marinade Archives - Family Dinners Delicious Dinners Families Love Tue, 20 Sep 2022 18:02:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://familydinners.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png marinade Archives - Family Dinners 32 32 Turkey Injection Recipe https://familydinners.com/turkey-injection-recipe/ https://familydinners.com/turkey-injection-recipe/#respond Sun, 11 Sep 2022 17:55:00 +0000 https://familydinners.com/?p=17274 Flavorful blend of melted butter, chicken broth and spices bring the juiciness of roast turkey to another level.

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]]> One of the secrets to the perfect Thanksgiving turkey is injection. Follow this best turkey injection recipe to make a quick and easy marinade. Then inject your turkey multiple times with this flavorful mixture of butter, chicken broth and spices. This injection liquid gives your turkey immense flavor and guarantees the juiciest most tender meat. Using this simple but rewarding injection technique, you can turn your next Thanksgiving turkey into an incredible meal that all your guests will love.

injecting butter mixture into turkey

What is a Turkey Injection Marinade?

Turkey injection marinade is usually a butter based mixture that can also contain chicken broth, garlic powder, pepper or other seasonings. Using a meat injector (large syringe), the injection mix is directly injected into the meat to add flavor and keep the meat juicy and moist during cooking. It is especially helpful to keep breast meat of whole turkeys and chickens from drying out while roasting.

Roasted turkey on a counter.

Why You’ll Love This

  • Notable: turkey meat turns out moist and tender with a hint of garlic
  • Main Ingredients: low sodium chicken broth, unsalted butter, garlic powder, black pepper and salt
  • Cooking Method: no bake
  • Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time, and 10 minutes resting time
  • Pairs well with: whole roast turkey
  • Diets: keto friendly, gluten free
  • Special Equipment Needed: mixing bowl, whisk, meat injector syringe
stirring turkey injection marinade
roast turkey on a serving platter on a table

Ingredients

You may have all of these turkey injection recipe ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe.

  • Pantry Ingredients: low sodium chicken broth or chicken stock
  • Refrigerated/Frozen Ingredients: unsalted butter, you can substitute olive oil
  • Spices: garlic powder, black pepper and salt
ingredients for turkey injection recipe

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: Combine this turkey injection technique with one of our other turkey recipes – like our amazing Convection Oven Turkey recipe. It makes the most flavorful and juicy turkey with crispy skin.

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Meat Injector Syringe – This recipe requires a meat injector. We used a stainless steel injector as it is easy to use and comes apart for quick and thorough clean up. Our injector has a variety of tips with different size holes so that you can select the right one that will allow the dry ingredients in your injection solution to pass through.

Instructions

This section shows how to make turkey injection marinade, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

PREPARE THE MARINADE: Firstly, melt butter in a small saucepan. Then whisk together melted butter and chicken broth in a small bowl. Next, add garlic powder, salt and a teaspoon of black pepper and stir. Let rest for 10 minutes. Before using, whisk thoroughly once more.

stirring turkey injection marinade
filling a meat injector syringe with the butter blend

INJECT THE TURKEY: Prepare the turkey by rinsing it and patting it dry with a paper towel. Then load marinade into the meat injector, and slowly inject into multiple spots in the turkey. You can lift the turkey skin so you don’t pierce it. We just selected a central spot in the turkey breast and then pierced through the skin, but went in at different angles to infuse every side of the breast. You can feel and see the breast swell in the areas where the injection sauce is going in. Discard any leftover marinade.

injecting butter mixture into turkey
cooked turkey on a serving platter with herbs and cranberries on the side

CHILL: Cover outside of the turkey with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Marinate the injected turkey in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: One of our favorite side dishes with roast turkey is Creamy Mashed Potatoes. They are rich, creamy and seasoned to perfection.

Make Ahead

You can make the marinade and inject it into your turkey up to 6 hours ahead of time. Make sure you cover the whole turkey tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use. After the turkey has set, you can pop him into your roasting pan and proceed with your favorite cooking method.

Andrea says….

This simple injection technique makes a huge difference in how juicy the meat of a roast turkey turns out. Not only does it add moisture, it also adds just the right hint of garlic and pepper to the turkey. It really turns a plain turkey into a spectacular meal!

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best turkey injection recipe.

  • Tip: Make sure the marinade is smooth. If the butter is not completely melted or there are any larger bits of spices in the marinade the injector needle might clog.
  • Tip: Inject the marinade into the breast meat multiple times. Breast meat has a tendency of drying out during cooking, injecting marinade helps prevent that.
  • Tip: Allow more resting time. The turkey absorbs more of the marinade when it rests a bit longer. (up to 6 hours)

More Roast Turkey and Chicken Recipes

Pair this Thanksgiving Stovetop Stuffing with your chicken or turkey recipe.

