THANKSGIVING TURKEY FLAVOR GUIDE
Jump To RecipeIT'S A MATTER OF TASTE.
Now that you’ve got your turkey, the next step is deciding how to season it. There’s a whole world of flavors you can achieve through brining, rubbing, stuffing and even injecting your bird with various herbs, spices and other ingredients. In this article we’re giving you a look at three different ways to prep and cook your bird that range from traditional to outside-the-box.
Cajun BBQ Thanksgiving Turkey Tips:
1. For a moist and spicy turkey, inject the bird throughout using the entire jar of butter (16oz).
2. Make turkey savory, rub every inch of the gobbler with Big Game Rub.
3. Add more flavor, insert a cinnamon stick, chopped onion, and red apple inside the bird prior to cooking.
4. Cook at 375 degrees F for 3-4 hours. When turkey reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, it’s done! The turkey will continue to cook after you take it off the grill to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
5. When the turkey turns brown, cover it loosely with foil to prevent burning.
6. The turkey will continue to cook after you pull it off the grill to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Let the Turkey rest for 15-20 min before cutting into it.
Thanksgiving Spatchcock Turkey Tips:
1. To help turkey cook evenly, use shears or a knife to spatchcock the turkey. Cut out the backbone of the bird and open it up flat.
2. BBrining tenderizes poultry and infuses moisture and flavor. Create a brine bath using our Traeger Orange Brine Kit, butter, orange-flavored Bourbon or Bourbon and halved oranges.
3. Brine turkey for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
4. Rub the entire turkey with our robust Traeger Turkey Rub seasoning blend specifically created for turkey.
5. Traeger Turkey Pellet Blend was also created for cooking Thanksgiving turkey. It gives off an oak, maple, hickory, & rosemary smoke that adds a delicious woodsy flavor.
6. Cook at 375 degrees F for 3-4 hours. When turkey reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, it’s done!
Traditional Thanksgiving Turkey Tips:
1. Create a compound butter by mixing butter, fresh thyme, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper.
2. Slice pockets in the turkey between the skin and turkey breast, insert the compound herb butter in the pockets. It will penetrate the meat and give it great flavor. Coat the whole turkey with 1/4” thick layer of the butter mixture. Salt and pepper the exterior.
3. Use sweet smoke to add a layer of flavor to turkey. Try mixing cherry, pecan, or apple hardwood pellets.
4. Midway through cooking, insulate legs and wings by wrapping them in foil so they don’t burn.
5. Cook at 375 degrees F for 3-4 hours. When turkey reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, it’s done! The turkey will continue to cook after you pull it off the grill to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Let turkey rest for 15-20 minutes before cutting into it. Get full traditional turkey recipe.
Keep in mind, these are just a few of the many ways to add extra flavor to your Thanksgiving turkey. Add your own personal twist by incorporating your own mix of seasonings or check out our wood-fired turkey recipes wood-fired turkey recipes for additional inspiration.
Traeger Smoked Turkey
by Traeger Kitchen
15 Reviews
Prep Time
15 Min
Cook Time
4 Hr
Serves
8
Pellets
Turkey Blend
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.
Ingredients
main
| 1/2 Pound | butter |
| 6 Clove | garlic, minced |
| 8 Sprig | fresh thyme |
| 1 Sprig | fresh rosemary |
| 1 Tablespoon | cracked black pepper |
| 1/2 Tablespoon | kosher salt |
| 1 | (12 lb) whole turkey |
1
Set the grill temperature to 300°F and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes.
2
In a small bowl, combine softened butter with minced garlic, thyme leaves, chopped rosemary, black pepper and kosher salt.
3
Prep the turkey by separating the skin from the breast creating a pocket to stuff the butter-herb mixture in. Cover the entire breast with 1/4" thickness of butter mixture.
4
Season the whole Traeger smoked turkey with kosher salt and black pepper. Optional: Stuff turkey cavity with Traditional Stuffing recipe. When ready to cook, set the grill temperature to 300°F and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes.
5
Place turkey on the grill and smoke for 3-4 hours. Check the internal temperature, the desired temperature is 175°F in the thigh next to the bone, and 160°F in the breast. Traeger smoked turkey will continue to cook once taken off grill to reach a final temperature of 165°F in the breast.
6
Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!