Super Easy Smoked Turkey

Rating: 5 stars
7 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 7
  • 4 star values: 0
  • 3 star values: 0
  • 2 star values: 0
  • 1 star values: 0

Foolproof smoked turkey recipe with tender and juicy results!

By Jill C
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Ingredients

12
Original recipe yields 12 servings
The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

Directions

  • Place turkey in a roasting pan. Rub salt all over and inside turkey. Let sit for 1 hour.

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  • Preheat smoker to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). If your smoker is equipped with a water pan, fill it.

  • Rinse salt off turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Return to roasting pan and baste with melted better. Cover with aluminum foil and place in smoker.

  • Cook for about 3 hours; remove aluminum foil. Continue to cook, uncovered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey thigh reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

  • Remove turkey from the smoker and tent with aluminum foil. Let it rest in a warm area before slicing, 45 to 60 minutes.

Cook's Notes:

A gas smoker is used in this recipe. Pecan is the primary wood I use in my smoker. Charcoal can be used as well.

Tips

Check the water pan every 2 to 4 hours and add hot water as needed. Add damp wood chips as needed to maintain cooking temperature at 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).

Tips

This method works with turkeys weighing 12 to 20 pounds. Increase cooking time to reach safe internal temperature, approximately 30 minutes per pound.

Editor's Note:

Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of salt. The actual amount of salt consumed will vary.

Partner Tip

Reynolds® Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
772.5 calories; 90.7 g protein; 0 g carbohydrates; 295 mg cholesterol; 5914 mg sodium. Full Nutrition

Reviews (7)

Read More Reviews

Most helpful positive review

Jill C
Rating: 5 stars
11/06/2018
Re-Edit - Here's how our smoker gets a turkey workout - in the backyard up in the mountains while camping off grid at my mom's etc. Seriously the easiest turkey recipe ever. A few tips - I use Alton Brown's rapid thawing method - In a large cooler. After dry salt brine is done rinse and then submerge the turkey in fresh cool water (in cooler) for about 15 minutes to make sure as much salt is removed as possible. Remove and pat completely dry. Do the butter bath and let it sit. Then if you want you can season with any other spices fruit etc you want. We like unadulterated turkey with just the butter bath post dry salt brine. But regardless if you season or not...Be prepared for the best turkey you've ever tasted! TIP on temping Do yourself a favor and go out and buy (got mine off Amazon) a dual probe wireless meat thermometer. Long pointy one goes into the thickest part of the thigh. Short stubby one goes in your hot box (oven grill smoker) there will be a little clip to attach it to the rack. Set the temps (hot box and meat ) and then you're free to walk away...kinda. You'll still need to keep an eye on the water pan and replenish as needed in your smoker. I love smoking but hate babysitting the smoker for 5 hours. The wireless thermometer allows me "some" freedom. Happy Smoking!:D Read More
Helpful
(8)
7 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 7
  • 4 star values: 0
  • 3 star values: 0
  • 2 star values: 0
  • 1 star values: 0
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
Jill C
Rating: 5 stars
11/05/2018
Re-Edit - Here's how our smoker gets a turkey workout - in the backyard up in the mountains while camping off grid at my mom's etc. Seriously the easiest turkey recipe ever. A few tips - I use Alton Brown's rapid thawing method - In a large cooler. After dry salt brine is done rinse and then submerge the turkey in fresh cool water (in cooler) for about 15 minutes to make sure as much salt is removed as possible. Remove and pat completely dry. Do the butter bath and let it sit. Then if you want you can season with any other spices fruit etc you want. We like unadulterated turkey with just the butter bath post dry salt brine. But regardless if you season or not...Be prepared for the best turkey you've ever tasted! TIP on temping Do yourself a favor and go out and buy (got mine off Amazon) a dual probe wireless meat thermometer. Long pointy one goes into the thickest part of the thigh. Short stubby one goes in your hot box (oven grill smoker) there will be a little clip to attach it to the rack. Set the temps (hot box and meat ) and then you're free to walk away...kinda. You'll still need to keep an eye on the water pan and replenish as needed in your smoker. I love smoking but hate babysitting the smoker for 5 hours. The wireless thermometer allows me "some" freedom. Happy Smoking!:D Read More
Helpful
(8)
Michele
Rating: 5 stars
06/18/2018
We made this for Father s Day. My husband wanted to cook outside and we thought it would be a good way to experiment with his Acorn Charcoal Cooker I got him for his birthday. He made sure that the coals were perfect temperature and I seasoned the turkey the way I like it. I made a rub of sage rosemary crushed garlic olive oil and salt. I make little holes in the skin and stuff it under the skin. Then I rubbed the outside with olive oil and sprinkled Tones rosemary garlic seasoning on it. I put a sliced orange onion and lemon into the turkey cavity and placed the whole thing in the roasting pan with a foil tent. We also put an extra pan of water and blueberry ale in the cooker. We followed this recipes instructions for cooking and it was absolutely amazing! I loved how juicy and tender the meat was and the flavor was incredible! I had invited my parents and sisters and their families for dinner ( which might have been crazy because we had never attempted to smoke anything!) but Wow! We got rave reviews from everyone! My brother in law actually said he might have found something he likes better than fried turkey! Then everyone wanted to inspect the Acorn and wanted to know about this recipe. I have a feeling my family members are going to be purchasing an Acorn in the future and logging into Allrecipes for this turkey recipe! It was a great day and I really enjoyed the cooking time spent with my husband because we just sat together (making sure the temperature stayed corr Read More
Helpful
(2)
Brian Davis
Rating: 5 stars
12/20/2017
I used pineapples and onions that I placed inside the injected it with garlic and butter with herbs and smoked for 6 hours at 230. The seasonings is what topped it off Read More
Helpful
(2)
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Joe Hooper
Rating: 5 stars
05/22/2018
Did my own smoke rub and used maple wood chips in smoker best turkey ever Read More
Helpful
(1)
Jen
Rating: 5 stars
12/26/2018
Great basic recipe. I also injected ours with butter. Simple and great-tasting! Read More
Helpful
(1)
Debra J
Rating: 5 stars
05/10/2020
Awesome!!!!! Read More
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spice dumpling
Rating: 5 stars
12/27/2019
This was very simple to follow and ohhhh soooo good. Happy Holidays with this turkey. Read More
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