Impress your visitors with Smoked Turkey this Thanksgiving! It’s tender and juicy because of an herbaceous, citrusy brine, and that smoked taste makes it unforgettable. Finest! Turkey! Ever!

Why You’ll Love This Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

• Turkey Is Made for Smoking. The smoker is right for protecting turkey moist, and the smoke infuses the meat with taste. If dry, bland turkey has rained in your Thanksgiving parade yr after yr, it’s time to strive smoking it! (I’m additionally keen on Smoked Salmon and Smoked Rooster Thighs.)
• It Frees Up Your Oven. Whereas we love a standard Roast Turkey and Spatchcock Turkey, when you have a single oven, managing Thanksgiving dinner is just like the worst sport of Tetris you’ve ever performed. Resolution? Smoked turkey, in fact! 
• Simpler Than You Suppose. Smoking turkey is a undertaking, however let’s be sincere: so is roasting turkey within the oven. Until you’re making Air Fryer Turkey Breast or Crockpot Turkey Breast, there’s actually no simple strategy to do Thanksgiving turkey, however the smoker isn’t as arduous as you would possibly count on—particularly in case you’ve made different smoker recipes like Smoked Rooster Breast and Smoked Pork Tenderloin.
• Conventional With a Slight Twist. Whereas the smoking half won’t be conventional, the remainder of this turkey recipe is strictly what you count on in a Thanksgiving roast—the aromatics stuffed within the cavity for taste, the butter rubbed all around the exterior, and the leftovers for making turkey sandwiches on Do-it-yourself Dinner Rolls for lunch the subsequent day.

The right way to Make the Finest Smoked Turkey

The Elements

• Turkey. I like to recommend shopping for a recent turkey from an area butcher—no thawing and also you’re supporting a small enterprise. Win-win! In the event you do purchase a frozen turkey, you’ll have to thaw it earlier than smoking. Undecided how massive your turkey must be? Begin right here: How A lot Turkey Per Particular person.
• Dry Brine. Utilizing dry smoked turkey brine helps the turkey retain its juices, leading to excellent, succulent meat. You should use a moist brine in case you insist, however I like to recommend utilizing dry for this smoked turkey recipe; you’ll get crispier pores and skin too.
• Aromatics. Carrots, crimson apple, yellow onion, lemon, garlic, and recent thyme infuse the turkey with taste because it smokes. Be happy to toss in different herbs like recent rosemary or sage.
• Unsalted Butter. It’s vital to make use of unsalted butter since there’s already salt within the brine.
• Freshly Floor Black Pepper. Coarse black pepper provides massive taste to smoked turkey.
• Liquid. Apple juice, white wine, or rooster broth. 

The Instructions

1. Brine the Turkey (1-3 Days Earlier than Smoking). Pat the turkey dry, rub the dry brine all around the chook, together with within the cavity, then refrigerate for twenty-four to 48 hours.
2. Uncover (24 Hours Earlier than Smoking). Uncover the turkey, then return it to the fridge. This helps the pores and skin dry out so it will possibly crisp.
3. Carry to Room Temperature (1 Hour Earlier than Smoking). Take away the turkey from the fridge and let it stand at room temperature.

4. Put together the Aromatics. You don’t have to peel a factor.

5. Stuff the Turkey. No matter doesn’t match contained in the turkey, scatter within the roasting pan.

6. Tuck the Wings. This prevents them from burning.

7. Tie. Use kitchen twine to tie the legs collectively.

8. Get Prepared for Smoking. As soon as your smoker is 325°F, brush the chook with the melted butter and set the pan on the smoker. Pour in your liquid.

9. Smoke the Turkey. Cowl the smoker and smoke your turkey at 325°F till it reaches 155°F within the breast and 160°F within the thighs.
10. Relaxation and Carve. 20 to half-hour relaxation is necessary or your turkey will probably be dry. Carve (see: The right way to Carve a Turkey) and ENJOY!

How Lengthy Will It Take to Smoke a Turkey?

• Smoke complete turkey for 10 to 12 minutes per pound.
• This implies a 12- to 14-pound turkey will want 2 to three hours smoking time.

As a substitute of following the clock, the BEST strategy to know when your smoked turkey is finished is by temperature.

• The thigh ought to register not less than 160°F and as much as 180°F; the breast must be not less than 150°F (and not more than 165°F) on an prompt learn thermometer inserted within the thickest a part of the meat.
• The thermometer mustn’t contact the bone or the turkey cavity.
• Per FDA pointers, turkey is taken into account cooked at 165 levels F, however its temperature will rise because it rests. See my publish on How Lengthy to Cook dinner a Turkey for extra data.

A Word About Smoked Turkey Gravy

Some individuals love smoked turkey gravy; different individuals discover the smoky taste to be a lot too robust. In the event you’ve by no means had it earlier than, chances are you’ll need to make Vegan Gravy or Mushroom Gravy for backup.

To make smoked turkey gravy, use my Turkey Gravy recipe with the drippings within the pan. Listed here are a couple of suggestions:

• If there are charred and burnt bits within the pan, don’t scrape them off to incorporate with the drippings. There’s already sufficient smoky taste within the drippings and people charred-on bits will make it too robust.
• You might have to refill the pan with water in the course of the smoking course of. Don’t refill it with broth, wine, or apple juice; simply use water. It will reconstitute the unique liquid and hold your gravy from being too robust.

Storage Ideas

• To Retailer. Refrigerate leftover smoked turkey in an hermetic storage container or ziptop bag for as much as 4 days. To maintain the meat moist, drizzle a few of the turkey pan drippings or rooster broth excessive earlier than refrigerating it.
• To Reheat. Wrap the smoked turkey in an aluminum foil pouch, drizzle turkey drippings or broth over the meat, then seal it. Heat the pouch in a baking dish in a 300 levels F oven.
• To Freeze. Freeze turkey in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let it thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating in keeping with the directions above.

What to Serve with Smoked Turkey

• Mashed Potatoes. The Finest Traditional Mashed Potatoes Recipe is my favourite conventional recipe, however if you wish to go the non-traditional route, strive Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Crockpot Mashed Potatoes, or On the spot Pot Mashed Potatoes.
• Candy Potatoes. We’re speaking Candy Potato Casserole, Glazed Candy Potatoes, Mashed Candy Potatoes, and Candy Potato Souffle. Gotta have ’em!
• Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry Orange Sauce and Cranberry Orange Relish would each be pleasant with smoked turkey.
• Veggie Sides. Clearly, there’s Inexperienced Bean Casserole, however don’t overlook about Corn Casserole and Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
• Stuffing. Clearly I like stuffing, as a result of I’ve recipes for Chestnut Stuffing, Crockpot Wild Rice Stuffing, Cornbread Stuffing, and Crock Pot Stuffing.
• Pie. Persist with conventional Candy Potato Pie or strive one thing new with Buttermilk Pie, Pumpkin Pecan Pie, or Crustless Pumpkin Pie.

Recipe Ideas and Tips

• Don’t Depend on the Pop-Up Thermometer. In case your turkey comes with a pop-up thermometer, do away with it! You continue to need to use a meat thermometer. Pop-up thermometers typically pop up when the turkey’s already over-cooked.
• Bear in mind to Thaw in Advance. In the event you purchase a frozen turkey, chances are you’ll want every week of lead time to make your turkey—as much as 4 days of thawing and as much as 3 days of brining. Planning forward is essential.
• Don’t Stuff the Turkey. Make your stuffing and your smoked turkey individually. In the event you stuff the chook, by the point the stuffing reaches a secure temperature, the remainder of the turkey will probably be over-cooked.