Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Total Servings: 4-5 servings
Take your turkey game to new heights with this incredible Pellet Grill Smoked Turkey recipe!
By using a pellet grill rather than a charcoal grill, you'll infuse your turkey with a smoky and flavorful twist, resulting in tender meat and crispy skin.
Whether you're a grill master or a beginner, this recipe is guaranteed to impress.
Improve your Thanksgiving turkey dinner, or any other special occasion with the delicious smokey flavor of a pellet grilled turkey!
Pellet Grill Turkey Ingredients:
- Four-pound turkey breast (boneless or bone-in)
- Two tbsp butter (melted)
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp paprika dried
- ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- ¼ tsp rosemary dried
- ¼ tsp thyme dried
- ¼ tsp sage dried
Turkey Cooking Instructions:
Preheat Your Pellet Grill:
To start this recipe, you'll want to go ahead and preheat your pellet grill to 225℉.
It commonly takes 10-15 minutes for your pellet grill to be up to temperature.
Preheating your pellet grill to smoke a turkey is a crucial step in this recipe!
While your grill is preheating, you can prep your ingredients.
Prepare The Turkey Breast:
Take your fresh turkey breast and rinse it under cold water.
Pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.
(Be sure that if you are using a frozen turkey breast, it is fully thawed out)
Set your turkey aside on a clean cutting board.
Measure And Mix Your Poultry Rub:
Now that your turkey breast is prepped, it's time to make the poultry dry rub.
Measure out ¼ tsp of onion powder, ½ tsp of garlic powder, ¼ tsp of paprika dried, ⅛ tsp of red pepper flakes, ½ tsp of salt, ¼ tsp of ground pepper, ¼ tsp of dried rosemary, ¼ tsp of dried thyme, and ¼ tsp of dried sage.
You can add them into a medium-sized bowl in any order.
Whisk the seasonings together.
Now you've got your finished poultry dry rub!
Apply The Poultry Rub:
First, if your butter is not already softened, start by putting your two tbsp of butter in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Use the melted butter to coat your entire turkey, this ensures the dry rub will stick properly.
Evenly sprinkle your seasoning mix over the turkey and massage the flavors deep into every crease of the meat.
After that, your turkey is ready to be smoked!
Smoke The Turkey:
To achieve a perfectly cooked turkey breast, simply place it on the smoker grill grates and allow it to cook for approximately 40 – 45 minutes per pound.
This will ensure that the internal temperature reaches a safe 160°F.
While some recipes may suggest a shorter cooking time of 30 minutes per pound, I have discovered that at a temperature of 225°F, this is not sufficient.
Trust us, the extra time will be well worth it for a deliciously tender turkey breast.
Check The Turkey For Doneness:
After 2.5 to 3 hours of smoking, your turkey breast should be done!
The only way to be sure though, is by checking the internal temperature of the turkey.
Use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature.
Once the temperature reaches 165℉, your turkey is ready and safe to eat!
Remove the turkey from the pellet smoker and lightly wrap it in tin foil.
Be sure to turn off your grill!
Let The Turkey Rest:
Let your turkey rest in the tin foil for 20-30 minutes so the juices can redistribute and settle.
This will ensure that every bite is juicy!
Slice And Serve:
Take the turkey breast out of the tin foil, and place it onto a clean cutting board.
With a sharp knife slice the turkey into even slices about a ½ inch thick.
Place the sliced turkey breast onto a serving platter and let your guests dig in!
The Best Side Dishes For Smoked Turkey Breast:
Although this smoke turkey recipe is delicious on its own, we have some side dish recommendations for you!
Some great side dishes to serve with smoked turkey breast includes, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cornbread, corn on the cob, grilled asparagus, sweet potato casserole, and mac n cheese!
Any of these side dishes are suitable to serve with your turkey.
How To Store Leftover Turkey:
To ensure the freshness and longevity of leftover turkey, proper storage is key.
First, allow the cooked turkey to cool down completely before packing it in an airtight container or wrapping it tightly with foil or plastic wrap.
Store the leftover turkey in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking.
It can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.
If you need to store it for a longer period, transfer it to the freezer.
Turkey can be frozen for up to 4 months!
Nutritional Facts
(Per Serving)
Calories: 450
Fat: 2g
Carbs: 0g
Protein: 75g
Disclaimer: The data listed above is an estimate and not a guarantee.
The Best Pellet Grill Turkey Recipe
Thank you so much for tuning into today's recipe!
We hope that you were able to follow our steps with ease and smoke the best turkey breast you've tried thus far!
If you did enjoy this recipe, feel free to check out our other related content.
Also, be sure that you subscribe so you never miss another amazing recipe!
Have fun smoking turkey on a pellet grill!
