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    Home » Recipes » Flavor Boosters: Condiments, Sauces, and Frostings

    Published: Nov 6, 2024 · Modified: Jun 2, 2025 by AshleyFreeman ·

    Honey, Butter, and Beer Injection Marinade Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Not to sound dramatic, but this honey, beer, and butter turkey injection recipe is life changing and will up your turkey game. Use this for your holiday turkey and you'll never go back to brined or regular bland turkey again.

    The combination of fat from the butter and carbonation from the beer is magical, yielding a moist and juicy bird that'll have everyone begging for seconds.

    Honey, Butter, and Beer Turkey Injection Marinade in a glass jar on top of a wooden board with a wooden handled spoon on the surface and a striped towel behind it.

    This injection marinade is also a great way to flavor more than just turkey. Use it to add flavor and moisture to chicken breasts, to pork loin, or to your favorite beef roasts. It's such an easy way to add pizzazz to your favorite meat dishes.

    I use this injection for my Thanksgiving spatchcock turkey, aka the best turkey I've ever made (seriously). If you're looking for other marinated meat recipes, be sure to check out my garlic and rosemary marinated pork chops. (The marinade used in that recipe would also be delicious for turkey.)

    My fresh basil and balsamic vinaigrette can also double as a marinade. Finally, if you want to try this injection on a roasted chicken, serve it with my Alabama white barbecue sauce on the side. Everyone will love it!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Tasty Tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • 🍽Get the recipe
    • RECIPE GUIDELINES AND TEST KITCHEN TIPS
    • FOOD SAFETY

    Ingredients

    Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this flavorful marinade recipe:

    Ingredients for Honey, Beer, and Butter Turkey Injection Marinade.
    • salted butter
    • amber ale
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • hot sauce
    • honey
    • low-sodium soy sauce
    • garlic powder
    • onion powder
    • kosher salt
    • paprika

    (See recipe card for quantities.)

    Instructions

    Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to get cooking!

    Pouring amber ale into a small saucepan with melted butter and other seasonings of the butter, beer, and honey turkey injection marinade.
    1. First, melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium-low heat. Stir in the remaining ingredients and stir until smooth.
    Sucking up the turkey injection marinade from a glass jar with an orange meat injector.
    1. Then, let the injection mixture cool until warm or transfer the injection liquid to a refrigerator safe container for a later use. When it's turkey time, fill an injector with the warm mixture. Inject into the meaty parts of chicken, turkey, pork, or beef.

    Hint: If the mixture solidifies before you use it, just zap the mixture in the microwave for about 30 seconds it's in liquid form again.

    Substitutions

    Need some ingredient substitution ideas? I've got you covered!

    • Beer - Instead of amber ale, use a brown ale or lager beer. Apple ale is another great option. Avoid strong beer like IPA or dark beer because it'll make the marinade too bitter.
    • Butter - If you only have unsalted butter, increase the amount of salt in the marinade. Personally, I love the buttery flavor of this marinade but you can also use olive oil if you prefer. 
    • Honey - Maple syrup and agave are great alternatives to honey.
    • Soy Sauce - Substitute regular soy sauce for the low-sodium soy sauce but be sure to omit the salt if you do.

    Variations

    Here are some additional ways to change up this homemade turkey injection recipe:

    • Spicy - Add a small amount of cayenne pepper to the marinade to give it a kick.
    • Cider Injection Marinade - Instead of beer, use a dry cider (carbonated alcoholic beverage). You can also use apple cider for a non-alcoholic option.
    • Citrusy - Stir in some lemon zest or orange zest to give this marinade a citrusy flavor.
    • Herby - Add your favorite finely minced fresh herbs to the marinade.

    Equipment

    Here's the equipment you'll need for this beer and butter poultry injection recipe:

    • liquid measuring cup
    • measuring spoons
    • small saucepan
    • marinade syringe

    Storage

    If you have any leftover mixture or are making it ahead of time, store the marinade in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

    Freeze the marinade in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.

    Tasty Tip

    If you're using this injection marinade for a whole turkey and also rubbing the whole bird with a turkey rub or butter mixture, be sure to rub the turkey first before injecting. Otherwise, you'll just rub the injection marinade out of the meat.

    Frequently asked questions

    What kind of meat should I use for this injection marinade?

    This injection is particularly excellent for poultry like holiday turkey but also works great for pork and beef.

    How do I use this marinade for a whole turkey?

    Inject the marinade using a meat injector into the center of the meaty portions of the white meat: turkey breast and wings, as well as the dark meat: the thighs and turkey legs.

    What beer to use for turkey?

    Amber ale is the perfect beer to use with turkey. It's got a caramel, toasty flavor that pairs really well with poultry. 

    Do I need to brine my turkey if I inject it?

    The great thing about using an injection marinade is that you don't need to brine! Saving hours and perhaps days for Thanksgiving turkey prep? Sign me up!

    Does injecting a turkey make it juicier?

    Yes! A simple mixture of fat from the butter and the carbonation from the beer will help the turkey stay moist and add amazing flavor throughout.

    Can beer be used as a marinade?

