Ingredients:
1 whole turkey
Brine kit (I like Kinder’s Buttery Poultry Blend)
1 lemon
1 orange
1 carrot
1 celery stock
1 onion (red or white)
5-6 garlic cloves
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Melted butter
Tony Chachere’s injectable Creole Butter
Your favorite BBQ Rub (I like a combo of Killer Hogs AP & The BBQ Rub)
Cooking Instructions:
Start by brining the turkey for one hour per pound. Follow the instructions on the brine package or make your own brine. Remove turkey from brine and drain and rinse well. Dry with paper towels and return to fridge uncovered for at least an hour to get the turkey skin nice and dry. Season the inside of the cavity with your favorite rub and fill with all the aromatics (lemon, orange, carrot, celery, onion, garlic). Using the Creole butter, Inject the breasts in about 6-8 spots and legs and thighs in a couple spots well. Starting on the bottom side of the bird rub with olive oils and season liberally with your favorite rub, flip the turkey over and season the other side as well. Don’t forget to season the wings and legs too. Criss cross the legs and tie with butcher twine. Then pin the wings using tooth picks or butcher pins. Preheat the smoker to 300 degrees F. Set turkey on a separate metal grate so it’s easier to turn and get it on the smoker breast side up. When the temp hits 80-85 internal, rotate 180 degrees. Drizzle on some melted butter at this time to help crisp up the skin. Repeat this process at the 120-125 internal temp mark as well. When the deepest part of the breast reaches 160 degrees remove from the smoker (the carryover cooking will bring it up to 165 degrees + as it rests). I like to put it in a tray with raised rack as it rests to catch the juices. In fact, if you want to catch the drippings during the cook, put a tray underneath the turkey in the smoker. Let the turkey rest for at least one hour before cutting into it. Carve up that turkey and enjoy the best tasting smoked turkey ever!
Cook Time: 300 mins