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Whole Smoked Turkey for a Crowd
Smoking a whole turkey over indirect heat for several hours transforms a holiday staple into a smoky, deeply flavorful centerpiece with mahogany skin, requiring patience and careful temperature management but rewarding the effort generously.
Prep40 min
Cook4 hr 30 min
Total5 hr 10 min
ServingsServes 10 to 12
DifficultyAdvanced
Rating★ 4.5
Why You'll Love This
- Feeds a large gathering with genuinely smoky, holiday-worthy flavor
- Overnight brine ensures juicy meat throughout, even the lean breast
- A memorable alternative to the standard oven-roasted turkey
This Recipe Is For Members
Here's a preview of the ingredients and first step. Join My BBQ Recipe to unlock the full method, tips, and nutrition info.
A Few Ingredients
- 1 whole turkey (12 to 14 lbs), fully thawed, giblets removed
- 1.5 cups kosher salt (for brine)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (for brine)
- … and 13 more
First Step
In a container large enough to hold the turkey (a clean cooler works well), dissolve the kosher salt and brown sugar into the 2 gallons of cold water.
