Best Recipe for Smoked Turkey

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Alex Andrews

Newbie
Original poster
Nov 4, 2017
22
1
I'm doing a smoked turkey for the family this Christmas. I need the best recipe there is for the brine, cooking temp and time, wood and rub to use, etc, to keep it as moist and flavorful as possible. I will be using an electric smoker, though I don't remember the make/model. I'm also assuming that spatchcocking the bird is a good thing to do so it cooks more evenly?

Appreciate any help you guys can give me.
 
I'm doing a smoked turkey for the family this Christmas. I need the best recipe there is for the brine, cooking temp and time, wood and rub to use, etc, to keep it as moist and flavorful as possible. I will be using an electric smoker, though I don't remember the make/model. I'm also assuming that spatchcocking the bird is a good thing to do so it cooks more evenly?

Appreciate any help you guys can give me.

Personally, I would advise against doing this. Especially since it sounds like it will be your first smoked turkey. Kick back enjoy Christmas and try smoking the turkey when it's not a big holiday.

However if you insist:

Brine: Pops Brine is a good one.
Temp: As hot as the smoker will go.
Time: Dependent on temp and size of bird.
Rub: I like Weber Garlic and Herb
Wood: Apple or some other fruit wood. Over-smoked turkey can taste rancid.
Whole or spatchcock: Spatchcock will cook quicker and more evenly.

Have fun and good luck if you go for it.

Chris
 
Here is a Brine and Rub that is a Favorite with members of my Family. I like Apple and/or Hickory with Chicken or Turkey. We determine doneness by measuring the Internal Temp (IT) in the thickest part of the Breast and Thigh, 165* and 175*F respectively. For a One Step Smoke with Crispy Skin the birds have to be smoked at a temp of 300-325°F. You can figure about 15 minutes per pound to reach the desired IT. Electric smokers usually only go to 275°F. With these you will be smoking at the most common temp range of 225-275°F. You can figure on about 25 minutes per pound cook time + or - 5 minutes depending what part of the range you choose. Usually the skin will not crisp so if the skin is not Crisp enough when the IT is 145*F in the Breast, put the Bird in a 425*F Oven to finish cooking to 165* and Crisp the Skin...JJ

Families Favorite Brine

1/2C Kosher Salt
2T Paprika
2T Gran. Garlic
2T Gran. Onion
2T Dry Thyme
2T Black Pepper
1C Vinegar (Any)
1-11/2Gal Cold Water to cover Chix
1/2C Brown Sugar, Optional
1T Red Pepper Flake Optional

Mix well and Soak the Bird over night or up to 24 Hours.

Remove the Chix, rinse if desired and pat dry with paper towels.

Place in an open container in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours for the Skin to dry.

This will give a crispier skin when Smokng or Roasting...

Bubba Chix Rub

1/4C Raw Sugar
2T Paprika (I use Smoked if I'm just Grilling)
1/2-1tsp Cayenne
1T Gran. Garlic
1T Gran. Onion
1tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Wht Pepper
1tsp Allspice
1tsp Bell's Poultry Seasoning or Other

Mix well. You can put directly on the skin or mix with Butter, Oil or Bacon Grease and rub on and under the Skin.

Reduce Cayenne to 1 teaspoon if less heat is desired. Add 1T Kosher Salt if the bird is not Brined.

Mild but WildTurkey Rub

1/4C Raw Sugar
2T Paprika (I use Smoked if I'm just Grilling)
1T Gran. Garlic
1T Gran. Onion
2tsp Bell's Poultry Seasoning or other
1tsp Ground Coriander Seed (2tsp Whole seed, fresh ground)
1tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Mustard Powder
1tsp Allspice
1/2tsp Cumin

Optional: 1T Kosher Salt * Leave out if you Brined the Bird!

Mix well. You can put directly on the skin or mix with Butter, Oil or Bacon Grease and rub on and under the Skin.

Place a pan with some veggies under the Turkey to make some Gravy. Here's a recipe.

Smokey Turkey Gravy

1- Lg Onion,
4-5 Carrots,
3-4 Ribs Celery
3-4 Peeled Cloves of Garlic

Toss them in a pan under the Turkey, and let the whole deal Smoke for one hour,

THEN add 4-6 Cups Chicken Broth,
1/2tsp Dry Thyme (4-5 sprigs Fresh)
1/2tsp Dry Sage (2 sprigs Fresh)
1-2 ea Bayleaf

Finish the Smoking process to the IT you want.

While the Turkey is resting, dump the pan juices, veggies and all into a 2-3Qt Sauce pot and bring the Jus to a boil, lower the heat and simmer 20-30 minutes. Strain out the veggies and let the Jus rest a minute or so for the Fat to rise. Skim off the bulk of the fat then using strips of paper towel laid on top of the Jus then quickly removed, take off the last little bit of fat.Bring the Jus back to a simmer. Mix 2T Flour and 4T Chicken Broth for each Cup of defatted Jus. Whisk together to make a Slurry with no lumps, add a little additional Broth if needed. Whisk the Slurry into the simmering Jus, bring back to a simmer and cook 5-10 minutes to cook out the flour taste and fully thicken the Gravy. Adjust the seasoning with Salt and Pepper and serve...JJ
 
Spatchcock the bird.
Inject with a marinade and brush the same marinade all over the bird before cooking.
Lightly smoke over favorite wood for only the first hour to hour and a half.
My favorites are Hickory, Cherry and Apple.
Temp as high as possible, 350°-375° is great.
Bird is done when IT in thigh hits 180° and/or IT in breast is 165°.

I'm about to cook one via this method today.
 
My understanding with a Jenny-O turkey, is that it's pre-brined, and I should really only inject and cook, correct?

I got a free bird that I'm going to throw on the smoker. I won't be mad if I screw it up due to the cost... lol
 
I use Jenny-O turkey breasts all the time and still brine them. Using brine helps improve the flavor according to my taste testers. I do a wet brine when I want to do an overnight brine. And dry brine when I have time to let it set for 2-3 days.
For food safety I also use Prague powder #1 in all my brines.
 
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