Alton Brown Thanksgiving Turkey Brine Recipe

Agrita Chhibber November 13, 2025 Dinner Recipes 6 Mins Read

Drench your turkey in festive Thanksgiving flavors! Ever tried a traditional Thanksgiving turkey brine with a star-chef twist? If not, try Alton Brown’s Thanksgiving turkey brine.

It takes almost 3 days to have the turkey ready for the feast. But it’s worth it! It’s a once-a-year turkey delight (perfectly suits the Thanksgiving vibe). So, why not try it now?

I like trying traditional recipes reinvented by star chefs. For holiday feasts, Alton Brown’s recipes are spot on. Alton Brown’s Thanksgiving turkey brine keeps the turkey fully submerged.

To make Alton Brown’s Thanksgiving turkey brine, combine all the ingredients in the container and stir until the salt and sugar dissolve. Then, add the turkey and make sure it is completely submerged.

Cover the container and refrigerate for at least 7 hours. When you’re ready to cook the turkey, remove it from the brine and rinse it off with cold water. Pat it dry with paper towels and proceed with your chosen recipe.

The brine is loaded with vegetable stock and spices. You can add more spices to the brine for more flavor in your Thanksgiving turkey. Thaw the turkey safely before adding it to the brine.

For some extra herby edge, you can also use some poultry seasoning. If you don’t have poultry seasoning, you can use any of the poultry seasoning substitutes.

Alton Brown’s Thanksgiving turkey brine is a simple recipe. It’s a bit time-consuming, but the result will be as delicious and delightful as described below.

Table of Contents

Expert Tips That I Recommend

Thaw the turkey well before bringing it to room temperature. Keep your refrigerator at 40°F.
Because the turkey has already absorbed salt from the brine, be careful when seasoning it further. It can make it overly salty.
Don’t pack the cavity too tightly. Add the cinnamon, apple, and onion loosely so that heat can circulate through the cavity.
Don’t rely solely on the cooking time; check the internal temperature to be sure.

Recipe Variation for Different Diets

Low Sodium Version: Omit salt from the recipe.
Keto Version: Swap sugar for monk fruit sweetener, and check the packaging to make sure all spices are sugar-free.

Nutritional Information

Calories	51 kcal
Carbohydrates	13 g
Protein	1 g
Fat	1 g
Saturated Fat	1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	1 g
Monounsaturated Fat	1 g
Sodium	9452 mg
Potassium	56 mg
Fiber	1 g
Sugar	11 g
Vitamin A	18 IU
Vitamin C	1 mg
Calcium	37 mg
Iron	1 mg

Alton Brown Thanksgiving Turkey Brine Served

Storing And Reheating This Recipe

Storing

Allow the turkey to cool completely. Then place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it. Consume within 3-4 days. Keep the temperature at 4°C or below.
You can also store it longer by freezing the turkey in a freezer-safe bag for 2-3 months.

Reheating

Oven: First, preheat the oven to 175 degrees C. Then add the turkey and a splash of broth to an oven-safe dish and cover it lightly with foil. Now heat for 15-20 minutes. Stir it halfway through until steaming hot.
Stovetop: Add the turkey and some broth to a skillet. Then gently warm for 5-8 minutes. But you need to keep checking in between as it is covered, and keep stirring it.

What To Serve With This Recipe

The Alton Brown Thanksgiving Turkey Brine pairs well with various other preparations. But above all, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce are a perfect pairing for this recipe. To keep it simple, you can also enjoy the turkey’s savory flavor with cornbread or dinner rolls. I like to serve the turkey with a fresh green salad to keep it light yet flavourful.

Printable Version

Alton Brown Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

The Alton Brown Thanksgiving Turkey Brine Recipe uses simple ingredients like salt, herbs, and spices to make a juicy, flavorful, tender turkey.

Author Servings Calories

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Ingredients

1 14- to 16-pound frozen natural, young turkey
1 gallon vegetable broth packaged, not low-sodium or sodium-free
1 cup kosher salt
½ cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1½ teaspoons all spice berries
1½ teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water

Equipment

Oven
Stockpot
Bowl
Bucket
Aluminum Foil
Spatula

Method

Refrigerate the turkey at 38°F for 2 to 3 days before roasting.
In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, pour in the vegetable stock and add black peppercorns, brown sugar, candied ginger, salt, and allspice berries.
Stir occasionally and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from the heat and let it cool. Then, refrigerate it until required.
The night before roasting the turkey, take it out of the fridge. In a 5-gallon bucket, combine water, the prepared brine, and ice.
Immerse the thawed turkey in this brine, cover, and refrigerate for about 8 hours, turning the bird halfway through.
Then remove the turkey from the brine, rinse it, and pat it dry.
In a microwave-safe bowl, add apple slices, chopped onion, oil, a cup of water, and a cinnamon stick. Microwave it for about 5 minutes.
Transfer these aromatics into the turkey cavity along with rosemary sprigs and sage. Roast the turkey for about 30 minutes in a preheated oven (300 F), until browned, crispy, and thickened.
Reduce the temperature to 350°F and roast for another 2 to 2.5 hours. Let the turkey rest (wrapped in foil) for about 15 minutes before carving.

kcal carbs protein fat sugar sodium

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FAQs About Alton Brown Thanksgiving Turkey Brine

Should I keep the turkey refrigerated while brining?

Yes, of course! Keep the turkey and brine in the refrigerator throughout the brining process.

How long should you brine a turkey?

Put the turkey in the fridge and brine it for at least 8 hours, or up to 18 hours. Don’t leave the turkey in the brine longer than recommended; over-brining can make the bird too salty and turn the texture spongy.

Is it good to brine a turkey before cooking?

During brining, the turkey absorbs extra moisture, which in turn helps it stay juicy. Since the turkey absorbs salt, too, it also gets nicely seasoned. Even better, the salt breaks down some of the turkey’s proteins, making it more tender.

Do you have to boil brine for turkey?

You don’t need to boil the brine because you can fully dissolve the salt and sugar and extract the flavor from any seasonings in 1½ cups of liquid.

More Recipes That You Can Try

Perfect Alton Brown Good Eats Roast Turkey Recipe

Alton Brown’s Classic Brined and Roasted Turkey

Juicy Julia Child’s Turkey Recipe

How To Make Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast At Home

Conclusion

Alton Brown’s Thanksgiving turkey brine is an easy way to keep your turkey moist and flavorful. All you need is vegetable broth, onions, apples, black peppercorns, spices, herbs, and ice water to make it juicy.

Tell me in the comments below about your Thanksgiving turkey brine. Also, try our other holiday recipes for your Thanksgiving feast.

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