How to Smoke a Turkey Breast? Dec(2024)

Here is my method on How to Smoke a Turkey Breast in an Electric Smoker..

It’s very simple to smoke a turkey breast in an electric smoker.

Usually, I use a mix of hickory and apple chips for turkey. It’s up to you, use your favorite flavor chips..

A five-pound entire breast, including ribs, takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to smoke at 225F.

If you want crispy skin, then smoke for at least 5 to 6 hours..

Make sure that you cook a thawed turkey…,

Recommended Reading:
– How to keep meat warm for hours ?
– How to Smoke Turkey Legs in Electric Smoker
– Best Seasonal Grilling
– What are the Best Woods for Smoking Turkey
– Grilling Temperature Guide
– Grilling Basics for Beginners

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How to Smoke a Turkey Breast in an Electric Smoker ?

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So here are the steps :

Step 1- Clean your Turkey Breast 

Rinse your turkey breast underwater. Remove feathers.

You can take off extra fats or silver skin. Pat with a paper towel to dry..

Step 2- Brining

Brine your turkey breast before cooking for 12 to 24 hours.

In case you are not sure how to brine, check out the How to Brine Section on this page..

Step 3- Seasoning

Season with your favorite ingredients, or you can try mine..

Mix all ingredients like paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and a little bit of salt and rub on the outside of the turkey. Also, you can inject..

Step 4: Keep for a couple of hours.

After seasoning the turkey, let it rest for several hours or until the smoker is ready.

Step 5: Now, it’s time to keep your smoker ready.

Pour your wood chips on the chips box thoroughly and fill with water in your water pan..

Step 6- Powered up your electric smoker.

Press on the power button and set the temperature at 225F.

Then set the timer in 6 hours. Also, you will check the internal thermometer, so set it at 165F.

You can monitor internal heat on your temperature probe..

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Step 7-  Set Turkey Breast in your smoker.

Now place your turkey on your smoker rack. Make sure to plug the probes in the thickest part of the breast.

Close the smoker door…

Step 8- Monitor internal temperature

Keep checking the temperature after a couple of hours..

Step 9: You can raise the temperature. 

Turn up at 275F if you want crispy breast skin. Also, you can refill your chips for more smoke so that the turkey gets cooked in four to five hours.

Step 10: Decrease the smoker temp.

Check the bone side of the turkey with a meat probe.

When the internal temperature reaches around 150 F, then you have to reduce the smoker temp to 225F.

Step 11- Double check around the different parts of turkeys

If the juice is coming out and the internal temp is 165F, it means turkey is done..

If it is not showing the same temp on the whole part of the breast, let it cook for a few minutes and then wrap it with foil and keep on a pan.

Do not cut the turkey breast immediately. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes with foil..

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Other types of smoking turkey.

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# How to smoke Wild Turkey Breast?

Step 1: Gather all your favourite ingredients and aromatics for the brine.

Step 2- Clean your turkey

Wash your turkey breast and make sure small feathers are not there.

Cut the excess fat or silver skin. You can leave the skin. It’s on you..

Step 3- Brine the turkey breast

1. You will need a bowl or a big pan where the turkey can fit.
2. Pour water, salt and brown sugar into the pan and warm it a little.
3. Then add all your spicy, flavory ingredients.
4. Stir until it dissolves, and add ice. Let the brine solution cool.
5. In the end, place your wild turkey breast in a cold solution. Make sure it is completely submerged.
6. Cover it and keep it in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours.

Step 4: Remove from the refrigerator.

After brining, take off from the fridge, rinse breast off and pat it to dry..

Step 5- Season the wild turkey breast

Sprinkle some dry herb or spicy ingredients and rub them on the entire breast.

Step 6- Smoke the wild turkey breast

1. Set the temperature of the smoker and place your wild turkey at 225F.
2. The internal temperature should be 160 F-1650F.
3. You can apply syrup or honey. It’s up to you.
4. Let the wild turkey smoke for about two hours or until the internal temperature reaches 160F.
5. Please take your turkey from the smoker while it is at 160F; otherwise, it will overcook.
6. Then wrap it with foil and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes..

Step 7- Serve

Slice your turkey and enjoy.

# How to smoke Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast?

Step 1: Gather a boneless turkey breast, bacon wrap and ingredients.

Step 2: Brine in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours.

Step 3: Take off from the fridge and pat them to dry.

Step 4: Inject with your mixed liquid ingredients and sprinkle some dry ingredients on the entire two breasts.

Step 5: Arrange bacon slices on plastic or sheet of parchment paper in a weave pattern.

Step 6: Place the bacon weave over the turkey and tuck the ends underneath the breast roll. You can roll one breast piece with one bacon weave. 

Step 7: Keep your wrapped turkey breast with plastic in the refrigerator for 10-15 or 45 minutes.

Step 8: Gently remove from fridge, then take off all plastic from your turkey and place over the wire rack.

Do not keep directly on the grate. Close the lid..

Step 9: Smoke the turkey at 275F or until the internal temperature is 165F.

Step 10: You can apply sauce or any syrup over the bacon turkey.

Step 11: Remove your turkey before 165F from your smoker, then wrap it with foil and let it rest for 15 -20 minutes.

# How to brine a Turkey Breast before smoking?

Steps-

1. Clean your turkey breast 

Keep ready your ingredients and equipment.

Ingredients- Turkey breast, common and optional ingredients.

Equipment- 1 large pot, measuring cups and spoons, paper towels.

2. Mix the brine ingredients

Mix all ingredients with water and warm it a little bit so that it dissolves well. After dissolving, add ice cubes and let them cool.

Keep the breast in cool brine water.

Let submerged the turkey breast entirely and cover it..

3. Keep in the refrigerator.

Keep in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. 

