Red Wine Turkey Recipe

Make the juiciest, most beautiful brown turkey ever with this red wine brine recipe! The perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner main course.

I’ve been making a red wine brined turkey for my friends and family every Thanksgiving for the past several years.

It is the most flavorful brine I’ve come across. It leaves your turkey incredibly moist, tender, and full of flavor. The red wine helps turn the skin a beautiful golden brown. 

Red Wine Turkey Brine Ingredients

• Red Wine
• Water
• Apples
• Onions
• Garlic
• Sage
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Peppercorns
• Salt
• Brown Sugar

Making this red wine brine does require 2 bottles of red wine, but hey, it’s the holidays! I think it’s worth it. It’s also perfectly okay (and recommended) to use inexpensive wine. Save the good stuff for later! 😉I use a red wine blend that my grocery store sells for less than $10 a bottle. 

You can use any apples you’d like, though I’d recommend using a variety that’s on the firmer side. The apples you see in the photos are McIntosh. 

Both yellow and white onions will work for this recipe, though I prefer white. They have a more potent flavor, which comes through better in the brine.

I used classic poultry herbs in this brine like thyme, sage, and rosemary. You could also add marjoram or remove an herb entirely if you have a particular aversion to any one of them. 

How To Make Red Wine Turkey Brine

Bring all the ingredients, other than the wine, to a boil in a large stockpot. Let boil one minute, then turn off the heat and allow to cool completely. 

How To Brine Turkey with Red Wine

After you’ve made the brine and it has completely cooled, it’s time to soak that bird. 

You’ll need a stockpot, or another large container (I sometimes use this) to brine it in. In a real pinch, you could also use a turkey bag. (That’s how I brined my turkeys all through college 😉) 

Add the bird to the cooled brine, then pour in the red wine. If the turkey is not completely covered by liquid, add more water until it is. Cover with lid, then put in the refrigerator to brine for 48 hours. 

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How To Cook Turkey With Crispy Skin

If you want to cook your turkey so that it has crispy skin, you’ve got to dry it out prior to cooking.

After the turkey has brined for 2 days, remove it from the brine solution and place it on a baking sheet (uncovered) in the refrigerator the night before cooking.

The next day, before you put it in the oven, thoroughly pat it dry. This will ensure your turkey’s skin is nice and crispy rather than tough and chewy.

What should you stuff a turkey with?

Generally, you want to stuff the turkey’s cavity with things that will help keep the meat moist and aromatics that will add subtle flavors. I chose to stuff this red wine turkey with apples, onions, lemons, garlic, and a blend of poultry herbs (rosemary, thyme, and marjoram). 

What should you inject a turkey with?

You want to inject your turkey with something that will both tenderize the meat and add flavor. For this turkey, I chose a mix of white wine and soy sauce. Simple, yet effective. 

How To Cook A Turkey In The Oven

To cook your turkey in the oven, you’ll need a large pan. I have a roasting pan which is ideal, but you can also use any other large and deep pan or a disposable turkey pan. 

Where to cook the turkey in the oven?

You want to cook your turkey directly in the middle of your oven for the best results. I usually remove one rack from my oven and place the other directly in the middle, then place my roasting pan there. 

At which temperature should you cook the turkey?

A whole turkey should generally be cooked between 325 F and 350 F. I chose to cook this turkey at 350 F. 

How long should you cook turkey per pound?

Whole turkeys should be cooked approximately 20 minutes per pound. 

How do you know when the turkey is ready?

The turkey is ready when the skin is brown and crispy and the internal temperature is 165 F. 

Where to stick the thermometer in the turkey?

To check to see if the turkey is done, you should stick the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. 

More Turkey Recipes

• Sriracha Beer Cajun Turkey
• Sweet Tea Brined Turkey Breast

Other Thanksgiving Recipes

• Thanksgiving Turkey Meat & Cheese Platter
• Secret Ingredient Sweet Potatoes
• Holiday Cranberry Compote
• 4 Ways To Make Fall Mimosas
• Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream Sundaes

Recipes To Use Up Leftover Turkey

• Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza
• Thanksgiving Leftovers Monte Cristo
• Thanksgiving Leftovers Crunchwrap 

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