Final Smoked Turkey
This Smoked Turkey recipe is exceptionally juicy. It’s brined in a single day and seasoned with a scrumptious turkey seasoning. It might take a little bit of time, however it’s so value it.
In search of sides to serve with this entire smoked turkey? Attempt these mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts with bacon, or these tasty mashed candy potatoes.

The Finest Smoked Turkey Recipe
If there may be ever a turkey recipe that you simply make please make it this smoked turkey recipe. It isn’t misplaced on us that cooking a complete turkey, whether or not you’re roasting, smoking, sous-viding, or no matter, is an endeavor.
Irrespective of the way you prepare dinner a complete turkey it’ll take a while so why not do it proper? Smoking a turkey does take 2 days to make, simply an FYI.
That is actually the most effective smoked turkey recipe as a result of it comes out so juicy and flavorful all because of a smoked turkey moist brine, turkey seasoning, and basting liquid.
So for those who don’t have the time flip round now and go make our baked turkey tenderloin or this straightforward herby turkey breast.
Why you must contemplate smoking a turkey
For those who determined that smoking a turkey is for you, listed here are all the explanations you must smoke a turkey versus some other methodology.
- Smoked turkey is juicy on the within.
- The flavour is unbelievable.
- It’s a enjoyable strategy to prepare dinner with the household.
- Smoking a turkey is a protracted course of that leaves you with essentially the most flavorful turkey ever.
- Smoked turkey makes nice leftovers that final a very long time.
Finest Smoker for Smoking Turkey
Let’s discuss people who smoke. You probably have a smoker that you simply love, you’ll be able to skip this part. We now have smoked many several types of meat on many various people who smoke. Automated pellet grills or people who smoke, handbook people who smoke, and even common grills.
Our favourite smoker is the Traeger electrical smoker as a result of (like a gradual cooker) there may be minimal work required when you set the Traeger. This smoker makes use of pellets somewhat than wooden chips and it mechanically feeds the smoker to regulate the temperature.
That’s proper, no person has so as to add wooden chips or wooden pellets themselves to maintain the temperature up.
What kind of pellets ought to I exploit? You should utilize no matter pellet you desire to! We used the unique Traeger pellets for this recipe. You should utilize hickory, cherry, or some other pellet taste you’d like.
Smoker Necessities
Try all of our favourite smoker merchandise, together with what smoker we use within the Match Foodie kitchen for testing recipes!
Can I Use a Common Grill to Smoke a Turkey?
Sure, you need to use a gasoline grill or charcoal grill as a smoker. It does take a bit extra work. All you need to do is purchase certainly one of these wooden chip smoker containers after which add wooden chips all through the smoking course of to take care of the right temperature.

All of the Provides You Want
Earlier than you begin smoking the turkey you have got just a few issues that you will want to collect to make it a simple course of.
Smoker Necessities
Try all of our favourite smoker merchandise, together with what smoker we use within the Match Foodie kitchen for testing recipes!
Substances for Smoked Turkey
There are just a few totally different steps to this smoked turkey recipe however the good half is that lots of the elements overlap!
- Turkey– this recipe requires a 12-15 pound entire turkey. Ensure you discover a turkey that’s untreated. Some turkeys come pre-brined and we don’t need that. This turkey ought to feed between 12-15 folks in case you are serving it with sides.
- Brine Substances- you will bine your hen on this smoked turkey brine which consists of water, salt, rosemary, thyme, peppercorns, garlic, and onions.
- Turkey seasoning– don’t skip this seasoning, it provides a lot taste to this recipe. This turkey seasoning is essentially the most flavorful seasoning that compliments turkey and different poultry so properly. It’s a mixture of candy + savory. Please please make it!
- Onion and Garlic– you will stuff your turkey with onions and garlic. Don’t skip this, it provides all the most effective flavors to your turkey and the gravy.
- Salted butter– oh butter, how we love you. You’re going to stick a bit of butter underneath the pores and skin of your turkey earlier than you smoke it.
- Hen broth– you will make a little bit of a basting liquid with hen broth. For those who don’t have hen broth, any kind will do!
- Recent herbs- we use recent sage, recent rosemary, and recent thyme on this recipe. They’re utilized in just a few totally different components of the recipe.

