This smoked turkey recipe is the perfect turkey to serve on Thanksgiving or other special occasions. The turkey is delicious and tender, and the whole bird tastes like it came from an upscale restaurant. I can guarantee this smoked turkey will take your holiday meal to the next level!
Nothing beats a home-cooked turkey on Thanksgiving, and this smoked turkey recipe will help you get the best smoked turkey ever! Don’t feel intimidated by this recipe. Smoking a turkey can be just as easy as cooking it in your kitchen.
You can make a smoked turkey at home, no matter what kind of grill you’ve got on your deck. In fact, our first-ever smoked turkey was done on our old gas grill, and to date, is one of the most amazing smoked turkeys I’ve ever had (you never forget your first!).
Nowadays, I prefer to use my Camp Chef SmokePro pellet smoker because it maintains the smoke and temperatures for me so I don’t have to do as much babysitting. But you can make this smoked turkey on a gas grill, charcoal grill, or any type of smoker you have. The most important thing is to use a grill where you can create indirect heat, maintain consistent temperatures, and add in the element of wood smoke.
The post below is loaded with lots of information to help you get the best smoked turkey around. Please take the time to read through the entire post before you smoke your first bird. Following all the recommendations below will help you avoid any pitfalls on the big day.
Smoking a turkey on a pellet grill is absolutely possible and results in incredibly moist, flavorful meat infused with delicious smoke. Pellet grills are versatile smokers and grills that use wood pellets to produce smoke and heat, allowing you to smoke foods like turkey, ribs, brisket and more.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know about smoking a turkey on a pellet grill, including preparation, cook times, temperature, wood pellet selection and more.
Benefits of Smoking Turkey on a Pellet Grill
There are several advantages to using a pellet grill to smoke a turkey rather than a traditional oven
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Infuses smoke flavor – Pellet grills impart a lovely smoky flavor into the turkey meat that you just can’t achieve in a regular oven.
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Moist and juicy meat – The steady, indirect heat from the pellet grill helps keep the turkey moist and prevents it from drying out.
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Easy set-up – Pellet grills are very simple to use. Just fill the hopper with pellets, set the temperature, and let it smoke!
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Precise temperature control – Pellet grills allow you to dial in exact temperatures, unlike charcoal or gas grills. This gives you better control over the smoking process.
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Convenience – Pellet grills require minimal monitoring during the smoke. The electronic temperature controls do all the work for you.
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Versatility – Pellet grills excel at both smoking and grilling, allowing you to smoke your turkey and prepare the rest of your meal.
Step-by-Step Guide to Smoking Turkey on a Pellet Grill
Follow these simple steps for smoking the perfect turkey on your pellet grill:
1. Thaw the Turkey
Be sure to completely thaw your frozen turkey in the refrigerator 1-2 days before you plan to smoke it. Do not thaw at room temperature. Figure about 24 hours of thaw time per 4-5 lbs of turkey.
Thawing is complete when the turkey can be rotated and moved freely inside the packaging. If brining, thaw first before brining.
2. Brine the Turkey (Optional)
Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine solution before smoking will help keep it incredibly moist and enhance flavor. Dissolve 1 cup kosher salt per gallon of water along with any desired seasonings like garlic, peppercorns, rosemary, etc.
Submerge the thawed turkey in the brine, cover, and refrigerate 8-12 hours. Rinse and pat dry before smoking.
3. Prep the Turkey
Remove any giblets or neck from the interior cavity. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat completely dry with paper towels, both inside and out. Be sure it’s fully dry to help achieve crispy skin.
4. Season the Turkey
Apply your favorite dry rub or poultry seasoning all over the turkey, inside the cavity as well as over and under the skin. Herb butter or olive oil helps the seasoning adhere.
Some good pellet grill turkey rub options are brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Get creative with the flavors!
5. Insert Aromatics
For extra flavor, place lemon wedges, chopped onion, fresh herbs, garlic cloves, or apple slices inside the turkey cavity.
6. Preheat the Pellet Grill
Fire up your pellet grill and preheat it to 225-250°F using your choice of wood pellets. Popular options are hickory, cherry, apple, maple, or oak. Mesquite may be too strong.
7. Smoke the Turkey
Place the seasoned turkey directly on the grill grates, breast side up. Insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, being careful that it does not touch the bone.
Maintain your pellet grill temperature at 225-250°F for the duration of the smoke. Estimate about 30 minutes per pound, so a 15 lb turkey will need about 7-8 hours.
Spritz or mop the turkey with broth or cider every 1-2 hours during the smoke if desired. This helps keep the skin from drying out.
8. Monitor the Temperature
Once the turkey breast hits 160°F, it can be removed from the grill. Thighs and legs should register 165-175°F. The turkey should have lovely brown, crispy skin.
9. Let Turkey Rest
Allow the smoked turkey to rest for 30 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute through the meat for maximum juiciness.
Transfer to a cutting board, lightly tent with foil, and let rest.
