Best Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast Recipes

BRINED HICKORY-SMOKED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients of the brine solution, in a large bowl. Whisk the solution until all of the salt dissolves.
• Place the breast into a 1 to 2-gallon size zip-top bag. Pour the brine solution over the meat. Make sure the meat is submerged completely. If you do not have enough to cover the meat, then make another batch.
• Seal the bag squeezing as much air out of the bag as possible. Place the bag inside a bowl (to ensure no messy leaks inside the refrigerator).
• Refrigerate and brine for 1 hour per pound of meat, but no longer than 24 hours.
• Preheat the grill or smoker for indirect cooking at 250 degrees F. Fill a pan with warm water and place it below where the turkey will sit on the grate above.
• Remove the turkey breast from the brine solution and rinse it under cold water. Pat the skin dry with paper towels.
• Place the turkey breast-side up onto the smoker over the water pan.
• Plan on smoking the turkey breast for about 30 minutes per pound at 250 degrees F.
• Place turkey breasts in the smoker with 1 to 2 hickory chunks on top of the hot coals. Close the lid and smoke the turkey, keeping a close watch on the smoker to ensure it stays as close to 250 degrees F as possible. Resist the temptation to open the lid unless you need to add more charcoal or wood to maintain temperature and smoke.
• Smoke until the turkey breast has an internal temperature of 160 to 165 degrees F, about 2 to 3 hours for a 5-pound turkey breast.
• The carryover heat will finish cooking the meat.
• Remove the turkey breast from the smoker and transfer it to a carving board. Allow the turkey breast to rest tented with foil for at least 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

HICKORY SMOKED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat a smoker to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Add hickory chips according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Combine chicken broth, melted butter, salt, and poultry seasoning in a small bowl. Inject the solution evenly throughout the breast.
• Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small dish. Brush evenly over the breast.
• Combine salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle the rub over the entire breast, making sure to coat all sides evenly.
• Place breast in the preheated smoker and smoke for 3 hours or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Remove from smoker and let rest for 20 minutes.

HICKORY TURKEY

Steps:

• In a stockpot, bring the first 12 ingredients to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar and salt are dissolved. Remove from the heat; cool to room temperature., Remove giblets from turkey; discard. Place a turkey-size oven roasting bag inside a second roasting bag; add turkey. Carefully pour cooled brine into bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible; seal bags and turn to coat. Place in a roasting pan. Refrigerate for 18-24 hours, turning occasionally., Prepare grill for indirect heat, using a drip pan. Add wood chips to grill according to manufacturer's directions. Drain turkey and discard brine. Rinse turkey under cold water; pat dry. Place the onion, orange and garlic inside cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Combine oils; rub over skin., Place turkey over the drip pan. Grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 1 hour. Tent turkey with foil; grill 1-2 hours longer or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

SMOKED WHOLE TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat a smoker to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Drain wood chips and place in smoker chip pan. Add water according to manufacturer recommendations.
• Unwrap turkey breast and pat dry with paper towels.
• Combine butter, salt, steak seasoning, smoked paprika, onion powder, and black pepper in a bowl to create a seasoned butter.
• Gently separate skin from muscle of the turkey breast and rub seasoned butter between the skin and the muscle, keeping the skin intact. Use about 1/4 of the seasoned butter on each side, and rub the remaining seasoned butter all over the outside of the turkey breast.
• Place prepared turkey breast directly on a smoker rack, and place the disposable drip pan on the rack below, if recommended by the manufacturer. The drip pan should not rest on the chip pan or the water pan.
• Close and secure the smoker, lower thermostat to 225 degrees F (105 degrees C), and smoke 3 1/2 to 4 hours, adding wood chips and water as needed.
• Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature. Smoke until turkey registers 155 to 161 degrees F (68 degrees C to 71 degrees C). Wrap turkey breast in heavy-duty aluminum foil, then wrap in several layers of thick towels, and allow to rest for about 45 minutes. The residual heat will finish cooking the turkey breast to a safe temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees F).
• Slice and serve warm.