Turkey is the undisputed king of Thanksgiving. And when it’s a Traeger smoked Turkey on Thanksgiving you know you are in for a treat. Therefore, I have for you the ultimate Traeger smoked turkey recipe to have the best Thanksgiving this year.
For the uninitiated, Traeger is a wooden pellet grill that has the perfect temperature to bake a turkey. It heats and flavors food with hardwood pellets via indirect heat and smoke. There are plenty of ways to cook a turkey, and you can never go wrong with roasting.
The best roast turkeys are pumped up with flavor and have crispy skin. But if you haven’t tried the Traeger smoked turkey yet, you must try it this season.
Traeger smoked turkey is a brined bird, rubbed down with a turkey rub and smoked over a Traeger. All you need are a handful of ingredients that includes a whole turkey, orange brine, turkey rub, pork and poultry rub, and unsalted butter. To prepare the turkey you will only need 15 minutes, but the turkey has to be left for cooking for 3-4 hours.
For the best flavors, you can use Traeger’s’ orange brine, turkey rub, and poultry rub. You must brine the turkey a day before smoking it. So, now that you know what Traeger turkey is all about, let’s check out how to make a Traeger smoked turkey.
What Equipment Will You Need To Make Traeger Smoked Turkey?
- Traeger – You will need a traeger to make smoked turkey.
- Bowl – A bowl will be required to make the turkey brine.
- Dish – A dish or pan will be required to place the turkey after marination.
How Much Time Will You Need To Make Traeger Smoked Turkey?
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time |
|---|---|
| 20 Minutes | 4 Hours |
What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Traeger Smoked Turkey?
- Turkey – We will need a one whole turkey (18-20 lb)
- Orange Brine – One Traeger orange brine and turkey rub kit will help you to marinate the turkey.
- Pork & Poultry Rub – Half cup of pork and poultry rub will add mouthwatering flavors to the turkey.
- Butter – Half pound of softened unsalted butter, will be used to marinate the turkey.
Steps To Make Traeger Smoked Turkey
1. Marinate Turkey
A day before smoking the turkey, we will brine a whole turkey using Traeger turkey brine Kit. The next day, we will remove the turkey from the brine, rinse, and pat dry it. We will then season the inside cavity of the turkey using 2 tablespoons of Traeger pork & poultry rub.
Using your hands, carefully separate the turkey skin from the meat over the breasts to create a pocket. Spread softened unsalted butter under the skin and over the breasts in an even one-fourth inch thick layer. Once done, season the outside of the turkey with the remaining Traeger Pork & Poultry Rub.
Transfer the turkey to the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour.
2. Cook the Turkey
Take out the turkey from the refrigerator and tie the legs and tuck the wing tips underneath the bird. Place the turkey in a roasting pan and set the temperature of the Traeger to 225℉ and preheat it with the lid closed for about fifteen minutes.
Insert the probe into the thickest part of the turkey breast and place the roasting pan on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook the turkey until the internal temperature reaches 100-110℉.
Increase the grill temperature to 350℉ and continue cooking the turkey until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 160℉. You can do so by checking the temperature every 30 minutes.
This process should take you about 3-4 hours. Remove the bird from the grill and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. Your Traeger smoked turkey is ready to be served!
Is Brining a Turkey Necessary?
The debate over whether to brine a turkey or not is endless, but you should consider brining your turkey for many reasons. Overnight brining of turkey helps the meat lock in moisture during smoking. Moreover, it also helps to flavor the turkey.
Brines can include all sorts of flavorings from herbs and spices that make the turkey taste incredible. Additionally, the salt in the brine doesn’t just season the turkey, it also changes the texture of the muscle tissue of the turkey by allowing it to absorb more water and therefore more flavor.
Nutritional Information
| Calories | 203 Kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 0.02 g |
| Protein | 0.2 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Saturated Fat | 15 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6 g |
| Trans Fat | 1 g |
| Cholesterol | 61 mg |
| Sodium | 3 mg |
| Potassium | 7 mg |
| Sugar | 0.02 g |
| Vitamin A | 708IU |
| Calcium | 7 mg |
| Iron | 0.01 mg |
How Will Traeger Smoked Turkey Look and Taste Like?
