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!
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!)
Have more questions? Feel free to leave them down below in the comment section!
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
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
Want more turkey recipes? Check these out!
Slow Cooker Smothered Turkey Wings
Thanks for the ( smoked Turkey recipe ) but do you have any Fried Turkey Recipes.??
It’s in the works hun 🙂
I have a regular charcoal smoker will this recipe work? What modifications should I use?
I’ve never tried it with a charcoal smoker. I used my pellet grill.
what type of grill did you use?
I used my Z grills pellet grill
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?
You sure can. 🙂
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.
Hi Dona! Please share my blog with family and friends. That would mean the world to me! Thanks so much!
Could i use this same recipe in the oven for my turkey?
Yes, Absolutely! 🙂
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!
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!
Jerk turkey?! On my goodness that sounds good!!! You should be able to use a that grill 🙂
How long do you suggest letting a twenty pound turkey cook in an electric smoker and at what temperature?
I hate nevermade a 20 lb turkey in a electric smoker. Sorry.
I would use a thermometer.
Do you put the turkey directly on the grill or in a roasting pan? For droppings for gravy afterwards?
I put it directly on the grill.
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 ^_^
Do I have to use red pepper flakes?? I cant stand spicy stuff
No 🙂
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?
The cook time in the directions, 6-7 hours.
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.
Do I need to use drip pan? My smoker is round-barrel type that has removable drip pan.
Yes, I highly suggest using the drip pan,