The Most Wonderful Apple Pecan Smoked Turkey Breast [+Video]

Impress your loved ones and buddies with this scrumptious apple pecan smoked turkey breast recipe. With a step-by-step video tutorial, you’ll have the right centerpiece to your vacation meal!

There may be not a extra juicy and flavorful turkey than this smoked turkey breast. It is our present favourite for Thanksgiving. I assumed that Prompt Pot Turkey was unbelievable, however man, this one simply completely one upped that recipe.

We aren’t missing for turkey recipes on our website. We love a juicy turkey slice for dinner, however that doesn’t imply that we will’t maintain including to it. That fried turkey from years in the past continues to be advert favourite, the traditional oven roasted entire turkey by no means disappoints, and we make the herb roasted turkey breast all yr spherical for a wholesome dinner recipe concept that isn’t rooster.

So even when you’re like us and there are different turkey recipes you’ve made earlier than, take an opportunity and take advantage of wonderful apple pecan smoked turkey recipe this Thanksgiving.

Substances for Smoked Turkey Breast

This checklist may look a little bit overwhelming at first, however there are a couple of parts to this recipe to ensure that it to come back collectively simply completely! You want your smoker provides, brine components, rub components and turkey gravy components. Right here is all the things you’ll want:

For the Smoker

• Pecan Pellets or Chips
• Tin Pan

Turkey Brine

• Maple Syrup
• Brown Sugar
• Kosher Salt
• Apple Juice
• Orange Juice
• Hen Broth
• Smoked Paprika
• Turkey Breast: Purchase a bone-in turkey breast for one of the best taste and texture.

Turkey Rub

• Brown Sugar
• Seasonings and Spices: Smoked Paprika, Floor Mustard, Kosher Salt, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Chipotle Chili Pepper Seasoning, Pepper and Cumin
• Butter

Steaming Liquids

Gravy

That is meant to be only a fast overview of the components you’ll need. The measurements and particulars for every ingredient might be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the submit.

Turkey Fundamentals

Earlier than we soar in to creating this smoked turkey, I wish to cowl a couple of of the fundamentals:

• A frozen turkey will want thaw 24 hours per each 5 kilos.
• Turkey might want to smoke for 25-Half-hour per pound.
• Protected inner temperature for a turkey is 165 levels F within the breast.

So let’s assume you’re going to roast a 6.5 pound turkey that’s frozen while you buy it and also you wish to have your meal on Thursday afternoon. Right here is your temporary timeline:

• Take away turkey from freezer to thaw within the fridge: 2 days forward of time (Tuesday afternoon – Wednesday night)
• Brine: 10-12 hours (Wednesday night – Thursday morning)
• Turkey smokes: 3-3.5 hours
• Turkey rests: 20 minutes

Now the turkey is able to carve and eat Thursday afternoon! Now listed below are those self same steps in a little bit extra element…

Tips on how to Make Apple Smoked Turkey Breast

Alright, let’s get all the way down to the right way to make The Most Wonderful Apple Pecan Smoked Turkey Breast. Begin out by brining your turkey breast. Although it’s not a complete chicken, brining is important to a young and flavorful turkey breast.

Tips on how to Brine a Turkey

Brining a turkey wants two particular components after which the remaining components differ based mostly upon your personal particular person recipes.

1. Liquid- Your turkey breast (or entire turkey) will sit in a liquid anyplace from 8-24 hours. The sort of liquid does in truth make a distinction as they may assist to taste the meat. Brining, in addition to marinating will not be made to soak into the middle of the meat, however to taste the surface so properly that because it cooks that taste emerges.
2. Salt- It’s most well-liked that you simply use Kosher salt for brining because it’s a extra coarse salt which is able to assist to interrupt down the meat, soak within the liquid for a extra juicy meat and eventually, the salt helps to taste the meat greater than only a rub afterward.

Mix all of the components for the brine into a big pot with a lid. Rinse the turkey breast completely after which submerge within the brining liquid. Retailer within the fridge with the lid on for 10-12 hours or in a single day.

