Easy Smoked Turkey Recipe (2024)

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Easy smoked whole turkey recipe. That’s right folks, we’re not just going to make smoked turkey breast. We’re smoking the whole darn thing! FAQs: How to Make Smoked Turkey! How long will it take to smoke a turkey? What temperature should I smoke my turkey? Do you have to brine a turkey? Watch my video tutorial for this easy smoked turkey recipe! Don’t forget to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube for more delicious recipe videos. Easy Smoked Roasted Turkey Ingredients Instructions Video Want more turkey recipes? Check these out! Related Recipes Subscribe by Email Reader Interactions Leave a Comment Comments Trackbacks FAQs References

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By Rosie Published: September 12, 2018 Updated: July 11, 2023
This post may contain affiliate links.

Easy smoked whole turkey recipe. That’s right folks, we’re not just going to make smoked turkey breast. We’re smoking the whole darn thing!

Table of Contents

FAQs How to Make Smoked Turkey!
Have more questions? Feel free to leave them down below in the comment section!
Easy Smoked Roasted Turkey
Want more turkey recipes? Check these out!

I don’t know about you, but I can have turkey any time of the year. Especially is it’s smoked! There’s just something about smoked turkey, and I swear I can never get enough of it. In this post I’m going to share my recipe for easy smoked turkey. This recipe is so simple. Unlike a lot of other smoked turkey recipes you’ll find that I do NOT do a overnight brine, or any of that other unnecessary stuff. I keep everything easy, and the outcome is amazing! So let’s get to some of the questions that I know that I’ll get asked.

FAQs: How to Make Smoked Turkey!

How long will it take to smoke a turkey?

Depending on the size of your turkey it will take anywhere from 6-12 hours. I personally smoke my turkey, which is usually around 12-14, at 275 F for about 6-7 hours.

What temperature should I smoke my turkey?

I noticed that a lot of people use different temperatures. I’ve seen some smoke turkeys at 225F, while others smoke their turkeys at 300 F. I personally smoke my turkeys on my grill at 275 F, and it works for me.

Do you have to brine a turkey?

Heck no! 9 times out of 10 I don’t brine my turkey, and it still comes out flavorful and moist. (If you DO want to brine your turkey, I have a bomb rosemary turkey brine recipe right here!)

Save this smoked turkey recipe on Pinterest!

Watch my video tutorial for this easy smoked turkey recipe! Don’t forget to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube for more delicious recipe videos.

Easy Smoked Roasted Turkey

This easy smoked turkey recipe takes all the stress out of making a delicious turkey dinner.

Watch Video Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Main Course

Cuisine holiday

Keyword Whole Roasted Turkey

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 11 hours hours

Resting Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 11 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

13-15 lb whole turkey everything remove out of the cavity

Turkey Butter

8 tbsp unsalted butter not margarine
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion finely diced
5 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp coarse black pepper
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Outside of the turkey

3 tbsp peanut oil or your favorite vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp coarse black pepper
2 tsp paprika

Instructions

I start off by doing a "walk around" with the turkey. Meaning I make sure there isn't anything on the turkey that I don't want (excess fat, feathers, and of course I remove everything out of the cavity as well!)
Once the turkey is good to go, set it to the side.
Now grab a medium sized mixing bowl and add in all the ingredients for the turkey butter.
Once the butter, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, and olive oil are in the mixing bowl, mix everything until well combined. Set the turkey butter aside.
Use your hands or a plastic spatula to loosing the skin on the turkey. Once the skin is loosened, start rubbing the turkey butter under the turkey skin as well as the turkey.
Next drizzle the oil all over the turkey, then sprinkle on the kosher salt, coarse black pepper, parsley flakes, and paprika.
Rub the turkey down, and make sure that everything is seasoned etc.
At this time your grill/smoker should be heated to 275 F.
Carefully place the turkey on the grill, and make sure that it's in the middle.
Smoke the turkey for 6-7 hours. Be sure to check the internal temperature of the turkey, and it should be at least 165 °F.
Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before cutting into it.
Serve and enjoy!

Video

Last Step! If you loved this recipe, leave me a review below. This helps futurerecipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!

Recipe by: I Heart Recipes

Want more turkey recipes? Check these out!

