This simple turkey brine with no added sugar has been used by me and my family over the last three years. It has been battle tested and has the stamp of approval from my family. So many brine recipes call for sugar, because technically it’s part of the process. For those looking to lower their sugar intake as much as possible, I find this to be a good alternative.

In this recipe, we rely on the natural sugars in the apple juice and fresh squeezed orange juice to provide that sweetness.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Brine Bucket

Chef's Knife

Ingredients:

2 Quarts Apple Juice 

1 gallon cold water

1 cup Redmond Real Salt

1 tablespoon black pepper 

1 tablespoon garlic powder 

1 tablespoon onion powder 

1 teaspoon white pepper 

1 bunch of thyme 

1 bunch of sage

8 cloves garlic

2 Naval oranges

3 Bay Leaves

There are plenty of great premade turkey brine kits on the market and you could certainly use one of those. Redmond Real Salt makes one, which is available online. Use my discount code “EATS” to save on your orders there. I am a huge fan of all their products.

The first thing you’ll need is a good brining bucket. I’ve resorted to using my lovely wife’s crafting trashcan in years past, but decided to make the investment in an actual brining bucket.

The process is very simple. Add all the ingredients to the bucket. Cut the oranges in half, squeeze out the juice and then drop them in the bucket. Also, peel the garlic cloves before dropping those in. Feel free to play with the recipe. You could slice an onion or even add some Monkfruit sweetener if you really wanted to have some extra sweetness. This is what I love about cooking.

Once the brine is mixed up, drop your bird in there. Then cover with ice. Keep it in the fridge or a cooler to brine. You should brine your turkey an hour for every pound. If you’re pressed for time and running behind, overnight will have to do.

Now that your bird is brined, take it out, rinse it off and pat it dry. Now you’re ready to roll! Whether you smoke, bake or fry, be prepared for a much juicier turkey. 

I hope you found this recipe helpful. Let me know if you give it a try. Be sure to follow me on all my social channels.