How To Store

We recommend preparing this turkey injection recipe fresh, right before using. Do not save leftover turkey injection marinade.

cooked whole turkey on a serving platter

Common Questions

Can I save any leftover marinade for a later use?

Unfortunately that is not possible. While injecting the turkey with marinade the injector needle touches raw poultry and therefore comes in direct contact with unsafe bacteria, like salmonella for example. The bacteria is then transfered from the poultry to the marinade when you reload your meat injector. It is therefore very important to discard any leftovers.

What other spices can I add to the marinade?

You can also try adding lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, paprika, smoked paprika, or onion powder. For a spicy bird, add a little fire with some chili powder, cayenne pepper, cajun seasoning or hot sauce. Additionally you can try Worcestershire sauce or finely ground dried herbs (don’t use fresh herbs here) such as thyme, rosemary, basil, sage or oregano. Make sure there are no large bits though, as they might clog the injection needle. The options for a flavorful marinade are limitless – making your own turkey brines is one of the easiest things you can do to make a juice bird this holiday season.

How long does an injected turkey need to rest before roasting in the oven?

We recommend letting the turkey chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours. Let the turkey marinate a bit longer than 30 minutes for more flavorful meat.

Roasted turkey on a counter.
Print

Turkey Injection Recipe

Flavorful blend of melted butter, chicken broth and spices bring the juiciness of roast turkey to another level.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, keto
Diet Gluten Free
Keyword how to inject a turkey, turkey injection marinade, turkey injection recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Resting Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 1 turkey
Calories 876kcal
Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • meat injector (syringe)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter and chicken broth.
  • Add garlic powder, salt and black pepper and stir. Let stand for 10 minutes, and stir through once more before using.
    stirring turkey injection marinade
  • Prepare the turkey by rinsing and patting it dry with paper towels. Load marinade into the meat injector, and slowly inject into multiple spots in the turkey. We gently lifted the turkey skin so we didn’t have to pierce the skin. Be sure to really work the breast meat. Discard extra.
    injecting butter mixture into turkey
  • Cover and refrigerate. Marinate turkey in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 6 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 876kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 94g | Saturated Fat: 59g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 25g | Trans Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 244mg | Sodium: 669mg | Potassium: 328mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2847IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg

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]]> https://familydinners.com/turkey-injection-recipe/feed/ 0 Chipotle Chicken Marinade https://familydinners.com/chipotle-chicken-marinade/ https://familydinners.com/chipotle-chicken-marinade/#comments Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:51:03 +0000 https://familydinners.com/?p=2993 Use this bold and flavorful chipotle chicken marinade to make so many different delicious meals.

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]]> This chipotle chicken marinade is a quick and easy way to add a depth of flavor to any cut of poultry along with beef, pork, and vegetables. We love using marinades that are versatile so they can be used on any cut of meat really, and this chipotle marinade is no different.

If you are looking for make-ahead dishes, you can also freeze it for later which makes dinner fairly easy. No matter which way you choose, pair your main course meal with our Cilantro Lime Rice for a simple weeknight meal.

You can use this homemade marinade when you are grilling, baking in the oven, on the stove top, when making tacos or burritos, and even for Instant Pot and air fryer recipes. If you are tired of making boring salads, chipotle chicken is a fantastic addition.

chipotle marinade blended in food processor

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN MARINADE INGREDIENTS

You may have all of these ingredients for this easy recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this delicious recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients. Exact ingredients are in the recipe card below.

Jump to Recipe
  • Peppers: canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • Spices: garlic, cumin, coriander, chili powder, oregano, salt
  • Etc.: chicken, shallot, adobo sauce (comes in the can of peppers)
ingredients labeled for chipotle chicken marinade

7 WAYS TO USE THIS CHIPOTLE MARINADE

We love to make this marinade then put in a ziploc bag with chicken breasts or chicken wings and marinate for 30 minutes or freeze for later. Here are 7 recipes that use this chipotle chicken marinade. Just make the marinade now, freeze it with the chicken and then defrost when you’re ready to cook. It take a lot of time out of your nightly cooking!

Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken Wings

Air fryer chipotle chicken wings are crispy every time and pair well with our cilantro sour cream dipping sauce.

chipotle chicken wings in air fryer basket

Chipotle Chicken Stuffed Pasta Shells

Stuffed pasta in the air fryer? Yes, please! You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this easy chipotle chicken stuffed pasta dinner or appetizer. This is great to make with leftover chipotle chicken from any of these recipes.

tongs holding up chipotle chicken stuffed pasta

Pan Seared Chicken Burrito Bowls

Burrito bowls are packed with flavor, hearty, are super easy to make, and tastes phenomenal. Don’t forget to pair it with our Cilantro Lime Butter.

butter on chicken

Chicken and Pineapple Kabobs

If you love chipotle flavors, you have to try our juicy grilled chipotle chicken and pineapple skewers. Dice up the pre-marinated chicken and pop them on skewers for a great spring and summer meal.

chipotle chicken and pineapple kabobs on white platter

Chipotle Chicken Taco Soup

Instant Pot tortilla soup feeds a crowd and is ready in about 30 minutes. I don’t even defrost my marinated chicken before making this. You can’t have an easier weeknight meal. It’s also great to freeze for later and the perfect comfort food.

chipotle chicken taco soup

Sheet Pan Fajitas

One-pan chicken fajitas will make you want to ditch the restaurant every single time! These are easy and there’s virtually no cleanup. Just pull your marinated chicken out of the freezer the night before, grab some bell peppers, onions and tortillas and you’ve got a meal!

chipotle chicken sheet pan fajitas with guacamole, salsa and tortillas
Essential

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

Prepare your work surface and gather these kitchen tools and supplies before you begin this delicious, easy-to-make recipe so you don’t waste extra time trying to find things you need.

  • food processor or blender
  • resealable plastic bag (ziplock)

INSTRUCTIONS

Follow the full instructions and kitchen tips and quick tips for the best way to make this recipe. Don’t forget to check the prep time and cook time in the recipe card below before you begin.

MAKE MARINADE: Add all of the ingredients (minus the chicken) into a food processor or blender. Pulse until it’s smooth.

  • chipotle chicken wings marinade ingredients in food processor
  • chipotle marinade blended in food processor

ADD CHICKEN: Place the chicken breasts or chicken thighs into a bowl or plastic bags and divide the marinade evenly.

KITCHEN TIP

We recommend putting 2 pieces of chicken in each bag and freezing to prep for meals in the future. This is especially useful for our Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl, Sheet Pan Fajitas, Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup and Chipotle Chicken Kabobs recipes that require 2 chicken breasts.

  • chicken covered in marinade in a bowl
  • hands mixing marinade over chicken in ziplock

COAT CHICKEN: Use your hands to coat the chicken on the inside of the bag.

MARINATE: Place the marinaded chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes but no longer than 24 hours.

KITCHEN TIP

You can freeze the chicken in the marinade for later. Simply place the bag flat when freezing to save space.

chipotle chicken marinating in a ziploc bag

STORAGE TIPS

Storing your food properly is important to prevent spoiling or food poisoning.

Refrigerate: Store marinating raw chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Once the chicken has been cooked, store in an airtight container or ziploc bag and refrigerate for up to 3 days if you can’t eat it the next day.

Freeze: Store in an airtight, freezer safe, container. If you’re storing in a zip top plastic bag, try to get as much air out as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: Defrost a ziplock bag of marinated chicken in the refrigerator overnight.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click the questions to see the answer.

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Print

Chipotle Chicken Marinade

Bold, flavorful chipotle marinade that's perfect for chicken, beef or vegetables. Make a double batch and freeze with your meat for an easy meal prep In the future.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword chipotle, marinade, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Marinade Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 433kcal
Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 2 Canned Chipotle Peppers
  • 2 tablespoons Adobo sauce This comes in the Chipotle Peppers can.
  • ¼ cup oil Avocado oil or vegetable oil should be used if you'll be cooking at high heat. Olive oil can be used otherwise.
  • 1 shallot
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 ½ tablespoons cumin
  • 1 tablespoon coriander
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 lbs chicken breasts Use any meat or vegetables you prefer.

Instructions

  • Combine ingredients In food processor. Blend.
    chipotle chicken wings marinade ingredients in food processor
  • Separate chicken breasts into freezer ziploc bags. We recommend putting 2 breasts In each bag and putting half the marinade with each bag.
    two chicken breasts in ziplock with chipotle marinade
  • While chicken is in ziploc bag, use your hands to coat chicken thoroughly with the marinade.
    hands mixing marinade over chicken in ziplock
  • Marinade for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day in the refrigerator. Lay flat in bag to freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

  1. Freeze in ziploc bags with 2 breasts. This will allow you to easily defrost just 2 breasts for recipes that call for 2 breasts instead of 4.
  2. Double or triple the recipe and marinade then freeze more chicken, beef or vegetables for future meals.

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 2505mg | Potassium: 956mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 804IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 3mg

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