Subsequent up is the rub on the turkey. Don’t ever make a turkey with out this step as that is the place all of these yummy flavors are going to come back from. Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to do:

Rub for a Turkey

1. Spices- You normally see loads of herbs with turkey, however spices are nice to deliver out a little bit additional taste. On this case, we throw in smoked paprika to actually drive residence the flavour but additionally the colour with that deep crimson. Cumin, garlic and even floor mustard deliver a stability to the spices that creates a heat, fragrant expertise.
2. Sugar- Only a sew of brown sugar like several good BBQ or Smoked recipe provides the tiniest quantity of sweetness which actually balances the garlic and smokiness.
3. Butter- Butter is important so as to add a little bit extra juiciness and taste to the meat. It additionally helps the spices to stay to the meat.

Mix all of the components for the rub and put aside. Take away the turkey from the brine and pat it dry with paper towels. Unfold the rub all around the turkey breast, underneath and on high of the pores and skin.

That’s not all although, you continue to have to fill a drip pan with liquids that may assist to steam the chicken because it smokes. Belief us on this one, you do not need to only go along with water.

Drip Pan with Juices

Fill a tin pan, we simply get ours on the native grocery retailer, with pineapple juice and water. Although that is an apple juice brined turkey the pineapple juice provides a very fascinating stage of taste to the chicken and the gravy.

Apple or orange juice could also be used when you can’t discover pineapple juice within the can.

How Lengthy to Smoke a Turkey Breast

Preheat your Traeger smoker to 300 levels F with pecan pellets. Place the drip pan with the smoking liquids in it underneath the rack of the smoker. Then put the turkey breast aspect down, on the smoker grill grate and shut the lid.

Let it smoke for 3 – 3 ½ hours or till a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest a part of the turkey breast reads 165 levels F.

As soon as it has reached the specified temperature, take away the turkey from the smoker and tent it with foil for 20 minutes to let it relaxation. RESERVE the drippings within the drip pan to make the gravy.

Mix the water and cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk collectively to mix. Pour all of the drippings from the turkey right into a saucepan on the range high and convey to a boil. As soon as boiling, slowly add the cornstarch combination and whisk all the things collectively till thickened.

learn extra: On the lookout for Traeger recipes? Strive our Traeger Smoked Hen Breasts subsequent! Or take a look at our tutorial on Tips on how to Make Smoked Hen (this recipe is for an entire rooster!). 

Watch How This Smoked Turkey is Made…

Can Smoked Turkey be Pink?

A smoked turkey will generally have a pink ring across the meat, however that’s from the smoke and taste, it doesn’t imply that it’s worthwhile to maintain cooking the turkey.

In reality, generally that pink hue can actually penetrate into the meat, so it’s vital to acknowledge if it’s the smoke or uncooked meat, which do in truth look completely different.

What Goes with Smoked Turkey

Oh my goodness, let’s discuss sides earlier than we overlook. Listed here are a couple of of our favourite issues to go along with smoked turkey.

And it may possibly’t be Thanksgiving with out pies too! So make a pecan pie, razzleberry pie, lemon meringue pie and naturally, traditional pumpkin pie!

What Temperature for Smoked Turkey

Relying in your smoker and the way a lot time you could have it would be best to alter the temperature of the Traeger Pellet Smoker. We desire 300 levels F for 3-3 ½ hours. You can additionally do 325 levels F for two ½-3 hours, however we a lot desire to have a low and sluggish meat.

Can You Freeze Smoked Turkey?

You may simply freeze smoked turkey, however solely maintain it in a freezer bag within the freezer for as much as 2 weeks. Should you want to maintain it for 1-2 months, use a Meals Saver like Cade and I’ve.

BEST. INVESTMENT. EVER.

Tips on how to Reheat Smoked Turkey

Place turkey in a casserole dish, and canopy properly with aluminum foil. Warmth the oven to 350 levels and cook dinner solely till heat.

You can even use a microwave with paper towels wrapped across the meat to maintain it from drying out.

Take your Thanksgiving turkey to the subsequent stage with this mouth-watering apple pecan smoked turkey breast recipe.

Thanksgiving RECIPES:

Really helpful Merchandise

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