Find out how to Put together a Turkey for Smoking
To organize your turkey for brining and smoking, we advise sanitizing your kitchen sink and inserting a baking sheet within the sink. Place your turkey on the baking sheet and take away the wrapping from the turkey.
Thaw Turkey
It is vitally essential that you simply thaw your turkey totally earlier than starting this course of. Thawing a 15 lb. turkey takes longer than you’d assume.
We thawed ours within the fridge for two days till totally thawed.
Ensure to regulate your turkey. You may all the time carry it to the countertop to thaw sooner than within the fridge.
Take away Turkey Innards
Earlier than beginning something, remember to take away the innards from the cavity of the turkey earlier than making ready the brine for the turkey.
You may discard the giblets and innarts or save them for a yummy turkey soup in a while.
Smoked Turkey Brine
After your turkey is prepped and able to go it’s time to organize the ‘moist’ turkey brine. We now have a complete publish about our smoked turkey brine, however primarily you’re making ready a salty water tub for the turkey to sit down in in a single day.
Why brine your turkey earlier than smoking? We swear by moist brining our turkey earlier than smoking as a result of it not solely provides a ton of taste but in addition helps the turkey retain moisture throughout the smoking course of.
How lengthy to brine a turkey earlier than smoking? We advocate brining your turkey for at the least 12 hours or in a single day. So, you are able to do this the night time earlier than in order that it’s prepared for smoking within the morning!
Smoked Turkey Dry Rub
The second factor you need to do to your turkey earlier than placing it on the smoker is rigorously rinse the turkey underneath water, pat it dry with a paper towel, after which douse it in our scrumptious turkey dry rub.
Ensure to get that rub in each nook and cranny! We extremely recommend making our dry rub as a result of it’s actually what provides superb taste to this recipe. You’ll possible use round 1/2 to three/4 cup of our turkey seasoning. Right here’s what it’s fabricated from:
- Dried thyme
- Dried rosemary
- Dried oregano
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Floor pepper
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
strive it!
Turkey Seasoning
Ditch the store-bought turkey seasoning and use essentially the most Flavorful Turkey Seasoning made with 9 elements you’ll be able to really pronounce. This seasoning is made up of garlic powder, brown sugar, kosher salt, and different easy seasonings.
get recipe

Issues to Do Earlier than You Smoke the Turkey
Within the final hours that your turkey is brining, there are some things you are able to do to get able to smoke the hen.
Prep the Basting Liquid
Each 1.5 to 2 hours if you are smoking the turkey you will baste your hen in a scrumptious basting liquid that may also change into a part of the gravy you make on the finish of your recipe.
Put together the basting liquid on the stovetop earlier than you put together the hen after which discover a small aluminum container you could maintain the basting liquid in within the smoker.
Why must you baste your smoked turkey? Basting helps stop the turkey from drying out on the smoker. Belief us after we say don’t skip this half.
Get your aluminum Pan prepared
After the hen is brined, you will place it in a giant aluminum roasting pan that can finally go in your smoker. Discover an aluminum roasting pan that’s sufficiently big to your hen, however will nonetheless match in your smoker.
Alongside together with your hen, there can be onion, garlic, and recent herbs that can make up your gravy together with the basting liquid and drippings from the turkey.
Clear the smoker
All the time clear your smoker so there are not any probabilities for taste contamination or fireplace of any type. Meaning you additionally need to clear the drip tray of your smoker as properly!
Preheat the Smoker
Preheat your grill or smoker so it’s all prepared for you and your hen!
What Temperature Do I Smoke a Turkey at?
This smoked turkey is smoked at 225ºF coated with tin foil for six hours (for a 12-15 lb. turkey) — low and gradual. At 5 hours of smoking, we take away the aluminum cowl and switch the warmth as much as 250ºF for a further 1 hour to crisp up the pores and skin. It’s scrumptious!
Find out how to Make the gravy
One of many secret heroes of this recipe is the GRAVY. Use the drippings and yummy juices that the turkey makes throughout smoking, the leftover basting liquid (when you’ve got any), and 1 cup of broth.
Warmth all these elements collectively and slowly whisk in 1-2 tablespoons of corn starch till the gravy thickens.

How Lengthy to Smoke a Turkey?
This 12-15 lb turkey is smoked (coated) for six hours. You probably have a bigger turkey you’ll need to smoke the turkey longer. Simply test the inner temperature!
Take away the turkey from the smoker and let the turkey relaxation for 15-20 minutes to retain all of the moisture again into the meat. Then use a carving knife to slice your turkey.
Can I smoke an even bigger turkey? We really don’t advocate smoking a turkey bigger than 15 lbs. as a result of it can take too lengthy to prepare dinner and the outside of the turkey might get too dry.
Inside Temperature of a Entire Turkey
The inner temperature of turkey must be 165ºF. Some folks observe the rule that the hen thigh temperature must be 175ºF and the breast meat ought to come out to 160ºF or 165ºF. Usually, we ensure that the entire hen is about 165ºF.
Our rule of thumb is to maintain the probe of your smoker within the thickest a part of the hen to look at the temperature of the turkey all through smoking.
Attempt it!
Thermoworks Thermapen
We swear by utilizing a meat thermometer when cooking any reduce of meat. The Thermapen is our go-to meat thermometer that works each time.
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FAQ
Whereas the smoke time for a 13-15 lb. turkey is simply round 6 hours, you’ll possible be brining the turkey, which makes this a 1 day+ endeavor.
Smoked turkeys are completely scrumptious. They tackle the flavour of the smoking pellets used together with any dry or moist brining that was executed beforehand.
There are just a few methods to maintain a turkey moist whereas smoking. You may cowl it with tinfoil to entice some moisture and/or use a basting liquid like basic roasted turkey.
We advocate utilizing tin foil for almost all of the turkey smoke time to verify the turkey comes out good and moist. Solely proper on the finish do you uncover it.
What to Serve with Smoked Turkey
You may’t have turkey with out scrumptious sides! Under are a few of our most favourite facet dishes for Thanksgiving or some other time you’re having fun with a turkey dinner.
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon- This scrumptious roasted brussels sprouts recipe is made with only a few easy elements together with thick-cup maple bacon and in lower than half-hour!
Roasted Root Greens- These Roasted Root Greens are such a simple and scrumptious seasonal facet to serve this fall and winter! Merely reduce the veggies, season, and roast for 45 minutes — that’s it!
Mashed Potatoes- Add these wholesome mashed potatoes to your Thanksgiving dinner. They’re made with russet potatoes, Greek yogurt, a bit of little bit of butter, and tons of recent herbs for essentially the most excellent mashed potatoes with pores and skin on (simply the best way I prefer it!).

Smoked Turkey Leftover Concepts
You probably have a smaller group of individuals for this turkey you’ll positively have leftovers! Under are some scrumptious leftover concepts.
Storage
Retailer your turkey leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 7 days.
Can I freeze smoked turkey?
Sure, you’ll be able to freeze leftover turkey for soups, salads, or some other recipes. Let the turkey cool utterly after which place it in a freezer-safe bag and freeze it for as much as 3 months.


