What are you smoking this Thanksgiving

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ocsnapper

Smoke Blower
Original poster
May 27, 2009
111
10
Eastern Shore Maryland
Ok everyone just want to see how everyone is smoking up this Thanksgiving..

My self I'm doing up one bird whole and two breast still thinking whether to just use a simple brine or go with something with more flavor. Any thoughts on some different brine mixes would be great..

I do have one question I've only done one bird before and that was a small one and I don't remember how long it took.. so how long for a 12 to 14 lb bird take..

Thanks..
 
I've got a 17 pounder soaking in a brine right now. Practice run for Thanksgiving day. I am smoking it tomorrow, since I'm off work. I plan to remove the back bone and splay it out flat. Rub it down with a modified Jeff's rub. Then onto the UDS. Cherry and maple maybe a little oak. I will try to maintain 270ish until the thigh hits 165.
 
I'm going to do two turkeys, I think. I'll brine them with a recipe I got here on this forum and I'll spatchcock them and cook at 350 indirect and they will only take about two to three hours.
 
12-14lb bird you are probably looking at 3-4 hours I would say.

I'm not smoking anything, we always have Thanksgiving at my Moms house and she likes to do the bird, I would smoke one and take it with me but don't want to hurt her feelings if people dig into my bird and leave hers untouched so I guess I'll just live through the rest of your smokes.
 
I am smoking two injected turkeys. This will be the 4th Thanksgiving that I have smoked two turkeys. After lunch we always debone what is left over. The smoked turkey reappears in stir fry, soups, cassaroles, BBQ sandwiches, salads, etc.
 
Thank goodness we are doing Thanksgiving at our place this year thereby keeping me from traveling 4+ hours and also it gives us the chance to do dinner our way. I will actually be doing my smoking on the day before so I plan to do a meatloaf for the Wednesday evening meal with a few ABT's of course. For Thanksgiving dinner I will smoke 2 brined turkey breasts with a very simple rub of evoo, salt, pepper, & poultry seasoning. Also a ham injected and glazed with Tony Chachere's Praline and Honey Ham marinade. Good stuff.
 
doing (1) traditional turkey in the oven, and doing (1) on the smoker. I am going to do a buttermilk brine for the turkey on the smoker.

I may also do a smoked mac-n-cheese on the smoker.
 
Hey Chisoxjim... I am smoking two birds and cooking one in the oven.(big family) I was curious if you would mind sharing your buttermilk brine recipe? I have never smoked a turkey, let alone done a brine. So i am looking for ideas. Thanks!!!
 
I am going to use a modified brine I use for chicken based on a buttermilk brine from Gary Wiviott's book Low and Slow. I prefer my bird a little less salty than his recipe.

I am doing:

1/2 gallon water
1/2 gallon buttermilk
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
splash of hotsauce
a few cloves of garlic - crushed
a bundle of green onion chopped

I will brine mine 18-24 hours(make sure to rinse off the brine before smoking), and smoke @ 275 with hickory in the GOSM.

hope this helps
 
Thanks for the recipe! I am going to try it this weekend. Gotta break in my newly built smoker. This, a tray of abt and a brisket should get the job done!
PDT_Armataz_01_42.gif
 
good luck, I have used it on many a chicken, and liked it. I have yet to do a turkey on the smoker, and dont think I will have time for a test run before turkey day, thats why there will be a traditional oven bird being done, just in case.

let us know how it turns out.
 
Feasting with about 25 at my house thanksgiving.
Roasting a stuffed turkey or two in the oven for the big meal at noon...

For supper in the evening, we're smokin:
brined turkey, sliced for sandwiches
pastrami for sandwiches
burnt ends
mmm-oink balls
maybe some mac&cheese
maybe something else too if it fits, haven't really decided yet.

The turkey & pastrami will smoke the day before. Which reminds me, time to get that brisket out of the freezer & start the process...

edit:
It seems the list is already growing...
baked beans
maybe ABTs
the 15 lbs of venison kielbasa we made a couple weeks ago (Rytek Kutas recipe)
maybe some smoked corn to go with the main meal
the boys want venison pastrami, not beef, so I'm doing both.
man, I'm gonna be busy!
 
My wife wants a fried turkey.

I'll probably still find a way to fire up the smoker and cook something. Might be a nice time to smoke up some more beef ribs just to mix it up a bit.
 
Plan on doing 14 pounds of pork shoulder. Not big on turkey, but doing one this weekend to see if I will do a small turkey as well. Usually too dry for me.
 
The Son and I want Brisket. The Wife and MIL want Smoked Turkey, somebody else wants a Ham and the FIL wants Prime Rib.
Got a while to think about it, so on problem. Actually , I might have everyone bring what they want and do it all!!! Jr. and I would enjoy the ****ens out of that
biggrin.gif

Whatever is on the menu, I'm think I'll stay outside doing little snacks just to segregate myself from all those "NUTS". Don't get me wrong,I love my family, just in 5min. doses!!!
 
Other than some cigarettes, nothing. Mrs Rivet insists on the traditional oven-roasted bird and that it shall be!

Everything else will be from scratch as is the tradition in her family (and I LOVE) from the cranberries, to the potatoes, to the bread, to the pie....oh my gawd. It is one day I can really and happily stay away from the smoker!

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