cornbread dressing, make ahead mashed potatoes and sauteed cabbage for a complete feast!

A smoked turkey has become an annual Thanksgiving tradition in my house. It’s actually quite unfussy to make, is loaded with flavor, and finest of all, using a smoker frees up oven space for all those other baked Thanksgiving recipes. This dry rub is a must-have for the finest possible holiday bird.

Smoked Turkey Rub Ingredients

The ingredients for this rub can be found at all major grocery stores.

Brown Sugar: This recipe calls for light brown sugar. Make sure your sugar is not lumpy before you add it to the bowl so that it will blend nicely with all the spices.
Sweet Paprika: Spice rub calls for two types of paprika. Sweet paprika is often just labeled as “paprika”, and I use the sweet designation to distinguish it from hot and smoked paprika.
Smoked Paprika: You can find smoked paprika along with regular paprika in the spice aisle. It has a nice, complex flavor that really enhances the turkey.
Black Pepper: Pepper is a must-have for any spice mix to create that classic savory flavor profile.
Kosher Salt: I use Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt in all my cooking. It doesn’t have any harsh after taste like you can sometimes find in standard table salt.
Onion Powder: The onion powder adds dimension with both a sweet and savory flavor.
Garlic Powder: You can never go wrong with garlic, and in this case, garlic powder is the way to go as it will stand up to a long cook time without burning.
Mustard Powder: I find that mustard is often used in smoked and BBQ recipes to accentuate the flavor of the meat.
Cayenne Pepper: While cayenne pepper is spicy, the amount used here is very small and adds flavor without a lot of heat. If you prefer a spicy rub, you’ll want to increase the cayenne to one teaspoon.

How Do You Make Smoked Turkey Rub?

Place all the ingredients in a small bowl, then stir until well combined. Transfer the rub to a jar or airtight container and store until you’re ready to use it.

Spices being put into a bowl and stirred together.

Tips For The Reliable Spice Rub

I often double or triple this recipe so that I have some on hand for future use.
While this is a smoked turkey rub, it also works well on other types of smoked meat including chicken and pork. You can also use it on turkey breasts instead of a whole turkey.
I use light brown sugar in this rub. You can swap in dark brown sugar, just be aware that it will have a heavier molasses flavor.
I recommend using this rub along with a wet brine for finest results. Be sure to learn how to brine a turkey if you’ve never used this technique before.
Unsure of how to smoke a Thanksgiving turkey? My smoked turkey recipe produces reliable results every time! You can also do a smoked turkey breast. I typically use an electric smoker, but a gas grill or charcoal grill will also work.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your turkey is smoked to at least 165 degrees F.
Keep any leftover rub in a jar or airtight container for storage.
You can brush your turkey with a little melted butter or olive oil to help the spices adhere to the skin.
This rub makes enough to cover a 12-15 pound turkey.
Save your drippings to make kitchen-made turkey gravy!

Quick Tip

Smoked turkey rub will stay fresh in an airtight container in a cool, dark location for 4 months.

A raw turkey coated in seasoning in a pan.

Recipe FAQs

Can you season a turkey ahead of time?

You can apply your smoked turkey rub up to 24 hours before you plan to cook your turkey. This rule would apply in a situation where you have chosen not to brine your turkey, or the turkey has already been brined and patted dry.

How long does it take to smoke a turkey?

It takes at least 6 hours to smoke an average sized (10-12 pound) turkey at 250 degrees F. Plan on having your turkey cook for around 30 minutes per pound.

Do you need to brine a turkey before you smoke it?

In my opinion, it is absolutely worth taking the time to brine your turkey before you smoke it. A turkey brine adds a lot of extra flavor as well as moisture, which means you’re a lot less likely to have a dry bird.

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A cooked turkey coated in homemade smoked turkey rub.

Flavor Variations

This recipe is fabulous as-is, but you can switch up the spices to create your own custom blend.

Spicy Rub: Try adding 1-2 teaspoons of ground chipotle pepper for a spicy and smoky kick.
Cajun Rub: Stir in 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, and double the amount of cayenne pepper for a Cajun turkey.
Herb Rub: Add dried herbs such as Italian seasoning, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano and parsley.

If you’re smoking a turkey this year, you absolutely need a smoked turkey rub for optimal results! This is one of my all time go-to rub recipes because it’s so tasty.

More Great Thanksgiving Recipes

Thankgiving salad with mixed greens, apples, blue cheese and pecans.

Thanksgiving Salad

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A pan of candied yams topped with marshmallows.

Candied Yams Recipe

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Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

6 hrs 20 mins

Thanksgiving Stuffing

1 hr 10 mins

Smoked Turkey Breast

11 hrs 10 mins

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Add as Google preferred source Authorthe Makdob kitchen A jar of smoked turkey rub surrounded by herbs and winter squash.

This smoked turkey rub is the reliable blend of sweet and savory ingredients to produce the signature tender, juicy and flavorful smoked turkey. A quick and straightforward spice mix that takes just minutes to put together. Time Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 minute
Total Time6 minutes

Course Seasoning
Cuisine American
Serves 12

Ingredients

1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons sweet paprika often just labeled as "paprika"
1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

Place all the ingredients in a bowl, then stir well to combine. Transfer to a jar or airtight container.
Spice rub will stay fresh for up to 4 months when stored in a cool, dry place.

Notes

I often double or triple this recipe so that I have some on hand for future use.
This recipe calls for light brown sugar. You can swap in dark brown sugar, just be aware that it will have a heavier molasses flavor.
Feel free to use this rub along with a turkey brine, that is what I do for finest results.
Unsure of how to smoke a turkey? My smoked turkey recipe produces reliable results every time!