Smoking turkey breast instead of whole turkey?

[benhar]

My wife has requested I smoke a turkey this Thanksgiving on my RecTec Trailblazer. She's specifically requested their cajun turkey recipe, which calls for a whole turkey injected and seasoned with Tony Chachere. I've never smoked a turkey, nor injected any meat, and the Trailbazer limits me on size, so I have a few things going against me (only recently got into smoking). I was thinking it might be easier to start with a turkey breast, which should be plenty for the 4 adults and 2 kids we'll be feeding and much easier to slice.

For the end result, would I be losing anything by smoking just a breast as opposed to the whole thing (aside from the obvious... turkey legs)? Thanks for any input!

 

[chef jimmyj]

Losing? Heck no...Most folks Learned to like Dark meat because Mom's Turkey breast was so Dry and even overcooked dark meat will be, at least, somewhat edible. Poultry Breast of any kind, cooked properly is juicy, tender and flavorful.
The Rec Tec recipe is ok but will have VERY little Smoke flavor. Might as well do the bird in the Oven following it verbatim. Instead, prepare the Breast as described. Keep cold until ready to cook. Preheat the RT on the Smoke setting. Add the Breast and smoke for 1 hour. Increase the temp to 325-350 and Roast about 10-15 minutes per pound, until the Internal Temp (IT) reaches 155°F. Pull the breast and rest on the counter, loosely tented with foil, 20-30 minutes while the rest of the meal is heated and finished. Remove the breast lobes from the bone and slice, across the grain, point to point. Arrange on a platter and serve.
Pulling the bird are 155 will allow the temp to Carryover, meat temp rises as the 325 outer heat conducts toward the center, and finish cooking the meat. It will be very juicy, fully cooked, safe to eat and the likely the best Turkey you ever ate. Happy Thanksgiving...JJ

 

[kit s]

Benhar
Well sounds like you would probably have to go with a small turkey anyway say 11 # or less, now most turkey breast are around 10 to 11# so really you would not be losing. anything except the dark meat. If you want the dark meat spatch cocking would lower profile of turkey and allow faster cooking.
kit

 

[zwiller]

I think you have a great plan. TC is good! Inject and give it at least an overnight rest to marinate.

 

[benhar]

Thanks all, I'll go for it! Not too worried about whether there will be enough smoke flavor, my wife recently had a turkey cooked similarly (but whole) on a RecTec and really liked it (hence the request).

 

[xray]

I’ve really started to enjoy smoking the butterball turkey roasts that come in the netting. You could brine or inject them as you please.

They feed about 5 people, since it’s only my wife and I it’s plenty for us.