Easy Charcoal Smoked Turkey Recipe

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil has a higher smoke point and similar health benefits.

wood chips

💰Cheaper: wood chunks

Wood chunks are often less expensive and provide a longer smoke.

honey

🥗Healthier: maple syrup

💰Cheaper: sugar

Maple syrup offers a unique flavor while sugar is a more budget-friendly option.

whole turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken

Chicken is a more affordable alternative but will require different cooking times.

Light up the charcoal in the grill, separating it to the left and right sides.

Prepare applewood chips to add on top of the charcoal.

Inject the turkey with a mixture of butter, chicken stock, salt, pepper, and cajun spices, ensuring to inject into various parts of the turkey to keep it moist.

Season the outside of the turkey with additional spices and put some apples inside the cavity.

Tie the legs together and tuck the wings under the turkey.

Baste the turkey with butter before placing it on the grill.

Place the turkey on the grill grates over a drip pan in the center, with wood chips on the charcoal on both sides.

Cook the turkey for three hours, adding more charcoal and wood chips each hour as needed.

After the first hour, remove the turkey to add more charcoal and wood chips, then baste it again with butter.

Continue cooking for another two hours, maintaining the temperature and adding more wood chips as necessary.

After three hours, check the turkey for doneness; it should be crispy and tender with a good color.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens