We love to use this turkey brine recipe for the most tender and juicy smoked turkey! Add this easy brine to your preparations this holiday season.

Cooking a whole turkey is my go-to for large family gatherings and events. We will often use this garbage can turkey cooking process for Thanksgiving turkey and roast a turkey in the oven for Christmas.

Too busy to make this right away?! Pin it for later! Pin this recipe to your favorite board on Pinterest and it’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

It’s in the spring time when we like to smoke a whole bird on the pellet grill. This smoked turkey brine recipe is the ideal way to prepare our turkey for the smoker.

This smoked turkey recipe guides you step-by-step into making a juicy turkey with that delicious smoke flavor. We also love, love, love this Traeger Smoked Turkey Recipe – be sure to try it!

Looking for a complete guide to creating the perfect Thanksgiving feast? Find a carefully curated collection of our time-tested, family-favorite recipes inside the pages of this eBook!

DOWNLOAD OUR THANKSGIVING EBOOK

This post contains affiliate links.

WHAT SHOULD I BRINE MY TURKEY IN?

We place the raw turkey in an Oven Bag or a large stock pot.
A turkey roasting bag does the same thing.
We’ve used a small cooler and a large Rubbermade container in the past too.
A good rule of thumb is to have a large container that will allow the brine to cover the entire bird.

Affiliate links.

Supplies:

Traeger 780 Pro Smoker Grill – this is our Traeger model, it’s the perfect size for families who like to entertain! Be sure to check out all of our must have Traeger products.
Meater Thermometer – we love this wireless meat thermometer. It connects to an app that tells you exactly when your meat is done!
Turkey oven bag or stock pot
Baking dish or oven roaster
Large pot
Cutting board
Knife
Measuring cups
Paper towels

Simple turkey brine:

Ingredients:

White wine vinegar
Water
Coarse salt
Brown sugar
Lime, sliced
Rosemary stalks
Thyme sprigs
Bay leaves

Note: this recipe is for a 12 to 20-pound turkey. For a larger bird you will need a bigger brine bag and more vinegar and cold water to cover the entire turkey breast in the wet brine.

HOW TO MAKE THIS TURKEY BRINE:

1. Place the turkey (empty) into the turkey bag and into the baking dish breast side up.

Tip: Use a fresh turkey, be sure that your frozen turkey has completely defrosted before brining.

2. Slice the lime and prep fresh herbs and ingredients.

3. Layer all of the fresh and dry brine ingredients on top of the turkey.

4. Top with water and vinegar.

Tip: the turkey should be entirely covered by the brine solution. Simply add more water if it’s not so that you have enough brine to cover a large turkey.

5. Tie the bag closed and place the dish in the fridge for 12 hours or more. We like to leave the turkey in our brine for at least 24 hours for best results.

6. Rinse the brine from the turkey before cooking and pat it dry with paper towel.

Inject the turkey with this butter seasoning recipe and/or cover the skin with an herb butter rub before smoking.

This simple brine makes the most flavorful turkey with a delicious, crispy skin. This easy turkey brine recipe is sure to become a favorite to use when preparing your smoked turkey.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU BRINE TURKEY?

At least 8 hours is the recommended time in the brining process.
We choose to brine our bird for 12 hours or more to enhance the tenderness and flavor.
You may brine a turkey for up to 24 hours or more!

We also love this turkey brine recipe that yields the same juicy turkey results with a few different ingredients.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU ADD TO TURKEY BRINE?

apple cider vinegar may be used instead of white wine vinegar
kosher salt or table salt can be used in the place of coarse salt
use fresh sage in addition to rosemary and thyme
add black peppercorns, garlic cloves
use apple juice, lemon slices or maple syrup

MORE OF OUR HOLIDAY FAVORITES:

Do you have leftover turkey? Make these turkey cranberry sliders or turkey salad sandwiches!
Looking for a low carb alternative to your standard stuffing? Try this delicious keto friendly stove top stuffing recipe!
My mom always makes the best side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner! Try her classic yams recipe this year.
These roasted parmesan brussel sprouts from my friend Bailey are a must make!
This cranberry salsa recipe is a family favorite and makes the perfect appetizer!

If you love this smoked turkey brine recipe, please give it a five star review and help us share it on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!