Lemon Butter Turkey Injection with Cajun Spice

No bland turkey here! This Turkey Injection Recipe is my go-to when I’m making a whole turkey or a turkey breast! It’s the secret to a flavorful, juicy bird.

If you’ve been following along here for a while, you know that I love to make Thanksgiving Turkey! I don’t usually use turkey brines, but I almost always use an injectable marinade! Injectable marinades are the best way to get good results without too much work.

This Cajun turkey injection recipe is perfect when paired with a simple spice rub or some compound butter under the skin, but you really don’t need anything more for flavorful meat.

If you need a recipe for the turkey, I have several turkey recipes on my site that I’m happy to recommend! Pair this injection recipe with:

• Pecan Smoked Whole Turkey
• Air Fried Turkey Breast
• Deep Fried Cajun Turkey
• Smoked Turkey Breast
• Grilled Turkey Breast

You can always buy pre-made turkey injection marinade to save time. If you want to purchase it instead, I recommend this Cajun injection liquid.

Can I use this recipe on chicken?

Chicken injection recipes are hard to come by! Yes, you can absolutely use this savory turkey injection on chicken or any poultry before you grill, smoke or fry it.

How much injection liquid will I need?

The general rule is one ounce of injection liquid for every pound of turkey. This recipe makes about 17 ounces of injection liquid, perfect for the average whole turkey.

Of course, you can halve or double the recipe if needed!

What equipment will I need?

You will need a small saucepan, and a meat injector.

Recipe Modifications

There are many ways to modify this recipe! Have fun with it and try out different flavors. Here are a few ideas

• Add fresh lemon zest or orange zest
• Substitute apple juice or apple cider for some or all of the lemon juice for a recipe that’s sweet and rich instead of tart
• Add a big splash of the juice from jarred jalapenos to make a jalapeno turkey injection recipe.
• Use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice, both are acidic and will have a similar result.
• Add a splash of dark beer or turkey broth for extra savory flavor. 
• Double the amount of creole seasoning for lots of flavor.
• Add 1/8 cup of honey to sweeten the liquid. I recommend adding it directly to the hot, melted butter and whisking vigorously to make sure it’s totally incorporated, otherwise it may stick in your syringe.

How to Inject A Turkey

Here are my easy steps for how to inject a holiday turkey:

1. Inject the liquid into the meatiest parts of the bird, starting with the breast side, plunging the needle as deep as possible.
2. Then, without removing the needle, adjust the needle to different angles, inserting more liquid. When you this, it will minimize the poke holes you have to make in the bird. This technique helps your bird stay extra juicy, since moisture will weep out of each hole!
3. Each time you inject, try to inject at least half of an ounce of fluid.
4. Once the bird is injected, pat the skin dry, then apply spices on the skin and internal cavity.
5. If time allows, let the bird rest on the counter for 20-30 minutes before you start the cooking process for the most flavorful turkey.

The injection liquid can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container for later use. Be sure it is at room temperature and whisked well before injecting. It will separate when resting.