Description
Smoked turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving dinner. This smoked turkey breast recipe produces a turkey breast that is flavorful and juicy. Enjoy crispy turkey skin with a hint of smoky flavor. For best results, use a bone-in turkey breast, but you can use a boneless breast if you prefer.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 8 lb turkey breast, defrosted
- 1 tbsp melted butter or olive oil
Brine
- 1–gallon cold water
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
Dry rub
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Remove the packaging from your turkey breast.
- Combine the cold water and salt in a 2-gallon bucket and stir until the salt is dissolved. Add the rest of the brine ingredients and stir to combine.
- Place the turkey breast in the bucket and ensure the brine covers the entire breast. Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or as long as 2 days before smoking.
- Preheat your electric smoker to 225°F. Add wood chips or wood pellets if your smoker accommodates them.
- Remove the turkey from the brine and pat dry with paper towels.
- Combine the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Drizzle the turkey breast with the melted butter and massage it into the turkey breast.
- Sprinkle the turkey rub over the outside of the turkey, making sure the entire turkey skin is coated with the dry rub.
- Place the turkey breast on the smoker grate and close the smoker. Let the turkey cook for 3-4 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove the turkey breast from the smoker and let it rest for at least 20 minutes.
- Carve and serve with your choice of side dishes!
Notes
- Find turkey breasts next to whole turkeys at the grocery store, or ask your butcher for a fresh turkey breast.
- If the skin on your turkey starts to get too dark brown, cover your turkey breast with aluminum foil.
- Prep Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 ounces
- Calories: 192kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 5.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 23.1g
- Cholesterol: 93mg