A perfectly cooked smoked Traeger turkey has a crispy skin and juicy meat thanks to the smoke and heat. To ensure that this is the juiciest turkey you have ever served for Thanksgiving, we brined it in buttermilk and spices.
Experience the ultimate Thanksgiving feast with Traeger’s Traditional Smoked Turkey recipe a simple yet flavorful masterpiece that will impress your family and friends.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound softened butter
- 6 cloves minced garlic
- 8 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
- 20-pound whole turkey
Instructions
- Preheat your Traeger grill to 300°F (149°C) with the lid closed for 15 minutes.
- Prepare the herb butter: In a small bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, thyme leaves, chopped rosemary, black pepper, and kosher salt. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
- Stuff the turkey breast: Separate the skin from the turkey breast, creating a pocket to insert the herb butter mixture. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the entire breast, ensuring a 1/4-inch thickness.
- Season the turkey: Season the entire turkey with kosher salt and black pepper. If desired, stuff the turkey cavity with your favorite stuffing recipe.
- Smoke the turkey: Place the seasoned turkey on the preheated Traeger grill and smoke for 3-4 hours.
- Check the internal temperature: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey. The desired temperature is 175°F (79°C) in the thigh next to the bone and 160°F (71°C) in the breast. Remember, the turkey will continue to cook after removing it from the grill, reaching a final temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the breast.
- Rest and enjoy: Let the turkey rest for 10-15 minutes before carving and serving. Enjoy your flavorful and perfectly cooked Traeger smoked Thanksgiving turkey!
Tips for Success
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh herbs, flavorful butter, and a good-quality turkey will enhance the overall taste of your dish.
- Don’t overcook the turkey: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches the desired level, preventing dryness.
- Rest the turkey: Allow the turkey to rest after cooking to redistribute juices and ensure optimal tenderness.
- Customize the recipe: Feel free to adjust the seasonings and stuffing to your preferences.
- Enjoy the Traeger experience: Traeger grills provide consistent heat and wood-fired flavor, making them ideal for smoking a delicious turkey.
Additional Traeger Turkey Recipes
- Traeger Smoked Turkey: This classic recipe uses a simple spice rub and primal wood-fired flavor for a juicy and flavorful turkey.
- Best Smoked Turkey: This recipe features a citrus brine, Traeger rub, and Turkey Blend hardwood for an extra burst of flavor.
- Pellet Grill Turkey: This recipe involves an overnight brine and slow smoking on a pellet grill for a tender and delicious turkey.
- Smoked Turkey Breast: This recipe uses a brine and slow smoking to create a flavorful and juicy turkey breast.
- Tim Hollingsworth’s Mayo Coated Turkey: This unique recipe uses mayonnaise as a coating to keep the turkey moist and tender while adding a beautiful brown color.
- Roasted Herb Turkey Breast on Pellet Grill: This recipe features a salt and brown sugar brine, an herb-encrusted coating, and pellet grill roasting for a flavorful and juicy turkey breast.
- Traeger Spatchcock Turkey: This recipe involves spatchcocking the turkey for faster cooking and more flavor exposure, then slow-roasting it on a Traeger grill for a golden, tender, and juicy result.
With these recipes and tips, you can create a memorable Thanksgiving feast with a perfectly cooked and flavorful Traeger turkey Choose the recipe that best suits your preferences and enjoy the delicious results!
Turn up the Heat
The internal temperature of the turkey should be between 110° and 120°F after three hours. Turn up the temperature on the Traeger smoker to 350°F while the bird is still on it. Increasing the temperature will aid in achieving perfectly crispy skin!
To help keep the turkey moist during this high temperature cooking, keep misting it every 30 to 45 minutes. Smoke until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180°F and the breast reaches 165°–170°F.
When these temperatures are reached, the turkey is finished cooking and ready to be removed to a cutting board or serving platter. Use meat gloves to transfer the turkey from the grill to your cutting board/platter.
Before slicing, let the turkey sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes so that the juices can re-distribute throughout the meat.
You have done everything you possibly could to keep this turkey moist up until now; don’t undo all of your hard work by carving it too soon.
Use an electric carving knife when carving turkey for extreme ease. Its the best way to get consistent slices and super easy to use. I find the perfect thickness to be ⅛ – ¼” thick.
This smoky and buttery smoked turkey recipe is sure to please any crowd! Present the sliced turkey on a serving platter so that guests can easily select their favorites!
Dont expect that many leftovers. Dinner guests will be left feeling full and satiated due to the irresistible combination of crispy skin and juicy meat.
Video – How to make a Traeger Turkey
First, we brined this turkey for an entire night in buttermilk with a variety of flavorful spices and herbs. This guarantees that when you serve the turkey for dinner, it will be incredibly juicy. When I cook any turkey or my recipe for Traeger Chicken, I use a brine.
Secondly, roasting a turkey in the oven does not impart the same smoky flavor that comes from smoking it with different fruit woods. Applying butter to the exterior also promotes skin crispness. My favorite part!.
For this Traeger turkey recipe, using fresh ingredients and brining them overnight will make a big difference.
- 15lb Turkey (Should serve 8-10 people)
- Butter
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Buttermilk
- Kosher Salt
- Black Peppercorns
- Bay Leaves
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Sage
The PERFECT TURKEY on a Traeger Pellet Grill | Holiday Recipes
FAQ
How long does a 20lb turkey take on a Traeger?
How long does it take to smoke a turkey on a Traeger at 225?
Is it better to smoke a turkey at 225 or 250?
How long to smoke a 12 pound turkey on a pellet grill?
How to cook a turkey breast on a Traeger?
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub the turkey breast with the spice mixture. 4. Place the turkey breast on the Traeger and cook for 3-4 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. 5. Let the turkey breast rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Can a Traeger grill cook a Turkey?
Traeger grills are known for their ability to produce smoked meats that are full of flavor. And when it comes to turkey, a Traeger is the perfect way to cook a juicy, flavorful bird that will be the star of your Thanksgiving dinner. In this article, we’ll show you how to cook a turkey on a Traeger.
How long does it take to smoke a Traeger Turkey?
With a crispy outside and a juicy inside, the Traeger smoked turkey calls for simple spices and primal wood-fired flavor. Garlic, butter, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper combine to create an herbal rub to maximize flavor while you smoke the meat for 3-4 hours. Make sure to get an early start to begin smoking your Thanksgiving Turkey.
Why do you need a Traeger to cook a Turkey?
It adds depth to the taste that you can’t achieve with other cooking methods. Juiciness: Smoking at low temperatures and using a Traeger or similar smoker can help keep the turkey meat moist and tender. The slow cooking process allows the meat to absorb and retain moisture, reducing the risk of a dry turkey.