Based on recent search trends, it seems that plenty of people want to know how to smoke a turkey this year. If you’re tired of the same old roast turkey for Thanksgiving but too afraid of fireballs to attempt to deep fry turkey, a smoked turkey may be your happy medium. You can get outside, free up oven space for sides and pies, and enjoy a deliciously different flavor than you’re probably used to.
Smoked turkey isn’t for the faint of heart—it does require tending, and it does have a bold flavor that purists may disapprove of. Consider roasting a backup turkey breast for them, and know that you’ll also need to make gravy from spare turkey parts ahead of time (always a good move anyway)—or use the reserved turkey neck to make a gravy with bourbon, apple, apple cider, and onion (see our smoked turkey recipe below for the gravy how-to).
According to Chowhounds, you may want to smoke a practice bird, or even just smoke the turkey breast (though who among us can resist Disney-style smoked drumsticks?).
We also recommend taking some tips from a pitmaster on how to smoke meat in general, especially if you’re new to smoking.
Make sure you have your game plan in place and allow enough time to get the process going. Then you’ll be ready to tackle a turkey.
Step 1: Get Equipped
If you have a smoker, great!
If you don’t, you can use a charcoal grill for smoking turkey. You’ll also need tongs, a few different disposable aluminum loaf pans, a baking sheet, oven mitts, a couple buckets of water, an oven thermometer, and a meat thermometer. And wood, of course.
We like apple wood for smoking turkey since it has a more delicate and fruity flavor compared to hickory or oak.
We also strongly prefer hardwood lump charcoal instead of briquettes.
Step 2: Brine the Turkey
Brining turkey is always a good idea, and you’ll want to do it the night before—but make sure the turkey is fully defrosted before brining. And if you wet brine, when it comes out, be sure to pat it dry and let it sit at room temperature for a bit to ensure crisper skin.
Related Reading: How to Score a Free Turkey | Whole Foods Turkey Discounts for Amazon Prime Members
Step 3: Soak Your Wood Chips
This will only take about 15 minutes, but every second is precious when you have hangry guests waiting for food—so remember to put your chips in a bucket of water before you start preparing your grill or smoker.
Step 4: Truss Your Turkey
We like to do this since it makes maneuvering the turkey on the grill a bit easier (we also stuff the cavity with onion and apple, and trussing helps keeps them in place). Here’s how to truss the bird:
Once trussed, we rub the outside of the turkey with vegetable oil (since butter is more likely to burn here), and then start smoking. Get the full step-by-step instructions by clicking the link below.
Smoked Turkey
What Should You Serve with Smoked Turkey?
We include a bourbon-apple gravy recipe that uses the reserved turkey neck in the recipe just above, but as for what else to serve with smoked turkey, all the classic sides still taste great. It makes sense to choose stronger flavors and dishes with a Southern vibe, so here are a few specific suggestions (but don’t forget classic buttery mashed potatoes too):
Cornbread and Apple Stuffing
Chowhound
The sweetness of apple and cornbread will work well with the smoky turkey, and since it doesn’t cook inside the bird, you can make it ahead of time (and will get way more crusty surface area). Get our Cornbread and Apple Stuffing recipe.
Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
Chowhound
Mini marshmallows have their place (in hot cocoa), but for sweet potato casserole, we prefer to show more restraint. This one is spiked with bourbon—echoing the turkey gravy—and topped a nutty pecan streusel with just enough brown sugar to complement the natural sweetness. Get our Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.
Cranberry Spread
Chowhound
Canned cranberry sauce is fine if you’re into it, but we’d pick this chunky fresh cranberry spread for a smoked turkey dinner (or any other, honestly)—it’s nicely balanced between tart and sweet (thanks to maple syrup) and has a kick of heat from red pepper too, plus candied orange peel and allspice. Get our Cranberry Spread recipe.
Simple Sauteed Green Beans
Chowhound
A fresh green vegetable is a must, so we say skip the green bean casserole for crisp-tender sauteed beans with sweet, soft onions and a bit of spark from red wine vinegar. Get our Simple Sauteed Green Beans recipe.
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
Chowhound
In keeping with anti-palate-fatigue idea, try a light and airy pumpkin chiffon pie for a change to end the meal. You can spike the filling and the topping with rum, or use non-alcoholic apple cider if you prefer. Get our Pumpkin Chiffon Pie recipe.
Maple Pecan Pie
Chowhound
But if you’re Team Pecan Pie, try this version with an anise-infused maple syrup filling and tangy whipped crème fraîche for contrast. Get Melissa Clark’s Maple Pecan Pie recipe.
For more tips, tricks, recipes, and a Turkey Day timeline, see our Ultimate Guide to Thanksgiving.
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