How to Cook the Best Traeger Smoked Turkey Recipe
Learn how to cook a whole turkey on a Traeger grill with this easy recipe. This Thanksgiving turkey makes the perfect holiday meal without the traditional roaster!
Unlock the secret to the juiciest, most flavorful Thanksgiving turkey with your Traeger grill. This smoked delight has been a game-changer for for us!
Cooking a whole bird doesn’t have to feel like a high-stakes culinary experiment. It’s easy to cook a turkey over the grill grate of a wood pellet smoker and today I am going to show you how!
With your trusty Traeger smoker, you’re about to transform a simple turkey into the stuff Thanksgiving dreams are made of.
The result? Perfectly tender meat, crispy skin, and that unbeatable delicious smoky flavor. This method also frees up oven space during Thanksgiving, making your holiday kitchen a lot less chaotic.
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Once you taste this smoky masterpiece, you’ll understand why I say this is, hands-down, the best smoked turkey recipe I’ve ever had. This recipe makes the most tender turkey breast with a subtle, yet delicious, smoky flavor.
Say goodbye to dry, boring turkey and hello to a new holiday tradition.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This isn’t just any turkey recipe. Smoking your turkey on a Traeger grill brings out the deep, natural flavors of the bird while locking in moisture.
The combination of a flavorful wet brine, a rich turkey rub, and slow smoking creates a gorgeous deep brown color and the most tender turkey you’ve ever had. Plus, this recipe is customizable to your personal preference, so you can make it just the way your family likes it.
Our smoked turkey starts with the perfect smoked turkey brine recipe. The entire turkey is brined in this liquid, in an airtight container, overnight at the very least.
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!
More of Our Holiday Favorites
- For Christmas, we love to cook our turkey in an oven roaster.
- We’ve also smoked a turkey in a vertical smoker. It has a smokier flavor than when cooked on the Traeger.
- Do you have leftover turkey? Make these turkey and cranberry sliders – this easy recipe makes the most delicious turkey sliders that you’ve ever had!
- Looking for a low carb alternative to your standard stuffing? Try this delicious keto-friendly stove top stuffing recipe! We also love this easy crockpot stuffing and apple cranberry stuffing.
- My mom always makes the best side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner! Try her classic yams recipe this year.
- This cranberry salsa recipe is a family favorite and makes the perfect appetizer!
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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!
- Basting brush
- Paper towels
- Aluminum foil
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
How to Cook a Turkey on the Traeger
Ingredients
- Turkey – Go fresh if you can, but if it’s a frozen turkey, just defrost it thoroughly.
- Smoked turkey brine – This is the secret sauce for juicy, flavorful meat.
- Turkey injector – Optional, but this is the fancy way to add extra flavor right into the meat.
- Butter, melted – Think of this as the magic ingredient for that perfect crispy skin.
- Poultry dry rub – Use what you like. We use our favorite Traeger poultry dry rub.
Instructions
1. Prepare the turkey in brine overnight.
2. Drain the brine solution from the turkey cavity, rinse the bird thoroughly with water, and pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
3. Season the turkey meat with this turkey marinade injection recipe. This is an optional step, but trust us when we say it makes for the most tender meat.
4. Coat the skin with butter or olive oil, and add a turkey dry rub to the skin of the turkey.
We like to try different poultry rubs, but find that our favorites have a combination of brown sugar, black pepper, and garlic powder.
5. Preheat the smoker to 165°F.
6. Pin or tie the wings and drumsticks to the outside of the turkey.
7. Place the whole bird in the lit smoker, breast side up. You can add a baking sheet or aluminum foil under the grill to catch turkey drippings if you want.
8. Smoke at 165°F for 2 hours.
9. Increase the temperature to 275°F and continue smoking for 3.5 hours or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast reaches 165°F.
10. In the last 30 minutes of cooking time, baste the bird with 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
11. Remove the turkey from the smoker, transfer it to a cutting board, and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before carving to let the juices redistribute.
Tips and Tricks
- Bring the turkey to room temperature before smoking to ensure even cooking.
- Total cook time will depend a lot on the size of the bird, so adjust accordingly.
- Smaller turkeys are easier to handle and cook faster, making them a great option for first-time smokers.
- Use a meat thermometer to be 100% sure the turkey is cooked to the right temperature without guessing.
- Maintaining a consistent temperature in the smoker throughout the cooking process is important. Keep the smoker’s lid closed as much as possible to avoid losing heat.
- For delicious turkey drippings, place a foil pan under the bird to catch all that goodness. Then use them to make this delicious turkey gravy. You’ll love the subtle smoky flavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to thaw a frozen turkey?
Thaw it in the fridge for about 24 hours per 5 lbs of turkey. For faster results, submerge it in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes.
What temperature should I smoke the turkey?
Start at 165°F for two hours, then increase to 275°F until the thickest part of the turkey breast reaches 165°F.
How do I prevent my turkey from drying out?
Brine it overnight and use a high-fat coating like butter or olive oil to keep the meat moist and flavorful.
Can I use a dry brine instead of a wet brine?
Yes! A dry brine with kosher salt works beautifully and is less messy.
How long does it take to smoke a turkey?
Plan for around 30 minutes per pound at the recommended temperatures, but, for best results, always rely on a temperature probe to be sure it is thoroughly cooked.
Smoked turkey on a Traeger grill isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience. This cooking method makes the most juicy turkey breast with the best crispy skin, perfect for the holiday season!
Get ready to wow your guests with a bird that’s not only beautifully cooked, but also packed with flavorful meat. Share your success and add this tasty recipe to your holiday menu.
If you love this Traeger turkey recipe, please give it a five-star review and help me share it on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!
Traeger Turkey Recipe
Ingredients
- 12-20 lb turkey
- 2 Tbsp butter melted
- 1/4 cup dry rub
Instructions
- Start with a completely defrosted or fresh bird that is 12-20 lbs.
- Prepare the turkey in brine overnight.
- Drain the brine solution from the turkey cavity, rinse the bird thoroughly with water and pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
- Season the turkey meat with a turkey injector marinade recipe. This is an optional step, but trust us when we say it makes for the most tender meat.
- Coat the skin with butter or olive oil, and add a turkey dry rub to the skin of the turkey.
- Preheat the smoker to 165 degrees F.
- Pin or tie the wings and drumsticks to the outside of the turkey if needed.
- Place the whole bird in the lit smoker.
- Smoke at 165 for 2 hours.
- Adjust the temperature to 275 and smoke for an additional 3.5 hours or until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165 degrees F.
- In the last half an hour of cooking time, baste the bird with 2 Tbsp melted butter.
- Remove the bird from the smoker to a cutting board. Let the turkey rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Notes
- Total cook time will depend a lot on the size of the bird. Smaller turkeys will be done sooner and a large turkey will take longer. Use the meat thermometer attached to your grill to be 100% sure the meat is cooked properly.
- Maintaining a consistent temperature in the smoker throughout the cooking process is important. Avoid lifting the lid of the grill too often.
Nutrition
Throw your deep fryer out, this is the only way you will ever want to cook a bird after you try this!!!
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