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You are here: Home / Holidays / Southern Sweet Tea Brined Turkey Breast Recipe

Southern Sweet Tea Brined Turkey Breast Recipe

Posted by Jessica Pinney on November 11, 2015, last updated November 23, 2019

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Southern Sweet Tea Brined Turkey Breast

Though I’ve lived in California for almost a decade now, there are still occasions when you can see my Southern roots. It mostly shines through in my cooking, but also sometimes in my accent after I’ve had a few drinks. 😉

When I don’t go home for the Holidays, I like to incorporate a few dishes that bring a piece of the South to my mouth. Sometimes I make a Cajun Turkey, but this year I thought I’d try something different.

My mother had recently told me how sweet tea brined chicken is very popular. I was very intrigued at the thought, but wasn’t planning on roasting chicken anytime soon. I did, however, have another bird that I needed to do something with…

And thus this recipe for Southern Sweet Tea Brined Turkey Breast was born. This brine is really easy to put together and makes the turkey oh-so-tender. It practically fell apart when I was trying to slice it. If you’ve ever suffered from dry turkey, I’m writing you a prescription for this sweet tea brine recipe!

Southern Sweet Tea Brined Turkey

A whole turkey is just way too much meat for a few people so I chose to do a breast. If you want to brine an entire turkey, all you need to do is double this recipe.

This post contains affiliate links (when you buy we make a little money at no cost to you). See our disclosure for more information.

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Southern Sweet Tea Brined Turkey Breast Recipe

Turkey breast marinated in a delicious sweet tea and citrus brine. Perfect for feeding smaller Thanksgiving crowds!

  • Author: Jessica
  • Prep Time: 24 hours
  • Cook Time: 60 mins
  • Total Time: 25 hours
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Cuisine: American
Southern Sweet Tea Brined Turkey Breast
Print Recipe
★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews

Ingredients

  • 3–5lb Boneless Turkey Breast
  • 1/2 – 1 gallon water
  • 6 Lipton Tea Bags
  • 1 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Salt
  • 1/2 Vidalia Onion, sliced thin
  • 1 Lemon, sliced thin
  • 1 Orange, sliced thin
  • 1/2 Tbsp Peppercorns (I used Hawaiian Rainbow)
  • 4 Garlic Cloves, sliced thin
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt & Pepper

Instructions

  1. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. Add tea bags, turn off and let steep 10 minutes.
  2. Turn the heat back on medium-high. Add the salt and brown sugar. Stir until completely dissolved.
  3. Add onion, lemon, orange, and garlic.
  4. Remove from heat. Add peppercorns. Let cool.
  5. Once brine has cooled completely, put your turkey breast in a turkey bag and cover with the sweet tea brine. If the brine does not completely cover the turkey, add some extra water.
  6. Secure bag and refrigerate submersed in the brine for 12-24 hours.
  7. Remove turkey from the sweet tea brine. Rinse, then pat dry. (It is important to pat dry so the skin gets a nice crispy skin when cooking!)
  8. Place turkey in a baking dish (mine fit perfectly in a 9×9). It is optional, but you can place additional freshly sliced lemons and oranges around the turkey to help keep it juicy.
  9. Drizzle some olive oil over the top of your turkey breast. Sprinkle a little salt and crack some fresh pepper over the top.
  10. Roast at 450F for about 40-60 minutes, until the internal temperature reads 170F.
  11. Let rest 10-15 minutes before slicing.
  12. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition

  • Calories: 254

Did you make this recipe?

Please tag @cookingwithjanica and use #cookingwithjanica on social media. We'd love to see!

Sweet Tea Brined Turkey Recipe

Southern Sweet Tea Turkey Brine

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  1. Beth says

    November 12, 2015 at 6:01 am

    I’ve never heard of this type of brine but it makes sense. Sounds yummy!

    Reply
  2. Karla says

    November 12, 2015 at 9:24 am

    What a great idea, your turkey breast looks delicious and juicy!

    Reply
  3. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says

    November 12, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    That turkey looks amazing! That color is just gorgeous! I live in North Carolina and I’ve never heard of the sweet tea brine, but is sure sounds like a great idea.

    Reply
  4. Lindsey says

    November 12, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    I just spent 2 years in the South, and was amazed at how popular sweet tea was! This is such a great use of it! I can tell just from the pictures that the turkey meat is super moist and tender. I know from experience that is not easy to accomplish!

