Go Back
+ servings
Print Recipe
4.85 from 20 votes

Easy Roasted Turkey Thighs with Coffee Rub

An easy oven-roasted turkey thighs recipe brined overnight to give it extra juiciness; rubbed with a coffee rub, baked in the oven, and glazed with honey-butter.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Fusion
Servings: 2 turkey thighs
Calories: 136kcal
Author: Joyce Lee

Ingredients

  • 2 turkey thighs (bone-in, approx. ¾ lb each)

Brine

  • 3 tablespoons salt
  • 8 cups water
  • 3-4 large bay leaves
  • 4-5 cloves garlic (lightly crushed, or roughly chopped)

Coffee Rub

  • ½ tablespoon ground coffee (medium ground *see notes)
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
  • ½ tablespoon onion powder
  • ½ tablespoon paprika
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon Madras curry powder
  • ½ tablespoon cayenne (optional, if you like it spicy)

Honey Butter Glaze

  • 1 ½ tablespoons butter (unsalted)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon soy sauce

Instructions

Brine The Turkey 

  • In a large bowl, mix together the salt and water until the salt has dissolved
  • Add in bay leaves
  • Peel and gently crush (or roughly chop) the garlic and put it in the brine
  • Add the turkey into the brine
  • Brine overnight

Make the Coffee Rub

  • Combine all the ingredients in the 'Coffee Rub' section of the ingredients and set aside.

Make the Honey Butter Glaze

  • Melt the butter in a small pot or microwave. (If you use a microwave, heat it up in increments of 15 seconds so that it doesn't splatter everywhere)
  • Once the butter has melted or is soft, mix in the honey and soy sauce and set aside.

Prepare the Turkey for Oven Roasting

  • Preheat oven to 350F
  • Remove the turkey thighs from the brine and pat it down with paper towels to remove the excess moisture and brine.
  • Sprinkle the coffee rub over the top and bottoms of the turkey thigh and place the turkey in an oven-proof roasting pan. You can choose to rub the coffee rub into the turkey or sprinkle it evenly over the turkey in a thin layer.
  • Once the oven has reached 350F, add the turkey in and set a timer for 40 minutes
  • Once 40 minutes have passed, use a brush and dab the honey butter glaze over the turkey thighs. If the butter has separated, use a fork to mix everything together until it is a paste again - it doesn't need to be smooth.
  • Put it back in the oven for another 20 minutes It should have baked in the oven for a total of 60 minutes.
    Use a thermometer to check the temperature. The final internal temperature of the turkey should be between 165-170F.
  • (Optional) If you like sweet and savoury dishes, try brushing on a ¼ teaspoon to ½ teaspoon of honey on top of the turkey after you have removed it from the oven!
  • Save the drippings and serve it with the turkey, and sprinkle it with some chives! Enjoy!

Notes

  • Do not use coffee grinds that have already been used for coffee, it will not have any flavour. Use only freshly ground or pre-ground coffee grounds, it has a lot more flavour which will make a better tasting turkey.
  • I like using medium or light roast coffee, in medium coarse texture. I find the medium course sticks to the turkey better and dark roast coffee can be too bitter for rubs.
  • To keep these turkey thighs juicy and tender, it is very important that you do not skip the brining step.

Nutrition

Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1644IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg