This submit might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Please learn my
Shake up your conventional roast turkey with this excellent smoked turkey recipe. A easy technique for reducing it alongside the backbone, spatchcock, makes for even cooking, so you will have juicy meat irrespective of the place you slice. This hen is rubbed with a easy spice mix and smoked for tender meat and crispy golden brown pores and skin. So good you’re turkey traditions can be modified.
When you attempt smoking your poultry, you’ll by no means return to roasting it within the oven. Or at the least I haven’t. The delicate smoked taste penetrates the meat and the low and sluggish temp locks in moisture for an unimaginable hen each time. In the case of turkeys, smoking them in my pit barrel cooker has grow to be my go-to technique.
The pit barrel has a hook to hold a turkey, and sometimes I try this, however this was an enormous hen, so to chop down the cook dinner time and assure a uniform cook dinner, so I minimize it down the center of the again and lay it on the grill rack. Seems, that can be my vacation technique this 12 months.
Spatchcocking a hen not solely is enjoyable to say (you understand you giggled), but it surely permits for the hen to cook dinner in much less time, because the darkish and light-weight meat is laid out evenly, enables you to get throughout together with your rub including extra style to each chew.
What you might want to make this recipe
- Turkey – make sure that to choose a turkey that may slot in your smoker making an allowance for the clerance the smoker wants to shut correctly.
- Salt
- GirlsCanGrill Chicken Rub – a balanced spice mix primarily based on competitors barbecue with paprika, chiles, and herbs
- GirlCarnivore Chick Fest – an herbacious all goal hen rub with vivid orange peel, mustard and white vinegar
- Oil
Yep, you learn that proper. 5 components. Generally it’s that straightforward.
Additionally, you will want a couple of particular instruments for this recipe
- Kitchen sheers – not simply common scissors however heavy obligation poultry sheers.
- Smoker – this recipe options the Pit Barrel Cooker however it may be tailored for any smoker, together with pellet people who smoke.
- Maple wood – or different delicate smoking wooden like pecan or apple.
- Warmth resistant grilling gloves
The best way to make spatchcocked smoked turkey
Prep the turkey
Begin by eradicating the hen from packaging and clearing out the internal cavity for any gizzards. As soon as that’s eliminated, pat the hen dry and prepared a clear work floor together with your sheers and a pointy cooks knife.
Flip the turkey breast aspect down and discover the backbone. Utilizing your sheers, minimize alongside the backbone on each side till you take away it utterly. It could actually take some stress to snap via bone right here.
Unfold the turkey open and crack or minimize the breast bone.
Then, flip the turkey over, unfold it as greatest you’ll be able to, and press down forcefully on the highest of the turkey breast to crack the breastplate. Relying on the thickness of the breast, this step takes slightly energy and dedication. (Simply to offer you a baseline, suppose severe CPR press right here).
Lastly, butterfly the turkey open. Laying it out evenly with the breast, thighs, and wings all on a fair floor. Tuck the wings again, inserting them behind the breast.
Rub it throughout with the dry brine, on each side, and place it on a wire rack on a baking sheet to brine within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
On the day of cooking, take away the hen from the fridge and brush the pores and skin with foil. Rub it with one other coating of the spice combination and put together the grill.
Prep the grill
Set your smoker to run at round 225 to 250 together with your lump charcoal. Add smoking wooden, like maple for added taste as you’re grilling. Organize the grilling grate over the smoker so you’ll be able to simply switch your turkey.
As soon as your grill is preheated and the smoke is a transparent blue and never thick gray/darkish smoke, you’re able to smoke the hen.
Have somebody close by to assist with the lid so sanitation isn’t a difficulty when shifting the hen onto the grill.
Smoke the turkey
Lastly, Smoke the turkey till it reaches an inner temperature of 165F.
GirlCarnivore Professional Tip: For the final hour or so, baste the turkey with slightly oil to assist crisp up the pores and skin and add a deep shade.
Ensure that to observe the interior temp of your smoker because the turkey cooks. It’s possible you’ll want so as to add extra gasoline to maintain the temperature holding regular.
Must you brine a spatchcocked turkey?
Quick reply, sure. Poultry takes extremely nicely to a brine. However, I discover that, not like my turkey breast recipe, making a secure house, one which stays cool sufficient for uncooked meat and the bucket of brine it sits in, could be laborious with a full turkey.
To resolve this, attempt dry brining for spatchcock turkey. This permits the turkey to essentially take within the flavors forward of time and actually crisps up the pores and skin. The turkey can sit within the fridge dry brining as much as 3 days earlier than you hearth up the grill.