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Juicy Whole Roasted Turkey

Rosie

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Eric Pete says
September 12, 2018 at 3:15 pm
Thanks for the ( smoked Turkey recipe ) but do you have any Fried Turkey Recipes.??
Reply
- Rosie says
  September 12, 2018 at 3:40 pm
  It’s in the works hun 🙂
  Reply
Cynthia says
September 12, 2018 at 7:32 pm

I have a regular charcoal smoker will this recipe work? What modifications should I use?
Reply
See Also
Warm German Potato Salad Recipe, with bacon, vinegar, and mustard!
- Rosie says
  September 12, 2018 at 9:18 pm
  I’ve never tried it with a charcoal smoker. I used my pellet grill.
  Reply
Tea says
September 12, 2018 at 8:53 pm
what type of grill did you use?
Reply
- Rosie says
  September 12, 2018 at 9:19 pm
  I used my Z grills pellet grill
  Reply
Nosha says
September 16, 2018 at 8:22 pm
I cannot wait to try this recipie on the grill! Do you think I could use this same recipie but instead of on the grill in the slow cooker?
Reply
- Rosie says
  September 17, 2018 at 10:59 am
  You sure can. 🙂
  Reply
Dona Palmer says
October 24, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Hi Rosie, I’m a true blue nothing but. Born in Boston spending most summers in Maine bait traps and pull for lobster or digging for clams.
Yet here I may 21 years married live in land locked Dallas TX (poo)
Albeit, I love soul food! Don’t get me wrong I love my lobster but give me a turkey neck or wing in some gravy add some greens and peas maybe some cornbread, I’m a happy girl..
How can we support you if it’s food network, or some other venue.
Your voice needs to be heard.
Reply
- Rosie says
  October 26, 2018 at 2:30 pm
  Hi Dona! Please share my blog with family and friends. That would mean the world to me! Thanks so much!
  Reply
Wonder if says
October 27, 2018 at 1:24 pm
Could i use this same recipe in the oven for my turkey?
Reply
- Rosie says
  October 27, 2018 at 8:13 pm
  Yes, Absolutely! 🙂
  Reply
Ann says
November 10, 2018 at 2:19 pm

Rosie in comments someone wanted to know if this could be done on a charcoal grill and yes it can my brother does it on charcoal grill but he cuts turkey in half after seasoning and injecting it turns out verrry tasty!
Reply
Sophia says
November 18, 2018 at 6:05 am
Hi Rosie!
Can I use a Charboil gas grill? And so I spray non stick cooking oil? I went to my in laws on year ,and she wrapped in aluminum foil and jerked the turkey! Soooo good!
Reply
- Rosie says
  November 18, 2018 at 12:57 pm
  Jerk turkey?! On my goodness that sounds good!!! You should be able to use a that grill 🙂
  Reply
April says
November 18, 2018 at 4:55 pm

How long do you suggest letting a twenty pound turkey cook in an electric smoker and at what temperature?
Reply
- Rosie says
  November 18, 2018 at 9:01 pm
  I hate nevermade a 20 lb turkey in a electric smoker. Sorry.
  Reply
- Carol says
  June 1, 2019 at 8:29 pm
  I would use a thermometer.
  Reply
Melissa says
November 20, 2018 at 10:54 pm
Do you put the turkey directly on the grill or in a roasting pan? For droppings for gravy afterwards?
Reply
- Rosie says
  November 21, 2018 at 8:26 pm
  I put it directly on the grill.
  Reply
- Benjamin says
  September 22, 2020 at 1:24 am
  She is using a z-grill which is a pellet grill and it actually has a pan under the grill which leads to a bucket that collects all of the droppings that come off the meat. I think all pellet grill have the bucket but if you don’t have one I recommend getting one. I bought one two weeks ago and I’m obsessed with it and can’t wait ti try this recipe myself ^_^
  Reply
marie wright says
September 12, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Do I have to use red pepper flakes?? I cant stand spicy stuff
Reply
- Rosie says
  September 13, 2019 at 1:36 pm
  No 🙂
  Reply
Trish says
November 12, 2020 at 4:04 am
This shows towards the top a 20 minute prep and 11 hour cook time but later in the directions it says 6-7 hour cook time, which should I go by?
Reply
- Rosie says
  November 13, 2020 at 5:35 am
  The cook time in the directions, 6-7 hours.
  Reply
Gary says
July 25, 2022 at 6:23 pm
This is an awesome recipe. Not sure why but cooked at around 225. But to my surprise it was done in roughly 4 hr. I have never had a turkey this moist, from my gas smoker, I would recommend this to anybody. Thanks.
Reply

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FAQs

How do you smoke a turkey and keep it moist? ›

Soak turkey in brine 1.5 hours per pound. ...
Place your bird on the rack in your roasting pan. ...
With your smoker on "smoke" setting, place your bird in the smoker for 2 hours.
Then remove turkey from the smoker and turn grill heat up to 350F degrees.
Preheat your home oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

More items...

