Servings: 10
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 7 hours 20 minutes
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Why Smoked Turkey?
When it comes to holiday meals, few things impress quite like a perfectly smoked turkey. This recipe transforms an ordinary bird into a tender, juicy masterpiece infused with rich, smoky flavor. Best of all, it frees up your oven for side dishes and desserts, making your holiday cooking much smoother and less stressful.
Don’t Skip the Brine
The secret to this turkey’s juicy and flavorful meat is all in the brine. While it might seem like an extra step, brining the turkey ensures every bite is moist and seasoned throughout. The brine works its magic by locking in moisture, so when the turkey hits the smoker, it stays succulent and never dries out.
Building Flavor from the Inside Out
Stuffing the turkey with fresh herbs, onions, and lemon imparts delicate aromatics that enhance the meat. The combination of thyme and rosemary paired with citrus and sweet onion creates a fragrant steam inside the bird as it cooks, adding complexity and depth to every bite.
The Magic of Homemade Spice Rub and Smoke
A generous coat of homemade spice rub forms the foundation of the turkey’s bold flavor. As the turkey slowly smokes, that seasoning melds with the light, permeating smoke to create an irresistible outer crust that’s just as tasty as the juicy interior.
No Oven Needed
One of the biggest holiday kitchen challenges is limited oven space. By using the smoker, you not only infuse the turkey with flavor you can’t achieve in the oven, but you also keep your oven free for all your favorite side dishes and desserts.
Serving the Perfect Smoked Turkey
Once smoked to perfection, brushing the turkey with a sweet, non-spicy barbecue sauce adds a glossy finish and a subtle caramelized layer. The light sweetness balances the savory notes, leaving guests asking for seconds.
Holiday Success, Every Time
This smoked turkey recipe has become a favorite among guests — especially those tasting smoked poultry for the first time. It’s simple, foolproof, and produces a turkey that’s anything but ordinary. Prepare to earn plenty of compliments and requests for your secret recipe!
Ingredients:
Turkey brine, optional:
12 pound whole turkey, giblets and neck removed
1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce (or other not spicy sweet BBQ sauce)
1 each onion, quartered
1 each lemon, quartered
4 spigs thyme
4 sprigs rosemary
3 cups chicken broth
Pam cooking spray
Instructions:
OPTIONAL :
Brine turkey overnight (recipes for turkey brine can be found online)
Preheat the smoker to 250°F.
Load the smoker with apple wood.
Coat a large disposable aluminum pan with cooking spray. Place the turkey in the pan and tuck the wings under the body.
Stuff the cavity of the turkey with the onion, lemon and herbs, then use kitchen twine to tie the legs together.
Sprinkle the BBQ rub all over the surface of the turkey.
Place the turkey in the smoker. Cook for 6-7 hours, basting with chicken broth every 30-45 minutes (see NOTES), until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°F. Refill the wood chips as needed.
If the turkey starts to get too dark, cover it with foil.
Let the turkey rest for 10-15 minutes then transfer to a serving plate.
Garnish with herbs if desired, then serve.