4. Rinse the turkey in cool water

After 24 hours, remove from the refrigerator, rinse under cool water, and pat them with a paper towel.

5. Dry the brined turkey 

Dry your turkey for 24 hours. If you want crispier skin, then dry it nicely.

6. Seasoning

Season your brine turkey breast with a mix of spices and herbs. You can inject or rub on your turkey breast.

Now you can smoke the Turkey Breast..

# How to inject the Turkey Breast?

Steps:

• To inject the turkey breast, you will need ingredients and an injector.
• Rinse your turkey breast underwater before injecting it and dry it with a paper towel.
• Prepare a liquid with mixed ingredients.
• Fill your injector with liquid ingredients.
• Push your needle on the turkey breast and let it pass the liquid.
• In this way, inject the whole side of the turkey breast.
• After each injection, massage that part to spread the juice or liquid inside.
• You can sprinkle some ingredients on top of the breast.

# How to rub a Turkey Breast?

Steps:

• Wash your turkey breast and dry with a paper towel.
• Combine your favourite ingredients in a bowl.
• Rub whole turkey breast with mixed ingredients.
• Keep in the refrigerator for several hours.

# How to season Turkey Breast for a smoke?

There are two ways to season turkey breast.

1. Inject your turkey breast: 

Fill your injector with liquid ingredients and pass the liquid on different parts of the breast.

2. Rub with dry ingredients: 

Sprinkle your dry ingredients on the entire breast and rub it.

# What to do with leftover Smoked Turkey Breast?

You can use leftover turkey with sandwiches, soup and salads.
Also you can prepare some recipes –

• Keto Turkey Noodle Casserole
• Turkey Apricot Cheddar Sandwich
• Keto Turkey with Stuffing Waffles
• Low Carb Creamy Turkey Soup
• Turkey Cristo etc.

# What kind of recipes use Smoked Turkey Breast?

You have so many recipes, for example- 

• Corn casserole
• Easy turkey
• Meatloaf
• Smoked turkey braised collard greens
• Red beans and rice with smoked turkey
• Smoked turkey barbecue sandwiches

# Ingredients & Equipment:

1. Paper towel

2. Paprika

3. Garlic powder

4. Black Pepper

5. large pot

6. Measuring cup & Spoons

7. Wood chips

8. Brown sugar

9. Injector

FAQs

# How long does it take to smoke a Turkey Breast in an electric smoker?

It will take 3 to 4 hours to smoke a 5 lb turkey breast in an electric smoker at 225F-250F.

If you want crispy turkey breast skin, then you can smoke for 5 to 6 hours. Until a breast increases the internal temperature to 165F, you have to cook..

# Where do I buy an Injector?

You can buy an injector from amazon.

1. Plastic Marinade Injector Syringe with Screw-on Meat Needle

2. Stainless Steel Meat Injector Syringe Kit with 4 Marinade Needles

# How do you keep a Turkey moist when smoking?

To keep a turkey moist :

1. Do not use frozen.
2. Do not overcook.
3. Apply soft butter under the skin.
4. Smoke small size turkey.
5. You can keep a water pan with water underneath the turkey breast.

# Should I brine the turkey before smoking?

Brining the turkey before smoking helps to keep the moisture as well as flavor in your turkey breast.

So, if you do not want to ignore moisture and flavor, I really would recommend brining for your turkey breast before smoking.

# How do I know that smoked Turkey Breast is cooked?

Knowing whether smoked turkey breast is cooked depends on which type of smoker you are using and the temperature.
Usually, a turkey breast takes 4 to 5 hours to cook.
The turkey breast is cooked when the internal temperature is 165 F.

# How long does it take to smoke a Turkey Breast at 275F- 300F?

At 275 degrees F, your turkey will take 20 to 25 minutes per pound..

# What to serve with Smoked Turkey?

You can serve your turkey with green beans, mashed potatoes, squash, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes etc.

# How long does it take to smoke a Brined Turkey Breast?

A Brined Turkey Breast takes 3-5 hours to smoke at a temperature between 200 – 225F.

When the internal temperature reaches 160 – 165 F, that means it is cooked.

# How to make simple brine for smoked turkey breast?

If you don’t have excess brine ingredients, you can brine with only water, salt, brown sugar, and garlic. This method will also give you the same moisture and flavor.

How to make simple brine for smoked turkey breast?

If you don’t have excess brine ingredients, you can brine with only water, salt, brown sugar, and garlic. This method will also give you the same moisture and flavor.

Should I smoke a Turkey Breast side up or down?

Whenever you put a turkey over the smoker, the breast side should be down on the smoker grate.

Maintain the proper temperature in the smoker and also keep checking your fuel so that the turkey gets enough smoke.

# Which wood is best for smoking Turkey?

Cherry does a good job. If you want color and flavor on turkey, then go for cherry.

Hickory, oak or mesquite are great for more smoke.

Pecan is an excellent alternative to Cherry.

Maple gives you light smoke flavor and color.

# How long does a turkey breast per pound take to smoke?

It takes 35 minutes to smoke a turkey breast per pound if you use a few strategies..

When placing the turkey breast on the smoker, make sure the breast is facing up then butter the breast once an hour to keep the skin crisp.

# Conclusion

In conclusion, smoking a turkey breast results in tender, juicy meat and is a tasty and pleasant cooking technique.

You may obtain flawlessly smoked turkey breast with a delectable smoky flavor by following the detailed directions and advice offered in this article.

The important elements include thorough preparation, picking the appropriate wood chips, maintaining a constant temperature, and allowing enough time for cooking. This tutorial will assist you in producing a delectable turkey breast that will surprise your family and friends, whether you are a novice or seasoned smoker.

So, start up your smoker, master the art of smoking, and have a mouthwatering turkey feast unlike any other..