This tasty Traeger Smoked Turkey with stuffing is very juicy and full of flavor! It’s the easiest way to make your Thanksgiving turkey, and it only takes 15 minutes to prepare. The meat is moist and tender, thanks to the tasty apple stuffing and crunchy candied pecans.
Imagine a scene straight out of a Dickens book: your guests gather around the table, their eyes widening as you present a work of art: a perfectly smoked turkey with deep mahogany-colored skin. The real show-stopper, though, was the smell of apples and candied pecans from the perfectly cooked stuffing. It made me think of a smoked turkey that would beat all the classics.
We’ve combined the time-honored tradition of smoking with a stuffing with the simplicity of a pellet smoker. You’ll end up with a moist and tasty turkey and stuffing that tastes so good you’ll want to make it all year.
Smoking a stuffed turkey on a pellet grill is the perfect way to prepare a moist, flavorful turkey for your next holiday meal With the right techniques, you can achieve tender juicy meat infused with delicious smoky flavor. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to smoke a show-stopping stuffed turkey on your pellet grill.
Choosing the Right Turkey
When selecting a turkey for smoking, there are a few things to keep in mind:
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Size – Choose a turkey that will fit comfortably in your pellet grill. Allow for 12-15 pounds of turkey per 100 square inches of grill space.
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Fresh vs Frozen – A fresh turkey is ideal, but a thawed frozen turkey works too. Be sure to thaw completely before smoking.
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No Giblets – Purchase a turkey that has already had the giblets removed to simplify prep.
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Brining is Key – Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine before smoking infuses flavor and helps keep the meat juicy.
Preparing the Turkey
Proper preparation is crucial for ensuring your smoked turkey turns out right:
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Make a Brine – Dissolve 1 cup salt and 1/2 cup sugar per gallon of water. Add your choice of spices like garlic, thyme, rosemary. Soak turkey 8-24 hrs.
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Prepare the Stuffing – Cook stuffing separately to ensure doneness and food safety Cool completely before stuffing the turkey
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Truss the Turkey – Tie the legs together to hold stuffing in and ensure even cooking. Use butcher’s twine.
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Apply a Dry Rub – Coat the turkey all over with a flavorful dry rub. Try spices like paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, oregano.
Smoking Time and Temps
Follow these guidelines when smoking your stuffed turkey:
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Set Grill to 225-250°F – Low, indirect heat allows the turkey to cook slowly while absorbing smoke flavor.
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Maintain Even Heat – Use a quality pellet grill that provides consistent temperature control.
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Smoke for 8-12 Hours – Whole turkeys need ample time to cook through without drying out.
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Target 165°F Internal Temp – Insert a meat thermometer in thickest part of breast and thigh to check doneness.
Managing Smoke and Moisture
To prevent drying out and get perfectly browned skin:
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Use Water Pan – Place water pan directly under turkey to add moisture to the smoking chamber.
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Spritz with Broth – Mist turkey with chicken broth every 45-60 minutes during smoking.
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Wrap in Foil – Tent turkey breast loosely with foil during last 1-2 hours if skin is getting too dark.
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Rest Before Carving – Let turkey rest 20-30 minutes after smoking so juices redistribute.
Choosing the Right Wood Pellets
The wood pellets used in your pellet grill provide distinct smoke flavors:
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Apple – Mild, fruity smoke taste
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Cherry – Sweet, delicate smoke
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Hickory – Bold, bacon-like smoke flavor
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Mesquite – Intense, earthy smoke
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Pecan – Rich, nutty smoke
Test different wood pellet flavors to find your favorite. A blend of two pellet varieties works nicely too.
Common Smoking Mistakes
Avoid these common mishaps when smoking a stuffed turkey:
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Not brining – leads to dull flavor and dry meat
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Uneven cooking temps – causes uneven doneness
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No moisture added – results in overly dry turkey
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Smoking too fast – makes meat tough and raw inside
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Not resting turkey – causes juices to spill out when carved
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Skipping stuffing safety – increases risk of bacterial contamination
Smoked Turkey Perfection
Follow this stuffed turkey smoking guide on your pellet grill and you’ll gain smoked turkey mastery. With the right techniques, your holiday bird will turn out juicy, smoky, and downright delicious. Impress your family with your stellar barbeque skills this upcoming occasion when you light up your pellet grill and smoke a tantalizing stuffed turkey to perfection.
MAKE THE CANDIED PECANS
- Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pecans and toast them until they smell good, stirring them around a few times.
- In a small bowl, mix the water, brown sugar, and creole seasoning together.
- Take the pecans off the heat and quickly pour the brown sugar mixture over them. Toss to coat.
- Place the pecans on a baking sheet lined with wax paper to cool.
How to stuff turkey
Let the turkey smoke for 3 hours before carefully removing it from the grill.
Using a turkey baster, remove any fat from the cavity. You can save these fats and boil them later to make gravy.
Carefully put the stuffing inside the turkey and tie the legs together at the ankles to keep it in place. Then, cook the turkey as directed on the recipe card.
Easy Smoked Turkey Recipe for Thanksgiving (on a Pellet Grill!)
FAQ
How long to smoke a stuffed turkey at 225 degrees?
How long does it take to smoke a 15 lb turkey on a pellet grill?
How do you keep turkey moist in a pellet smoker?
Can you stuff a turkey and then smoke it?
Can you smoke a stuffed turkey on a pellet grill?
Smoking a stuffed turkey on a pellet grill results in a juicy, flavorful meal that your family will love As pellet grills grow in popularity, more people are discovering how well they perform for poultry. The even, indirect heat gently cooks the turkey from the inside out The smoke from the wood pellets gives it a delicious flavor.
How do you cook a turkey breast on a pellet grill?
Prepare pellet grill for indirect cooking at 300 degrees F (148 degrees C) using a combination of Hickory, Maple, and Cherry wood pellets for flavor. Any flavor pellet can be used. Place the turkey on the smoker and cook until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (73 degrees C) in the breast.
How do you cook a smoked turkey on a pellet grill?
Coat skin with olive oil and rubs. Smoke at 300°F on pellet grill with apple/cherry blend until 165°F, about 4 hours. Rest 30 minutes before carving. This method results in a flavorful smoked turkey with tender juicy meat and delicious stuffing. Adjust cooking time up for larger birds. Enjoy this savory meal with your family!
Is pellet smoked turkey stuffed?
Unlike oven roasted turkey, pellet smoked turkey is best not stuffed. Herbs and rubs are fine, but we want to allow as much good smoke and air flow as possible. Mild woods with sweeter notes are best with turkey. Consider woods like maple, apple, cherry or pecan.
Can you cook a Spatchcock Turkey on a pellet grill?
Spatchcocking increases the surface area, which cooks your turkey quicker. It may smoke more evenly compared to a whole bird. A spatchcock turkey is easier to carve. Smoking a spatchcock turkey on a pellet grill isn’t the most common choice… But it can be done!
How long does it take to smoke a 15 lb Turkey?
When smoking a 15 lb turkey on a pellet grill at 240 degrees F… It should take 7.5-11 hours to smoke your turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F. When smoking a 12 lb turkey on a pellet grill at 225 degrees F… It should take 6 hours to smoke your turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F.