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picture of smoked turkey on a pan
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4.60 from 10 votes

Perfect Smoked Turkey

Perfect smoked turkey - the best recipe for a restaurant style turkey that is juicy, tender, and full of smoky flavor the family will love!
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time7 hours
Course: Thanksgiving Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: main dish, smoked turkey, thanksgiving, turkey
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 110kcal
Author: Courtney ODell

Ingredients

  • Brine:
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 gallon vegetable stock
  • 2 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 ½ teaspoons allspice berries
  • 1 ½ teaspoons rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons savory
  • 1 gallon iced cubes
  • Turkey:
  • 1 turkey 12-14lb
  • Bag of charcoal
  • Chips or chunks for smoking fruit wood or oak

Instructions

  • Bring all ingredients, except ice to a boil.
  • After you reach a rolling boil, turn off heat and let cool.
  • Combine cooled brine with ice inside a garbage bag in a beverage cooler.
  • Submerge turkey and seal cooler.
  • Remove turkey from brine and allow to come to room temperature.  Leave uncovered and allow to air dry.
  • 2. Light your smoker 30-45 minutes before you intend to start cooking your turkey.
  • 3. Cover the turkey with a wet cheese cloth or thin kitchen towel (one you’re prepared to throw away).
  • 4. When your smoker reaches 235-250 degrees, add the turkey directly on the cooking grates.
  • 5. Check your fire and rotate your turkey every 30 minutes, adding charcoal and wood chips/chunks as necessary. 
  • 6. Smoke your turkey at 235-250 degrees for 30-40 minutes per pound (a 12lbs turkey will take approximately 6 hours to smoke), until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
  • 7. Remove for smoker, cover, and let rest for 30 minutes before carving. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 8917mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g