Make smoked turkey on a Weber kettle or charcoal grill. Includes what size turkey to buy, when to defrost, smoked temps and cook time.
Smoking a turkey on a Weber grill results in incredibly moist tender meat infused with delicious smoky flavor. While roasting a turkey in the oven is traditional smoking it makes for an unforgettable Thanksgiving or holiday centerpiece.
Smoking is an ideal cooking method for poultry since the low indirect heat helps break down connective tissues. With the right technique, you can enjoy juicy, smoke-kissed turkey off a Weber charcoal or gas grill.
Benefits of Smoking Turkey on a Weber
There are several advantages to smoking a turkey on a Weber grill versus oven roasting:
- Infuses the meat with smoky wood flavor from chips or chunks
- Keeps the turkey incredibly moist and tender
- Allows you to cook an entire large bird at once
- Imparts a beautiful pink smoke ring
- Lets you flavor with herbs and spices
- Frees up your oven for side dishes
- Provides a cool cookout activity for gatherings
Weber grills like the Kettle and Smokey Mountain are designed for smoking with vent controls to regulate airflow Smaller turkeys can even be smoked on a Weber Q gas grill with wood chips
Tips for Preparing Turkey for Smoking
To ensure your smoked turkey turns out juicy and full of flavor, follow these preparation tips:
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Choose the right size – Aim for a 12-16 lb turkey to fit on the grill. Go bigger for a kettle-style grill.
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Brine it – Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine ensures seasoned, moist meat.
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Dry thoroughly – Pat the turkey completely dry before smoking for crispy skin.
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Loosen skin – Slide fingers under skin to loosen and tuck herb butter or seasoning.
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Coat with oil – Lightly brush turkey with olive oil or melted butter before smoking.
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Place on a rack – Elevate the turkey on a V-rack for smoke circulation.
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Season generously – Coat the turkey inside and out with spices like smoked paprika, garlic, pepper.
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Set up a drip pan – Place disposable pans under the turkey to catch juice drippings.
How to Smoke a Whole Turkey on a Weber Grill
Once your turkey is prepped, follow these simple steps:
1. Prep the Weber Grill for Smoking
If using charcoal, pile lit coals on one side of grill and fill a disposable pan with water on the other side to regulate heat.
For gas, turn on just one or two burners to create a hot side and add wood chips to a smoker box or foil pouch.
2. Place Turkey on Grill
Put the turkey on the grill’s cool side in a V-rack over the drip pans. Close lid vents halfway.
3. Maintain Heat
Keep temperature between 250-275°F by adjusting vents and adding charcoal as needed.
4. Add Wood Chips/Chunks
Toss a handful of pre-soaked wood chips or chunks directly onto coals every 30 mins for smoke.
Popular woods are hickory, cherry, apple, mesquite. Avoid soft woods like pine.
5. Monitor Temperature
Insert a probe thermometer into the thickest thigh area without touching bone. Smoke until it reaches 165°F.
6. Let Turkey Rest
Carefully remove turkey from grill once done and tent with foil. Let rest 30 mins before carving.
7. Carve and Serve
Carve turkey and serve immediately for incredibly moist, tender meat with a delicious smoky flavor!
Smoking Times for Whole Turkey
The smoking time will vary based on the size of your turkey. Plan for about 15-20 minutes per pound at a temperature of 250-275°F.
Here are some general turkey smoking times to follow:
- 12-14 lb turkey: ~3-4 hours
- 15-18 lb turkey: ~4-5 hours
- 20-22 lb turkey: ~5-6 hours
Since grills vary, always rely on a probe thermometer for doneness rather than just timing.
Wood Chips for Smoking Turkey on a Weber
The type of wood you use impacts the flavor profile. Good options include:
- Oak – Strong, versatile smoke flavor
- Hickory – Bold, bacon-like smoke
- Apple – Mildly sweet, fruity smoke
- Cherry – Mildly sweet and fruity
- Maple – Mildly sweet smoke flavor
- Mesquite – Intense, earthy smoke
Weber sells wood chips and chunks specially made for smoking. Soak chips in water for 30 minutes before using for more smoke.