How lengthy to smoke a spatchcocked turkey
As with most massive cuts, it’s actually not a matter of how lengthy, however the inner temperature of your meat. This spatchcock turkey in a barrel smoker took over 5 hours to succeed in an inner temperature of 165F with a gentle warmth of 225 to 250F.
Climate and site will even play a consider how lengthy your turkey smokes. A chilly or windy day can play closely into some people who smoke’ efficiency. Altitude can even affect your grill. If you’re utilizing a pit barrel smoker, make sure that to check their guide for adjusting the vent for altitude.
Look into utilizing a thermometer with a probe and ambient temp monitor to make sure success.
What to serve with smoked turkey
In the case of smoked turkey, you’ll be able to’t serve it with out creamy mashed potatoes, biscuits, or stuffing. However should you’re watching the carb load, attempt it with these smoked brussels sprouts too.
The best way to retailer
Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic wrap or retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days within the fridge.
Take the time to cut any extras and freeze for as much as 3 months for straightforward soups, burrito fillings, or leftover sandwiches later.
Reheat particular person servings within the microwave in brief bursts till heated via.
This submit isn’t sponsored. However in terms of smoked birds, I exploit my Pit Barrel virtually solely and wished to share this recipe with you.
Extra turkey recipes you’ll love
In the event you’ve tried my spatchcocked smoked turkey recipe, or another recipe on GirlCarnivore.com please don’t overlook to price the recipe and let me know the place you discovered it within the feedback under. I get impressed by your suggestions and feedback! You can too FOLLOW ME on Instagram @girlcarnivore in addition to on  Twitter and Facebook.
Spatchcocked Smoked Turkey
A fast spatchcock to assist the meat cook dinner evenly, paired with a dry brine, and easy rub makes this a superb turkey in your smoker.
Servings: 16
Energy: 522kcal
Tools
-
Pit Barrel Cooker
-
Kitchen Sheers
-
Grilling Gloves
Directions
Spatchcock the turey
-
Begin by eradicating the hen from packaging and clearing out the internal cavity for any gizzards.
16 lb Turkey
-
Pat the hen dry.
-
Flip the turkey breast aspect down and discover the backbone.
-
Utilizing your sheers, minimize alongside the backbone on each side till you chop out the backbone utterly.
-
Unfold the turkey open and crack or minimize the breast bone.
-
Flip the turkey over, unfold it as greatest you’ll be able to, and press down forcefully on the highest of the turkey breast to crack the breastplate.
-
Butterfly the turkey open. Laying it out evenly with the breast, thighs, and wings all on a fair floor.
-
Tuck the wings again, inserting them behind the breast.
Smoke the Turkey
-
Whisk the remaining salt in a small bowl with the Ladies Can Grill Rooster Rub and the GirlCarnivore Chick Fest spice blends.
4 tbsp Salt, 3 tbsp GirlsCanGrill Rooster Rub, 2 tbsp GirlCarnivore Chick Fest
-
Take away the hen from the fridge and brush the pores and skin with oil.
½ cup Oil
-
Rub it with a coating of the spice combination.
Prep the grill
-
Set your smoker to run at round 225 to 250 together with your lump charcoal.
-
Add smoking wooden.
-
Organize the grilling grate over the smoker.
-
As soon as your grill is preheated and the smoke is a transparent you’re able to cook dinner.
Smoke the turkey
-
Switch the turkey to the grilling rack and shut the lid. If you’re utilizing a probe thermometer, make sure that it’s earlier than closing the lid and dealing.
-
Smoke the turkey till it reaches an inner temperature of 165F, examine the ambient temperature of the grill sometimes to keep up warmth. Additiaonl gasoline could also be wanted.
-
For the final hour of smoking, baste the turkey with slightly oil each 20 to 25 minutes.
-
Cooking can take 4 to 12 hours relying on the aspect of the hen.
Relaxation
-
When the meat reaches 165F, switch it from the smoker onto a baking sheet or reducing board and tent it with foil.
-
Relaxation the hen for at the least 20 minutes earlier than slicing.
Slice
-
Carve the legs from the primary physique.
-
Lower the wings from the physique.
-
Slice the breasts from the bone.
-
Slice the breast into parts in opposition to the grain.
Diet
Diet Information
Spatchcocked Smoked Turkey
Quantity Per Serving (1 g)
Energy 522
Energy from Fats 225
% Day by day Worth*
Fats 25g38%
Saturated Fats 5g31%
Trans Fats 1g
Polyunsaturated Fats 7g
Monounsaturated Fats 10g
Ldl cholesterol 232mg77%
Sodium 2106mg92%
Potassium 734mg21%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 70g140%
Vitamin A 185IU4%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 49mg5%
Iron 3mg17%
* % Day by day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie weight loss program.