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    Fall Recipes » Smoked Turkey Breast

    Smoked Turkey Breast

    Posted On October 21, 2021 By Mirlene Last updated November 18, 2021 10 Comments

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    A smoker can help you bring out the best in any meat, and this smoked turkey breast is no exception. Smoked on a pellet grill leaving you with a juicy, succulent and packed full of flavor, that transforms this simple cut of meat into a celebratory dish that all your guests will love. 

    Smoking turkey may sound a little daunting, but with just some simple equipment and a few ingredients, it’s something that any home cook can easily master. So, this year, why not give your oven a break and give Smoked Turkey Breast a try?

    Turkey

    While it is most commonly found served as a whole bird, turkey breast is a fantastic celebration meal for smaller families or groups and is easily enough to feed 6 to 8 people. 

    Particularly good for those who aren’t the biggest fan of dark meat, a turkey breast provides a lot of delicious white meat with barely any bone to work around (while you can use a boneless breast for this recipe, bone-in will give you a little extra flavor).

    Fresh or frozen turkey breast can be used for this recipe, though if you are using a frozen turkey make sure to allow plenty of time for thawing before you’d like to cook. To give you an idea, a 6 or 7lb turkey breast will take around a day and a half to thaw in the refrigerator. 

    Simply leave the turkey breast in its original packaging and place the bird on a tray or pan in the fridge to collect any juices. Ideally, you want to place it at the bottom of the fridge so there’s no chance of it contaminating anything below.

    Smoking Your Turkey Breast

    You don’t have as much control over a smoker as you would an oven, but as long as you keep your cooking temperature between 250 and 300 degrees F then your Smoked Turkey Breast should go off without a hitch. 

    The cooking time will depend on the weight of your turkey and the kind of grill you use. A good guideline is to allow around 30 minutes per pound. However, you will want to keep an eye on your meat, as no two birds will cook at quite the same time.

    The best way to check for doneness is to use a meat thermometer, as this method of cooking can make it hard to tell simply by looking. 

    As long as the thickest part of your turkey breast has a reading of 165 degrees F, then you will know that it is cooked through and safe to eat.

    How Long To Smoke Turkey Breast

    As stated above, smoking your turkey breast will depend on the size of turkey breast you are smoking. For this recipe, we used a 5 ½ Pound breast for a total of 5/12 to cook the turkey breast. 

    All of this will also depend on the machine you are using. Not every two smokers are the same. If you are using an electric smoker, reduce the time 1 hour. 

    How To Smoke Turkey On A Pellet Grill

    Follow the steps below to show you how to smoke a turkey on a pellet grill with ease. 

    Wash the turkey breast, pat dry, and set aside. We have a full tutorial on how to clean a turkey here. 

    In a medium size bowl, melt the butter. Then add the white wine vinegar, Cajun seasoning, paprika, and Dijon mustard. 

    Mix the seasoning well to combine. Use a pastry brush and apply the seasoning to all sides of the meat. 

    Place the meat on the smoking rack. Cook for 3 hours at 300 degrees, then reduce the heat to 200 degrees and cook for 2 hours to 2 ½ hours. 

    Frequently Asked Question(s)

    How to smoke a boneless turkey breast?

    If you are smoking a boneless turkey breast, decrease the time by 1 ½ . 

    How long to smoke at turkey breast at 225 degrees? 

    It will take about 5 ½ to 6 hours to smoke a turkey breast that’s between 5 to 6 ½ pounds. 

    How long to smoke turkey breast per pound? 

    It takes about 35 to 45 minutes to smoke a breast per pound. 

    Serving Suggestions

    This Smoked Turkey breast will go perfectly with all your usual Thanksgiving side dishes, and can be served in the exact same way you would a roasted turkey breast. 

    Roasted brussels sprouts or glazed carrots, sweet potato casserole or this Country Style Mashed Potatoes and even this Haitian mac and cheese are just a few ideas.

    You can also pair with this Salad Niçoise Recipe.

    Cooking Tips

    Learning how to smoke a turkey on a pellet grill properly will make a difference in the enjoyment of the finished dish. Consider the following tips listed below.

    Do not stuff the turkey breast. This will keep the meat from cooking properly. You need the bird to be as “free” as possible so that it is cooked inside and out.