Traeger smoked turkey is the ultimate Thanksgiving turkey recipe. It is flavored with smoke from burning aromatic wood that gives the turkey a sweet and delicate smoky flavor and a tender texture. Slow cooking helps to draw the moisture into the turkey instead of out.
Smoked turkey also has a richer flavor as compared to roasted turkey, which has a crispier skin and a more distinct, traditional taste.
Recipe Card
Traeger Smoked Turkey Recipe
Equipment
- Traeger
- Bowl
- Dish
Ingredients
- 1 Whole (18-20 lb) turkey, thawed if frozen, giblets removed
- 1 Traeger Orange Brine and Turkey Rub Kit
- ½ cup Traeger Pork & Poultry Rub, divided
- ½ pound Unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- A day before smoking the turkey, brine a whole turkey following the Traeger Turkey Brine Kit package instructions.
- The next day, remove the turkey from the brine, rinse and pat dry it.
- Season the inside cavity of the turkey using 2 tablespoons of Traeger Pork & Poultry Rub.
- Using your hands, carefully separate the turkey skin from the meat over the breasts to create a pocket. Spread softened unsalted butter under the skin and over the breasts in an even 1/4 inch thick layer.
- Season the outside of the turkey with the remaining Traeger Pork & Poultry Rub. Transfer the turkey to the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
- Take out the turkey from the refrigerator and tie the legs and tuck the wing tips underneath the bird. Place the turkey in a roasting pan.
- Set the temperature of the Traeger to 225℉ and preheat it with the lid closed for about 15 minutes.
- Insert the probe into the thickest part of the turkey breast and place the roasting pan on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook the turkey until the internal temperature reaches 100-110℉.
- Increase the grill temperature to 350℉ and continue cooking the turkey until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 160℉. You can check the temperature every 30 minutes. This process should take you about 3-4 hours.
- Remove the bird from the grill and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. Your Traeger smoked turkey is ready to be served!
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does a turkey smoke at 350 F?
At 350 f your turkey will be smoked in 3-4 hours.
Is preheating a smoker necessary?
Preheating helps the smoking chamber or grill to reach the required temperature for cooking. This enhances the color, flavor, and texture of the food.
How do you keep a turkey moist when smoking?
To keep your turkey moist, you should brine it overnight. Brining keeps the turkey from drying out during the smoking process.
How do you get the turkey skin crispy on a Traeger?
To achieve a crispy turkey skin, cook your turkey for 1 to 3 hours on smoke setting and finish cooking it on higher heat at 325 degrees F to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Does smoked turkey come out dry?
Cooking turkey at a high temperature for too long turns turkey to become tough and dry. That is because the high heat will draw out all the moisture.
Can you smoke a turkey too slowly?
Cooking on too low a temperature will result in your turkey having a rubbery skin. You should keep your smoker between 275 – 350°F.
How long should a turkey rest after smoking?
After smoking your turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F, place the turkey on a wire rack and let it rest for at least 20 minutes. Resting your turkey before carving allows its juices to redistribute and settle.
Should you let a turkey come to room temperature before cooking?
Before the turkey goes into the oven, the turkey should be at room temperature. A whole turkey should come out of the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking.
What pellet flavor is best for turkey?
Mild woods with sweeter notes are best to smoke turkey. You can use woods like apple, maple, cherry or pecan. You can also blend your chosen wood with oak or hickory to give it a smokey tone. However, be careful not to overpower the natural flavors of the turkey meat.
Conclusion
If you haven’t tried Traeger smoked turkey as yet, you have been missing out on a great dish. This Thanksgiving season, try out this recipe for a flavorful turkey with amazing texture.
This post first appeared on Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi Recipe | Step-by-Step Guide, please read the originial post: here
