Turkey in a Smoker

Description

This is a great recipe for smoked turkey. A barbecue grill is nearly impossible to cook a large bird. A smoker is best for this. I prefer hickory chips or hickory wood. Hickory generates a more even smokiness than other woods, and it does not matter whether the wood is green or seasoned. Mesquite, if not well seasoned, will generate a creosote type coating because of the sap that oozes out of the wood while cooking.

Ingredients

  • 1 (10 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons seasoned salt
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans cola-flavored carbonated beverage
  • 1 apple, quartered
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat a smoker to 225 to 250 degrees F (110 to 120 degrees C).
  2. Rinse turkey under cold water
  3. and pat dry.
  4. Rub crushed garlic over the outside of the turkey
  5. and sprinkle with seasoned salt. Transfer to a disposable roasting pan.
  6. Fill the turkey cavity with butter
  7. cola
  8. apple
  9. onion
  10. garlic powder
  11. salt
  12. and pepper. Cover turkey loosely with foil.
  13. Add wood chips to the smoker according to the manufacturer’s directions. Place the roasting pan in the preheated smoker. Smoke the turkey
  14. basting every 1 to 2 hours with juices from the bottom of the roasting pan
  15. for 5 hours.
  16. Add more wood chips if desired. Continue smoking and basting
  17. until turkey is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear
  18. about 5 more hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh
  19. near the bone
  20. should read 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 10 hrs

Total Time: 10 hrs 20 mins

Servings: 13

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