    Reply
  5. lisa says

    November 13, 2015 at 4:01 am

    The Turkey looks amazing! Adding it to my list for Thanksgiving 2016!

    Reply
  6. kristi mcdaniel says

    November 14, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    Jeeze, I would love to win that gift card. I would get a new laptop.

    Reply
  7. Ramona @ The Merchant Baker says

    November 15, 2015 at 1:39 am

    I love how juicy brining makes turkey. I have never brined with tea before, though, I have to say, this looks wonderful!

    Reply
  8. Ever D says

    November 15, 2015 at 3:22 am

    I’d probably buy movies. This post has made me thirsty for sweet tea…and I never even drink it.

    Reply
  9. Susan Broughton says

    November 23, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    There is so much i could do with $650 Amazon but I think I would share it with my family so we can have a nice Christmas. If I put it back to save for Christmas we could all have a really nice gifts

    Reply
  10. Keli says

    November 24, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    Hi! This sounds great 🙂 Quick question – you have peppercorns in the ingredient listing but I don’t see them used in the instructions. Did I miss them? Or are they just ground up for the pepper? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Jessica Pinney says

      November 24, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      Hi Keli!

      So sorry, I must’ve forgot to mention them. Add them to the brine when you remove it from the heat. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  11. Anne says

    March 31, 2016 at 12:31 am

    Love the idea of the sweet tea. I have a turkey breast in my freezer, I might have to try this!

    Reply
  12. Monica says

    November 8, 2016 at 10:24 am

    A sweet tea brined turkey breast? Sounds like GENIUS to me! Yum! 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  13. Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says

    November 8, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    I lived in the South my entire life up until the last 6 years and have never heard of this. What an interesting idea!

    Reply
  14. Jenni says

    November 8, 2016 at 6:37 pm

    Love that you used sweet tea as a brine! Great idea

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  15. Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary says

    November 9, 2016 at 7:39 am

    The brine you use is incredible yummy! I usually use tea brine for eggs. thx for sharing wonderful recipe.

    Reply
  16. Erin says

    November 13, 2016 at 5:18 pm

    What a unique recipe~never heard of sweet tea brine. Trying this one out for sure.

    Reply
    • LYNN says

      November 24, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      THE BEST BRINE FOR TURKEY AND CHICKEN ON THE GRILL.

      Reply
  17. Michelle Ferrand says

    November 14, 2016 at 10:12 pm

    Janica, I love all of your recipes, and this is no exception!

    Reply
  18. Lis @ The Fare Sage says

    November 15, 2016 at 11:49 pm

    Sounds absolutely divine. I can’t wait to try the brine with my Christmas turkey.

    Reply
  19. Adam says

    November 23, 2016 at 6:41 pm

    Does the cooking time change if its not a boneless breast? The turkey breast I have is 7lbs but its not boneless.

    Reply
    • Jessica Pinney says

      November 23, 2016 at 7:09 pm

      I imagine there would be a difference, but I’ve never cooked a bone-in breast, so I’m not sure. Start checking it a little early. When it is 170 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part, it is ready.

      Reply
  20. K. Ford says

    November 12, 2017 at 6:40 am

    Could you use this brine recipe when cooking a whole turkey? If so, what would be the oven setting?

    Reply
    • Jessica Pinney says

      November 12, 2017 at 8:18 am

      Yes, but you will need to at least double this brine recipe. Just roast like normal, at 325 F.

      Reply
  21. Shanna says

    November 11, 2019 at 3:20 pm

    Does the turkey taste like tea?

    Reply
  22. Ashley says

    May 21, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    This is the BEST sweet tea brine!! We use to to make smoked sweet tea chicken wings. Highly recommend!

    Reply
    • Jessica Pinney says

      May 21, 2020 at 7:38 pm

      That sounds delicious! We’ll have to try it in our smoker this summer.

      Reply
  23. Beverly Scott says

    November 24, 2020 at 7:47 pm

    Do I remove the tea bags onionds and fruit before adding to my Turkey?

    Reply
    • Jessica Pinney says

      November 24, 2020 at 9:07 pm

      Remove the tea bags, but not the onion and fruit.

      Reply
  24. Daniel Medrano says

    November 28, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    Is this recipe for a full gallon or a half gallon

    Reply

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