Get the Recipe: How to Smoke a Whole Turkey
This Smoked Whole Turkey recipe is stuffed and coated in a homemade spice rub, then slow smoked to tender and juicy perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 whole turkey, mine was about 17 pounds
To Put Inside the Turkey:
- 1 cup celery, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1/2 orange, sliced
- 1/2 apple, sliced
- 5-6 sprigs herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, parsley
- 4 tablespoons butter, cubbed
- 4-6 cloves of garlic
On the Outside of the Turkey
- 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
For the Drip Pan and Basting
- 1 1/2 cup apple juice
- 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Juice of 1 orange
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
For the Grill
- Turkey rack
- Large disposable roasting pan
- Applewood chips, soaked overnight
Equipment
Instructions
- Prepare a charcoal grill or smoker for indirect heat, at approximately 225 degrees F. Sprinkle in applewood chips that have soaked in cold water for at least 4 hours.
- Pat the thawed turkey dry and stuff with the fruit, vegetable and butter mixture.
- Generously rub with olive oil and spices.
- Place the turkey in a drip pan fitted with a rack.
- Mix together the chicken stock, apple juice, orange juice and apple cider vinegar.
- Pour about half of the basting mixture in the roasting pan.
- Baste the turkey after cooking for 45 minutes. Repeat the basting every 45 minutes until the internal temperature of the thigh registers 165 degrees F.
- How long your turkey will take depends very much on its size. As a rough guide, it will take at least 30 minutes per pound of turkey at 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Before serving your turkey, it’s important to check it is cooked all the way through. The internal temperature of the thigh should register 165 degrees F.
Serving: 8 oz, Calories: 356kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 70g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 23mg, Sodium: 352mg, Sugar: 2g
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review below!