    Do not use a roasting pan when smoking your meat. As the meat releases the juice, this will cause the meat to become soggy.

    Be sure to check the temperature of the meat, always! White meat takes less time to cook at 165 degrees while dark meat is ready at 175 degrees.

    Which Pellets To Use

    You can use any pellets you’d like. Read the instructions on your Pellet Grill / Smoker to see which pellets are best to use. Our personal favorites are pecan, apple, and maple as they have a sweeter “taste”.

    How To Store

    If you happen to have any leftovers, your Smoked Turkey Breast can also be used to make turkey noodle soup or simply transformed into delicious turkey sandwiches. 

    More Turkey Recipes You’ll Enjoy

    If you love this smoked turkey recipe, we recommend trying one of these recipes next. 

    Smothered Turkey Wings

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast

    Brine Turkey

    Cajun Turkey

    Turkey Sausage Gravy

    Ground Turkey Taco Soup

    Turkey Bean Chili 

    SALAD RECIPES TO ENJOY WITH THIS RECIPE

    In addition to the salad Niçoise, here are a few other salads to enjoy with this turkey breast. 

    Israeli Salad

    Caesar Salad

    Southern Style Potato Salad

    Haitian Salad Russe

    Vegan Asparagus Salad

    It warms our hearts to see the recipes you make from this site.

    We’d especially would love to know if you tried this recipe, tag us on Instagram or Facebook so we can see your beautiful dish.

    Also, we would appreciate if could give it a star rating below!

    turkey breast sliced on the side

    How To Smoke A Turkey Breast

    This Smoked Turkey Breast is cooked to perfection. Learn How To Smoke Turkey On A Pellet Grill that will leave you with a juicy, succulent meat.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
    Total Time: 5 hours 55 minutes
    Servings: 6 People
    Author: Savory Thoughts

    Equipment

    • Pellet Smoker / Grill

    Ingredients

    • Turkey Breast We used a 5.53 Lbs. Turkey Breast
    • 1 Stick Butter Unsalted and melted
    • 2 Tbsp. White Wine Vinegar
    • 2 Tsp. Kosher Salt
    • 2 Tbsp. Cajun Seasoning
    • 1 Tbsp. Paprika
    • 2 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard

    Instructions

    • Wash the turkey breast, pat dry, and set aside. We have a full tutorial on how to clean a turkey here.
      In a medium size bowl, melt the butter. Then add the white wine vinegar, salt, Cajun seasoning, paprika, and Dijon mustard.
      step by step guide to make smoked turkey breast
    • Mix the seasoning well to combine. Use a pastry brush and apply the seasoning to all sides of the meat.
      Place the meat on the smoking rack. Cook for 3 hours at 300 degrees, then reduce the heat to 200 degrees and cook for 2 hours to 2 ½ hours.
      turkey breast sliced on the side

    Video

    Notes

    **** When printing the recipe, please unselect the camera so that the pictures are NOT printed with the recipe (if preferred).
     
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara Welch

      October 22, 2021 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it was a hit all around the table! Definitely going to be serving this again for Thanksgiving; an excellent way to prepare turkey, it was delicious!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        October 28, 2021 at 3:59 am

        Thank you so much, Sara.

        Reply
    2. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      October 22, 2021 at 7:51 am

      5 stars
      Turkey is one of my favourite meats so it’s so great to have another way to prepare it. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        October 28, 2021 at 3:59 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    3. Anjali

      October 22, 2021 at 4:41 am

      5 stars
      This looks like such a delicious recipe for Thanksgiving or for the holidays in general! Can’t wait to make this – will be adding it to our holiday menu for sure!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        October 28, 2021 at 4:01 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    4. Heather Johnson

      October 22, 2021 at 4:33 am

      5 stars
      Looks great – i have a traeger and it is so magical – definitely making!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        October 28, 2021 at 4:02 am

        WE are in love with our smoker. Thank you!

        Reply
    5. Chenée

      October 22, 2021 at 3:22 am

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious! I love the flavor of smoked turkey so I know I’ll love this!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        October 28, 2021 at 4:02 am

        Thank you very much!

        Reply

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