    Beer is an excellent ingredient to use in a marinade. The beer helps tenderize the meat.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Glass Weck jar of basil balsamic vinaigrette on an oval wooden cutting board and a small white dish with a spoon and some vinaigrette.
      5-Minute Balsamic and Fresh Basil Vinaigrette
    • Grilled garlic rosemary pork chops on a gray platter.
      Grilled Pork Chops with Rosemary Dijon Marinade
    • Dark wooden board with a pulled chicken sandwich topped with Alabama White BBQ Sauce and a jar of the sauce off to the side along with a bowl of chicken and pickles.
      How to Make the Best Alabama White BBQ Sauce
    • Black-handled shallow bowl of Creamy Cilantro, Jalapeño, and Garlic Green Sauce with a small wooden spoon on a blue surface with a basket of tostones off to the side.
      Creamy Cilantro, Jalapeño, and Garlic Green Sauce

    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with this marinade:

    • Sliced Spatchcock Turkey on an oval platter with a plain table runner, gold and wooden serving knife and fork, a gravy boat, salt and pepper shakers, and a cream colored plate off to the side.
      Spatchcock Turkey and Gravy (With or Without Poultry Shears)
    • Air Fryer Dressing in a white casserole dish with a silver serving spoon.
      Easy Southern Dressing (Stuffing) in the Air Fryer
    • Mini cast-iron dishes filled with Creamy Baked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with wooden handled forks off to the side.
      Creamy Baked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
    • Three blue dot-rimmed white plates with Roasted Beet and Watermelon Salad on a basket-weave surface along with two blue glasses and small bowl of dressing with a wooden spoon.
      Roasted Beet and Watermelon Salad with Goat Cheese

    🍽Get the recipe

    Honey, Butter, and Beer Turkey Injection Marinade in a glass jar on top of a wooden board with a wooden handled spoon on the surface and a striped towel behind it.

    Honey, Butter, and Beer Injection Marinade

    Use this beer and butter turkey injection recipe for your holiday turkey, and you'll never go back. The fat from the butter and carbonation from the beer creates the most luscious, moist turkey. The injection marinade is also excellent for other poultry, pork, and beef.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiments and Sauces
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 4 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 ½ cups

    Equipment

    • liquid measuring cup
    • measuring spoons
    • small saucepan
    • meat injector

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup salted butter
    • 1 cup amber ale
    • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 tablespoon hot sauce
    • 2 tablespoon honey
    • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon paprika

    Instructions

    • Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
    • Cool the marinade to warm before adding to an injection needle if using right away. Or, transfer to a refrigerator safe jar or container and refrigerate until ready to use. To reheat, place in a saucepan over low heat or zap in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds.

    RECIPE GUIDELINES AND TEST KITCHEN TIPS

    When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:

    • Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
    • When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
    • I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
    • When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

    FOOD SAFETY

    Don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe:

    • Cover and refrigerate any leftovers--don't let them hang out at room temperature for too long
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    More Flavor Boosters: Condiments, Sauces, and Frostings

    • Two plates topped with pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw, a jar of Western NC BBQ Sauce, a bowl of pickles, and some red checked napkins.
      Western North Carolina Style Vinegar BBQ Sauce
    • A metal pan of grilled pork chops brushed with Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce alongside a white bowl of sauce with a brush on top and a red checked cloth.
      The Best Tangy Carolina Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce
    • Wooden tray topped with a light blue bowl of Cajun tartar sauce with hot sauce on top, a bottle of hot sauce on the side, as well as lemon wedges, parsley leaves, and a kitchen towel.
      Easy Homemade Cajun Tartar Sauce with Creole Mustard
    • Oval platter topped with yellow and blue tortilla chips and a wooden bowl filled with 4 Ingredient Guacamole with a green striped towel on the side.
      Easy 4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe from Scratch

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy says

      December 16, 2024 at 10:08 am

      5 stars
      Cannot wait to try this for our Christmas turkey! Will be so good.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        December 17, 2024 at 12:33 pm

        Yes! Can't wait to hear what you think!

        Reply
    2. Kim Beaulieu says

      December 10, 2024 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best! We love injecting marinade, especially for turkey and chicken. This one is outstanding!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        December 17, 2024 at 12:31 pm

        Hooray! Thanks for sharing Kim!

        Reply
    3. Sonja says

      December 10, 2024 at 2:51 am

      5 stars
      I was looking for a better solution than brining my roast for days before making and wow did this marinade deliver! I had never heard of injecting marinade right into meat before and it's such a great idea. The flavor impact was incredible!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        December 17, 2024 at 12:30 pm

        Awesome! Makes my day to hear that you loved it!

        Reply
    4. Oscar says

      December 09, 2024 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      This injection recipe completely transformed my turkey. Everyone was raving about how moist and delicious it was!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        December 17, 2024 at 12:30 pm

        Love to hear that Oscar!

        Reply
    5. Nicole Kendrick says

      December 09, 2024 at 1:36 pm

      5 stars
      This such a flavorful mix! I love getting all that tasty flavor AND cutting out the brining process to get my turkey extra moist. Fantastic.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        December 17, 2024 at 12:30 pm

        Right?! Game changer!

        Reply
    5 from 5 votes

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    Photo of Ashley Strickland Freeman in a kitchen.

    Hi, I'm Ashley, "your best friend in the kitchen." I'm a food stylist, culinary producer, editor, travel junkie, and author of The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook from Charleston, SC. Thanks for stopping by Little Black Skillet!

    More about me →

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