Gas vs Charcoal Weber Grill for Smoking Turkey
You can smoke a turkey on either a charcoal kettle grill like the Weber Performer or a gas grill like the Weber Genesis or Spirit.
Charcoal gives you more smoke flavor from the burning wood chips. But gas grills offer easier temperature control with a built-in lid thermometer.
For gas grills, use wood chips in a smoker box, foil pouch, or directly over the flavorizer bars. Change out chips every 30-45 minutes.
Tricks for Extra Juicy Smoked Turkey
Here are some pro tips for getting the juiciest smoked turkey off your Weber grill:
- Brine the turkey overnight before smoking
- Rub butter under the skin before cooking
- Spritz with apple juice or chicken broth while smoking
- Wrap wings and legs in foil if browning too fast
- Let turkey rest 30+ minutes before carving
- Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking
- Cook to 175°F and let carryover cooking finish it
Maintaining proper heat and avoiding flare ups will prevent the turkey skin from drying out while infusing the meat with moist smoke flavor.
Delicious Recipe Ideas for Smoked Turkey
Smoked turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner! Get creative with the leftovers by using it in:
- Smoked turkey chili or soup
- Turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce
- Turkey salad wraps or sandwiches
- Turkey tacos with avocado
- Turkey casserole or pot pie
- Turkey pizza with bbq sauce
- Turkey enchiladas with green chili sauce
- Turkey breakfast hash with eggs
- Turkey fried rice or risotto
You can also chop or shred the smoked turkey meat for easy recipe additions. The smoky flavor pairs deliciously with cheeses, greens, potatoes, beans, tortillas, pasta and more!
Get Perfectly Smoked Turkey at Home
Smoking a whole turkey on a Weber grill results in incredibly tender, juicy meat with delicious smoky flavor. With proper preparation and monitoring, you can enjoy restaurant-quality turkey smoked right at home.
Use these tips and technique guides to smoke your turkey low and slow for the perfect centerpiece to your next holiday feast or family gathering. Then get creative with leftovers for smoked turkey meals all week long!
Apply a turkey rub
Every turkey is stuffed with a bag of innards, such as gizzards and heart. Remove this from the cavity. Dice these up and cook them into your stuffing, or just toss them.
You should also be able to reach into the cavity and find the neck. You can smoke this with the bird; it tastes pretty good, or you can boil it in water to make turkey broth for gravy.
We want to add lots of flavor. The apple cider sea salt rub in this recipe turns the bird a beautiful golden color and makes the skin sweet and salty. You can use your favorite mix of herbs and spices, or you can try my classic turkey rub.
Once you master the technique, I’m sure you’ll be trying all sorts of fun combinations.
Be sure to rub the bird inside and out. For a dry brine, you can put it in the fridge overnight if you have time. But if you’re in a hurry, you can rub it and set it on the counter while you get the grill ready.
For an even juicier turkey, you can soak it in a wet turkey brine overnight.
Keep track of the temperature
The biggest complaint people have about turkey is that it can be dry, especially the breast meat. It takes a lot of work to make a meal with sides and desserts and watch the bird at the same time. So let something else take care of that for you.
The Weber iGrill and Thermoworks Smoke are thermometers that allow you to monitor the temps from your phone. You stick the thermometer probe into the breast of the bird.
With the iGrill app, click “start grilling” and select whole turkey. With the Thermoworks Smoke just set the alarm to 165F.
When that magic temperature is reached, the app will let you know on your phone while you watch the game.
Smoked Texas Style Turkey Breast on a Weber Kettle! | Chuds BBQ
FAQ
How long does it take to smoke a turkey on a Weber?
Do I put the turkey directly on the grill when smoking?
How long to smoke 15 lb turkey at 300 degrees?
Should you put a turkey in a pan on a Weber grill?