Juicy Smoked Turkey (Find out how to Smoke a Turkey)
This smoked turkey recipe features a smoked turkey brine, turkey seasoning, and a scrumptious gravy. Your visitors can be wowed by this juicy Traeger smoked turkey recipe. Yum!
Prep:12 hours
Cook dinner:8 hours
Whole:20 hours
Substances
Turkey
- 13-15 lb. turkey thawed with giblets and innards eliminated
- 1/2 massive white onion diced
- 5 cloves garlic
- 4 tablespoons chilly salted butter reduce into 8 small items
Smoked Turkey Brine
- 2 gallons water
- 1.5 cups kosher salt
- ½ massive white onion chopped
- 5 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 tablespoon peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon entire cloves
- 3 sprigs recent thyme
- 3 sprigs of recent rosemary
Basting Liquid
- 4 cups hen broth
- 2 cloves garlic smashed
- 2 sprigs recent sage
- 2 sprigs recent rosemary
- 2 sprigs recent thyme
Gravy Substances
- Turkey drippings ~1-2 cups
- Leftover basting liquid when you’ve got any
- 1 cup hen broth
- 1-2 tablespoons corn starch
Directions
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Put together the Brine: Add 2 cups of water to a saucepan and add 1.5 cups of kosher salt to the pan and warmth it over medium warmth. Whisk the two elements collectively over the warmth till the salt is absorbed.
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Pour the salt water right into a 4 gallon bucket. Add the remainder of the brine elements to the pot and blend till all of the elements are mixed.
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Brine Turkey: Fastidiously place the turkey into the brine and place the pot into the fridge and let it sit in a single day.
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If you end up able to smoke the turkey, preheat the smoker to 225ºF.
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As soon as the turkey has sat within the brine, take away it from the pot and discard the brine.
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Place the turkey on a baking sheet within the sink and punctiliously rinse the turkey.
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Pat the turkey strive with paper towel.
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Place the turkey on a clear aluminum tray and punctiliously place the small items of chilly butter underneath the pores and skin of the turkey.
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Put together turkey seasoning: put together turkey seasoning by cominbing all the spices in a mediu bowl. Combine to mix.
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Season turkey: Relying on how huge your hen is, you may use round 3/4 cup of the turkey seasonoing. Sprinkle the turkey with turkey seasoning. Pat the seasoning into the turkey and be certain the turkey is roofed in seasoning. It is okay if a number of the seasoning falls to the underside of your tin pan becuase these flavors will assist make the gravy style superb.
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Stuff turkey: stuff the onion, garlic, and herbs in to the middle of the turkey and canopy the turkey with aluminum foil. put aside.
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Put together basting liquid: Place all of the elements for the basting liquid right into a small bowl (we used a disposible tin container). Ensure the bowl can get soiled within the smoker if that is what you are utilizing.
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Lastly, place the pan with they turkey into the smoker and set the basting liquid subsequent to the turkey pan.
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Smoke turkey: smoke the turkey at 225ºF for five hours, basting the turkey each 1.5 to 2 hours with the basting liquid.
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Uncover the turkey after 5 hours and improve the warmth to 250ºF and smoke for a further 1 hour or till the inner temperature of the thickest a part of the turkey (the breast) reaches 165ºF. Growing the warmth will enable the pores and skin to crisp up.
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Take away the turkey from the smoker and let it relaxation for 15-20 minutes earlier than carving.
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Make the gravy: Discard the onion, garlic, and sprigs of herbs from the roasting pan and add all of the turkey drippings to a saucepan (you must have round 1-2 cups of liquid).
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Add any leftover basting liquid (when you’ve got any) and 1 cup of hen broth to the saucepan and produce to a mild boil over medium/excessive warmth.
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As soon as the liquid is scorching, flip the warmth to medium and create a cornstarch slurry. Whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of the liquid from the pot till the cornstarch dissolves. Then add the slurry to the pot and whisk to mix.
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Proceed whisking till the gravy thickens. If the gravy doesn’t attain your required thickness, repeat with one other tablespoon of cornstarch.
Suggestions & Notes
- Non-Smoker Grill Directions: Convey your gasoline grill or charcoal grill to 225ºF and set a wooden chip field stuffed with soaked wooden chips onto the grill. You’ll have to preserve the temperature 225ºF all through the entire prepare dinner time by ensuring you have got sufficient propane in case you are utilizing a gasoline grill or being positive to repeatedly add charcoal to your charcoal grill. Additionally, you will have so as to add extra soaked wooden chips to the smoking field all through the cooking time. As soon as your grill is preheated, observe the identical cooking directions from above.
Diet information
Energy: 684kcal Carbohydrates: 49g Protein: 130g Fats: 15g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 0g