10. Carve and Serve
Carve the well-rested turkey how you normally would. Make sure to slice against the grain of the breast meat for tenderness. Serve immediately and enjoy your perfectly smoked Thanksgiving turkey!
Pellet Grill Turkey Smoking Tips
Follow these additional tips when smoking your holiday turkey on a pellet grill:
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Brining is highly recommended for the juiciest meat but is an optional step.
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Use a foil drip pan under the turkey to catch drippings for gravy.
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Keep the grill temperature steady at 225-250°F for even cooking.
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Allow 11-15 minutes per pound for ideal doneness. A 15 lb turkey will need 3-4 hours.
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Apply a brown sugar based rub for crispy skin.
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Always use a meat thermometer for doneness, not cook times.
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Let the turkey rest before slicing to retain juices.
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Place stuffing in a casserole dish to cook, not inside the turkey.
Smoking a turkey on your pellet grill may take patience and time, but the smoky, juicy flavor is well worth the wait. Follow these guidelines for pellet grill turkey success this holiday season. Enjoy your family time while the grill does the work!
Supplies Needed for a Smoked Turkey
Here are the supplies you’ll need to gather prior to making your smoked turkey:
Make sure the fresh turkey your purchase is around 15 pounds or less for food safety reasons. If you have a large group gathering for Thanksgiving, I recommend getting 2-3 smaller birds instead of one large turkey for dinner. See the next section about how much turkey to plan per person if you are unsure what size turkey to purchase.
The reason I recommend avoiding smoking a turkey over 15 pounds is that it can take too long to cook. Your bird will be sitting in the food safety danger zone between 40-140 degrees F for too long, and you risk bacteria overgrowing and spoiling your turkey before it is finished.
It’s best to cook 2-3 smaller turkeys versus a large one. If you REALLY want to cook a larger bird, I recommend using my Spatchcocked Smoke Roasted Turkey recipe. It is a flattened bird that cooks at a higher temperature so it is safer and more evenly cooked (no dry breasts on a spatchcocked bird!).
Fuel & Wood Chips
Ensure you have plenty of propane, gas, pellets, or wood prior to smoking the turkey. You do not want to run out while you are in the middle of the smoking process.
I recommend using apple, cherry, or hickory wood chips for smoking a turkey. These woods produce a light flavor that won’t overwhelm the turkey while still giving it a great BBQ smokiness.
An instant-read meat thermometer or remote meat thermometer is going to be your best friend while cooking this smoked turkey. Temperature is key when smoking a turkey, so make sure you have a good thermometer on hand to monitor the temperature of the various parts of the turkey while it is cooking.
This smoked turkey recipe can be cooked on whatever smoker you prefer. It’ll taste great cooked on a pellet grill, offset smoker, or even an electric smoker. Use whatever is your favorite (or even whatever you have available to you)! A pellet smoker is a great, easy grill to use, and an offset will give you awesome flavor.
Easy Smoked Turkey Recipe for Thanksgiving (on a Pellet Grill!)
FAQ
How long does it take to smoke a turkey on a pellet grill?
Place the pan with the pellet grill turkey on the grill grates. Close the lid and start smoking a turkey on a pellet grill for 2 1/2-3 hours.
How do you keep turkey moist in a pellet smoker?
How do you keep turkey moist in a pellet smoker? I highly recommend wet brining your turkey for at least 12 hours before cooking.Nov 27, 2024
How many bags of pellets do I need to smoke a turkey?
- 8-10 people: 1 12-14 lb. …
- 12-14 people: 1 16 lb. …
- 16-18 people: 2 12-14 lb. …
- 20+ people: 2 16 lb. …
- Pellet Grill & Wood Pellets: Cooking a turkey can take up to 6 hours depending on the size of your bird.
How long to smoke a 10 lb turkey?
- Temperature: Smoking at a higher temperature (250–275°F) will cook the turkey faster.
- Size: Larger turkeys take longer to cook.
- Smoker type: The type of smoker used can affect the cooking time.
How do you smoke a Turkey on a pellet grill?
This is the sweet spot of smoke and skin texture. If smoking turkey on a pellet grill you can start with a low smoke setting like 225 – 250 degrees. After two or three hours of smoke you can then crank it up to 375 degrees to roast and crisp up the skin while still getting the flavor from the wood pellets.
How long does it take to smoke a Turkey on a pellet smoker?
This is because the cook time can vary depending on both the turkey size and the grill type. So we recommend using a good thermometer and taking the turkey off the pellet smoker once the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. But at 225 degrees, the general rule is that it takes about 30 minutes to smoke per pound of turkey.
Can you cook a Turkey on a pellet grill?
The best part of any pellet grill is that it’s easy to start at a low temperature for smoke flavor and then cranking it up to get the higher roasting temperatures. There is NO NEED to allow the turkey to sit for an hour and come to room temperature. This is a myth and will not materially change the cooking times at all.