Where Can I Get a Turkey Smoked? Your Complete Guide

Smoked turkey is becoming more and more popular every holiday season. The rich smoky flavor takes relatively bland turkey up several notches. But many wonder – where can I get a turkey smoked if I don’t own a smoker? Luckily you have several excellent options to get your hands on delicious smoked turkey.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll overview the various places you can get a smoked turkey and key things to consider with each option Read on to learn all about where to find smoked turkey for your next special meal.

Purchase a Fully-Cooked Pre-Smoked Turkey

The easiest route is to simply buy a pre-smoked turkey that is fully cooked and ready to serve. Many specialty butcher shops, meat markets, and online retailers offer smoked turkeys you can order ahead of time for pickup or delivery.

Some places to buy high-quality fully cooked smoked turkeys:

• Local butcher shops or specialty meat markets – Many have smoked turkeys available, especially around the holidays. Call ahead a few days or weeks to place your order.

• Online specialty meat companies – Retailers like Smokehouse.com ship fully cooked smoked turkeys nationwide right to your door. Order a few days ahead for delivery on your desired date.

• Grocery store deli sections – Some grocery store deli counters stock smoked turkeys during peak holiday seasons like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check with your local store.

• Big box stores like Costco – Warehouse stores like Costco usually carry fully cooked smoked turkeys in their stores during the holidays. You don’t need a membership to purchase.

The main benefit of purchasing a fully pre-smoked turkey is convenience – there’s no work required on your end besides simply reheating. The downside is cost, as pre-smoked turkeys from specialty retailers are typically more expensive than buying an uncooked plain turkey and smoking it yourself.

Order a Smoked Turkey from a Restaurant

Another great route is to order a fully cooked smoked turkey from a local restaurant, BBQ joint, or catering company. Many restaurants smoke turkeys specially for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter and will cook an individual turkey just for you if ordered several days or weeks in advance.

Some places to check on ordering a fresh, high-quality smoked turkey:

• BBQ restaurants – Ask your favorite local barbecue restaurant or smokehouse if they offer whole smoked turkeys for the holidays. Order well ahead to secure yours.

• Catering companies – Most professional caterers can provide you with a delicious smoked turkey for large events or individual family meals with advance notice.

• Fine dining or upscale restaurants – Some higher end restaurants will custom smoke a turkey if you place your order a few weeks in advance.

• Butcher shops with kitchens – Local butcher shops that also have kitchens on-site may offer smoked turkeys as holiday specials. Check if yours provides this service.

The main advantage of ordering a smoked turkey fully cooked and ready to eat from a restaurant is convenience – you’ll get a delicious bird perfectly smoked by professionals without having to do any of the prep or cooking yourself. The downside is cost, since you’re essentially paying for the chef’s time, expertise, and equipment usage. Expect to pay a premium over the price of an uncooked plain turkey.

Hire a Private Chef to Smoke a Turkey For You

For ultimate ease and convenience without any work on your part, consider hiring a private professional chef to come smoke a turkey fresh on-site at your home. Many independent chefs offer this type of specialized service around the holidays for clients who want a gourmet smoked turkey meal but don’t own or want to use their own equipment.

Here’s how it works – the private chef will bring all the necessary smoker equipment, prep your turkey, rub it, season it, and smoke it fully on location as you relax. You’ll end up with a perfectly cooked, delicious ready-to-eat smoked turkey masterpiece without lifting a finger. While certainly a luxury, this option provides unparalleled convenience.

Smoke a Turkey Yourself on a Grill or Smoker

With the right technique and equipment, you can smoke a turkey yourself on a standard outdoor grill or dedicated smoker and enjoy delicious homemade smoked turkey without the premium price tag. This requires a little more effort and technique, but the cost savings over ordering pre-smoked makes it worthwhile for many.

Here are two options for DIY smoked turkey:

On a Grill

You can transform even a basic charcoal or gas grill into a smoker with indirect cooking and wood chips or chunks for flavor. Here’s a quick overview of the process:

• Set up a two-zone indirect fire by only placing coals or turning on burners on one side of the grill. Keep the other side empty.

• Use soaked wood chips or chunks within the coals or on the burners to generate smoke.

• Place the turkey on the empty indirect side over a drip pan and keep temp around 225-250°F.

• Cook until the breast meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 15-20 minutes per pound depending on size.

• Allow the turkey to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.

With just a few modifications and careful temperature control, any standard backyard grill can effectively “smoke” turkey. While it takes more hands-on effort and time than ordering pre-smoked, you can save big bucks.

On a Smoker

Using a dedicated smoker designed for low and slow cooking gives best results, but these tend to be expensive purchases. If you have access to a smoker, follow a similar process to grilling but with more stable temperature control thanks to the smoker’s design. Electric and propane smokers are ideal for beginners.

Rent or Borrow a Smoker

If you don’t already own your own smoker but want to DIY your smoked turkey, consider renting or borrowing a smoker just for the occasion. Many specialty BBQ, meat, or cooking stores offer smoker rentals for very reasonable rates, even for just a single day.

You may also have family members, friends, or neighbors who own a smoker and would be willing to lend it to you for free or cheap. Offer to provide the uncooked turkey, wood chips, charcoal or pellets, and other supplies in exchange for temporary use of their equipment.

Types of smokers you may be able to easily rent or borrow for a day or two include:

• Electric smoker – Very simple to use even for complete beginners. Great for easily smoking turkey or other meats.

• Charcoal smoker – Takes a bit more skill but imparts wonderful authentic smoke flavor from real wood burning.

• Pellet grill/smoker – All-in-one versatile units that can grill, smoke, bake, roast, and more using compressed wood pellets.

• Propane smoker – A propane tank provides the consistent heat source, ideal for beginners.

The main advantage of renting or borrowing a smoker is that you can smoke turkey or other large meats without needing to buy an expensive appliance and permanently dedicate outdoor space to it. Just be sure to learn the basics of properly operating the smoker before your big smoking day.

Purchase an Affordable Backyard Smoker

Finally, consider taking the plunge and investing in your very own backyard smoker. You can find very basic beginner charcoal, electric, or propane smokers these days for under $200, sometimes even under $100 if you shop sales.

While more expensive premium smokers have more features and space, even an entry-level smoker can produce delicious smoked turkey and other smoked foods when used properly. The advantages of owning your own smoker are being able to smoke foods anytime you desire and experiment with different wood flavors.

Here are a few examples of budget-friendly smoker options to consider:

• Charcoal kettle grill – A standard 22-inch kettle grill can easily be turned into a smoker and also used for all your regular grilling. Weber and other brands start around $100-$200.

• Electric smoker – Basic electric smokers from brands like Masterbuilt, Char-Broil, and Cuisinart can be found for $100-$200 for a small model. Great for beginners.

• Compact propane smoker – You can find small vertical propane smokers for as little as $60-$120 on Amazon and at hardware stores. No electric outlet needed.

• Smoking tube or box –Very inexpensive pellet or sawdust smokers for any grill under $50. Limited space though.

While more of an investment up front, owning your own smoker means you can smoke turkeys, ribs, brisket, salmon, and more any time you get the craving without needing to order or rent. An affordable backyard smoker can easily pay for itself in delicious smoked foods over time.

Enjoy Delicious Smoked Turkey on Your Holiday Table

Smoked turkey is simply too good and too popular these days to miss out on without owning your own specialty smoker. Luckily, as you can see you have numerous excellent options for getting your hands on a perfectly smoked turkey without having to do it yourself from raw bird to smoked masterpiece.

For your first ever smoked turkey experience, trying ordering a fully cooked pre-smoke

Hickory Smoked Whole Turkey