This Easy Smoked Turkey Recipe makes the most tender and juicy turkey while also saving precious oven space. Covered in a brown sugar spice rub and cooked low and slow in the smoker, this is the perfect way to prepare a whole turkey for Thanksgiving, or any other special occasion.
If you're looking for more Thanksgiving turkey recipes, you can also try this Herb-Roasted Turkey, Crockpot Turkey Breast, or this Roasted Herb-Crusted Turkey Breast.
If you're wanting to make turkey gravy without the drippings, here is a great turkey gravy recipe. You can also easily make this as a slow cooker turkey breast recipe or roast a whole turkey.
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Easy Smoked Turkey Recipe
What if you could prepare a whole turkey for Thanksgiving without using up any oven space? Welp—you can! Using the smoker to slow cook your turkey not only saves on oven space—it also produces the most juicy, tender, and flavorful turkey with minimal effort.
Before it hits the smoker, the turkey is covered with a basic brown sugar spice rub made with onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Yum! I like to spatchcock, or butterfly, our turkey so that it cooks evenly, more quickly, and gets a nice even brown on the skin.
This recipe includes instructions, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions. So, why not pull out the smoker and give this whole smoked turkey recipe a try this holiday season? Be sure and let us know what you think!
Ingredients You Will Need
- Whole Turkey - you can use a fresh or frozen whole turkey for this recipe. We’ve given you a thawing guide below that is based on the size of your turkey.
- Salt and Pepper - don't skimp on the salt and pepper here!
- Brown Sugar - I prefer to use dark brown sugar for the spice rub so that it adds a slightly deeper flavor.
- Onion Powder and Garlic Powder - these add a nice sweet onion and garlic flavor to the rub.
- Paprika - either regular or smoked paprika will add loads of flavor that tastes amazing on smoked meats.
How to Spatchcock a Turkey
If you want a juicy, moist turkey that cooks quickly and evenly, spatchcocking your turkey is the answer. Spatchcocking means that you cut through the backbone and press the bird flat to cook. You’ll also sometimes hear it called butterflying.
Here’s how it works:
- Let your completely thawed turkey sit out for an hour to come to room temperature.
- Remove the packaging and anything inside the neck and body cavity.
- Turn the turkey, breast side down. Use heavy-duty kitchen shears to cut along one side of the backbone.
- Repeat with the other side, then press the turkey flat
How to Smoke a Whole Turkey
Once you have spatchcocked your turkey, here’s how to smoke it:
- Season the turkey. Pat the outside of the turkey dry with paper towels. Mix the brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika in a small bowl, then rub over the entire turkey. Sprinkle salt and peppers generously on all sides.
- Place turkey in the smoker. Place the turkey breast side up on the smoker, preheated to 275 degrees, and insert a temperature probe.
- Cook. Close the lid and cook the turkey for 3-4.5 hours, or until the internal temperature in the deepest part of the breast reaches 160 degrees F.
- Wrap in foil and let rest. Remove the turkey from the smoker and cover with foil. Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.
- Slice and serve. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
At 275 degrees, it should take about 20-25 minutes per pound to smoke a turkey. It will depend on how much bone is in your turkey and your own individual smoker, so we give a range of about 3-4.5 hours for a 10-12 pound turkey.
The only way to be sure if your turkey has cooked completely is to check the thickest part of the breast with a meat thermometer. Once it has reached 160 degrees F, your turkey is done cooking.
The most common wood is apple wood for smoking chicken or turkey. Another great choice is apricot wood - really anything with a lighter flavor has the best results.
We generally assume 1-1½ pounds of turkey per person for adults. This might sound like a lot, but you have to remember that much of the whole turkey is bone.
This chart will give you a good estimate for how long it takes a frozen turkey to thaw. It is always a good idea to give yourself an extra day more than you think you will need just in case!
Up to 4 pounds: 1 day
5-8 pounds: 2 days
9-12 pounds: 3 days
13-16 pounds: 4 days
17-20 pounds: 5 days
Storing and Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator: store leftover smoked turkey in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: to freeze leftover turkey, place it in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. Store frozen for up to 1 month.
- To reheat: to reheat smoked turkey, you can either microwave until warm or rewarm in a 300-degree oven, covered in a shallow dish, for about 30 minutes or until warmed through. If your turkey is a little dry, pour a few tablespoons of chicken broth on your turkey before reheating.
Easy Smoked Turkey Recipe
Ingredients
- 10-12 lb Whole Turkey thawed
- 2 teaspoons Sea Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
Smoked Turkey Rub
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees.
- Let your completely thawed turkey sit out for an hour to come to room temperature. Remove the packaging and anything inside the neck and body cavity.
- Turn the turkey, breast side down. Use heavy-duty kitchen shears to cut along one side of the backbone. Repeat with the other side, then press the turkey flat.
- Pat the outside of the turkey dry with paper towels. Mix the brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika in a small bowl, then rub over the entire turkey. Sprinkle salt and peppers generously on all sides.
- Place the turkey breast side up on the smoker and insert a temperature probe.
- Close the lid and cook the turkey for 3-4.5 hours, or until the internal temperature in the deepest part of the breast reaches 160 degrees F.
- Remove the turkey from the smoker and cover with foil. Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes to allow the juices to redistrubute.
- Slice and serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Even More Turkey Recipes To Try
- Herb-Roasted Turkey
- Turkey Bacon Avocado Chaffle Sandwich
- Turkey Enchilada Soup
- Crockpot Turkey Breast
- Roasted Herb-Crusted Turkey Breast
- Turkey and Rice Soup
- More Thanksgiving Recipes
- More Holiday Favorites
This simple smoked turkey recipe is a deliciously simple way to cook your turkey this holiday season. We'll show you how to get tender, juicy, flavorful turkey without taking up any oven space.
Gina
Such easy instructions and a wonderful tasting turkey! Love the smoked flavor for something different than the usual roasted turkey.
Jenni
This is a great recipe! Easy to follow, and makes an awesome turkey! We will be doing this from now on!