Oct 28, 2019

Know More ›

What do you put in the cavity of a smoked turkey? ›

Seasoning for Smoked Turkey

The cavity is stuffed with a variety of ingredients (cola, apple, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper) to infuse the bird with irresistible flavor from the inside out.

What are the secrets to smoking a turkey? ›

To recap, the secrets to perfectly smoked turkey are: butterflying, dry-brining, adding baking powder to the dry rub, slow-cooking over indirect heat, and careful monitoring of the turkey's internal temperature.

Discover More Details ›

Do you rub oil on turkey before smoking? ›

You only need to coat it with oil before placing it on your smoker or grill. However, if you wet brined the turkey, coat its dried body with oil before applying your dry rub. After covering the turkey with your seasonings, insert your oven-safe wireless thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey thigh.

Show Me More ›

Should I wrap my turkey in foil while smoking? ›

If your turkey's wings are baking too quickly, you can cover them with foil, but otherwise, there's no need. While you're letting it rest, you can tent your turkey in foil for about 15 minutes, but smoking it the whole time in foil is unnecessary and could lead to soggy skin.

View Details ›

How do you smoke a turkey without drying it out? ›

Turkeys should be brined overnight, coated with fat only initially, and minimally seasoned. Brining keeps the turkey from drying out during the smoking process. Basting the turkey only results in soggy skin. Overly seasoning the skin just makes inedible skin – let the brine and aromatics add flavor.

Know More ›

How do you season a turkey before smoking? ›

We've combined salt, sugar, thyme, rosemary, sage, pepper, and garlic powder for the perfect herb rub for a smoked turkey. The low-and-slow method of smoking really enhances these flavors for a delicious Thanksgiving meal.

Know More ›

Is it better to brine or inject a smoked turkey? ›

It's an enzyme that will break down the meat, tenderizing it and absorbing the flavor at the same time. Injecting solves the problems of a marinade or brine not getting deep into the meat in a timely fashion.

Should I spray turkey while smoking? ›

The best time to spritz your meat while smoking is just after the bark has formed. The bark on meat generally forms about 1:30 to 2 hours into your cook. It is important to spritz the meat every half hour to 45 minutes to prevent it from drying out.

See Details ›

Will a turkey dry out in a smoker? ›

Some smoker enthusiasts swear by basting the turkey, but I've found that, even with the butter baste, repeated opening and closing of the smoker can dry out the breast meat. Plus, the basting slows down the slow rendering of the turkey skin and makes the skin rubbery.

See Details ›

What is the danger zone when smoking a turkey? ›

Completely thaw meat or poultry before smoking. Because smoking uses low temperatures to cook food, the meat will take too long to thaw in the smoker, allowing it to linger in the "Danger Zone" (temperatures between 40 and 140 °F) where harmful bacteria can multiply.

Show Me More ›

What is the best smoke flavor for turkey? ›

For smoking turkey all year long, try hickory, pecan, and apple smoking wood. Our favorite wood chips and wood chunks are by Western Wood because they are kiln-dried and burn clean. Our favorite pellets for smoking turkey are B&B Pecan pellets or Jack Daniel's Pellets.

Find Out More ›

How do you keep turkey skin crispy when smoking? ›

Starting the smoker hot then turning it down to more traditional low n slow temps is how the achieve great textured skin. I use Kingsford Classic pellets in my smoker because they're 100% hardwood and a great combo of classic wood flavors.

What is the best wood to smoke a turkey with? ›

Hickory is a classic hard wood choice for smoking turkey for several reasons. It has a distinct flavor that is robust and very forward and is familiar to those who enjoy smoky flavors. Maple wood gives off a sweeter smoke and can add a lovely golden hue to anything you smoke with it.

Discover More ›

Is it better to smoke a turkey at 225 or 250? ›

Equipment for Smoking a Turkey:

Obviously, a proper smoker is going to make this job FAR easier, but it can most certainly be done in a grill with a very low indirect heat. You're going for 225°F to 250°F. If you have a real deal smoker with an adjustable thermostat, please set it at 250°F for the duration.

Discover More Details ›