Once you own a pellet grill you look forward to smoking meat year-round and showing off all that juicy and delicious meat candy to all your family and friends–but during the holiday season, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
With everyone counting on you to create a perfectly seasoned and smoked turkey, anxiety can set in (especially for first-timers) and so we created this guide to walk you through it step by step, and answer any lingering questions about the turkey smoking process.
Here is a handy Table Of Contents we created so you can jump around to the different steps in the process…
One of the best ways to cook turkey is by smoking it slowly on a pellet grill. The smoky flavor and moist tender meat is incredible. But smoking takes much longer than roasting. So how long does it take to smoke a whole turkey on a pellet grill?
The general rule of thumb is 30-40 minutes per pound at 225-240°F. The size of your turkey and temperature you use impact the total time. Here’s what to expect when smoking turkey on a pellet grill, along with tips for perfect results.
Factors That Affect Smoking Time
Several factors impact how long you’ll need to smoke a turkey to full doneness:
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Turkey weight – A 12 lb turkey takes 6-8 hours A 20 lb turkey needs 10-13 hours Bigger birds take more time.
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Smoker temperature – Lower heat like 225°F makes it take longer than cooking at 275°F.
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Brining – Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine solution first helps it cook faster.
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Stuffing – An unstuffed turkey smokes quicker than a stuffed one.
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Weather – Cold or windy days increase the time needed.
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Pellet grill model – Some smokers hold heat better than others.
Average Smoking Times by Weight
Use these general time estimates as a starting point for smoking whole turkey on a pellet grill:
- 8-12 lb turkey = 4-6 hours
- 12-16 lb turkey = 6-8 hours
- 16-20 lb turkey = 8-10 hours
- 20-24 lb turkey = 10-12 hours
A standard 15 lb turkey takes around 9-11 hours when smoked between 225-240°F.
For a more exact time, calculate 30-40 minutes per pound. Watch the temperature and use a meat thermometer to determine when the turkey is fully cooked.
Smoking Temperatures for Turkey
The right smoker temperature for poultry is 225-275°F. Many pellet grill recipes call for:
- 225-240°F for most of the smoking time
- Bumping up to 300-325°F at the end to crisp the skin
Maintaining a consistent, even temperature is important to ensure moist meat. Fluctuations cause uneven cooking.
Higher heat like 275°F cooks the turkey faster. But it can dry out the meat if rushed. Stick between 225-250°F for the majority of the smoke time.
How to Tell When Turkey is Done Smoking
Relying just on smoking times is tricky. The best way to test doneness is using a digital meat thermometer. Turkey is safe to eat once it reaches:
- 165°F minimum in the thickest part of the breast
- 175°F minimum in the thighs and legs
The pop-up indicator on commercial turkeys can also help gauge doneness. If it pops up, the turkey should be at safe temperature.
Let the smoked turkey rest 20-30 minutes before carving. The juices redistribute and it will be more moist. The inner temp can rise 5-10° more as it rests.
Tips for Smoking Turkey Perfectly
Follow these tips to smoke flavorful, juicy turkey on your pellet grill:
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Choose a smaller 12-15 lb turkey if possible – They cook more evenly.
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Brine the turkey to infuse moisture and flavor.
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Dry brine by rubbing salt, sugar, and spices under the skin.
-smoke with milder woods like apple, pecan, alder, or cherry.
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Use a drip pan under the turkey filled with broth or water.
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Spritz turkey with apple juice or broth every 1-2 hours while smoking.
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Cook to safe minimum internal temperatures measured in multiple places.
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Let turkey rest 20-30 minutes before slicing to allow juices to absorb.
Benefits of Smoking Turkey
Smoking whole turkey on a pellet grill has many advantages over roasting:
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Infuses incredible smoky flavor throughout the meat.
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Skin gets beautifully crispy from the smoke.
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Meat stays very moist and tender.
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Requires minimal preparation compared to oven roasting.
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Frees up oven space for side dishes.
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Fun, impressive alternative to traditional roasted turkey.
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Leftovers make amazing sandwiches.
Get Deliciously Smoked Turkey
Smoking turkey on a pellet grill takes patience, but the payoff is incredible flavor and juiciness. Figure around 30-40 minutes per pound when smoking turkey at 225-240°F. Rely on a meat thermometer, not just time, to determine perfect doneness. Rest the turkey before slicing into this delicious smoked centerpiece.
How To Prep The Pellet Grill For Smoking Turkey
Every pellet grill is a little bit different but this portion of the guide will remind you of the details we all need to remember when prepping a pellet smoker, electric smoker, or even a gas grill.
First, you will want to make sure the grill grate is sparkling clean. You can do this by heating the grill on high and brushing the grates well of any debris, or taking the grill rates into the house and cleaning them in the sink.
If your wood pellet grill has a flat bed under the grates, I like to line this with aluminum foil for easy clean up, so this is a good time to pull off the old foil and replace it with a sheet of new foil.
If your pellet grill has a grease run off with a little bucket, dispose of the grease, clean the bucket, and put it back for this cook.
What woods are best with smoked turkey?
I recommend any fruitwoods such as apple, cherry, and peach. You can also use mild competition blends, usually a blend of pecan, hickory, and oak.
Smoke flavor is subjective but I personally would stay away from really robust woods like mesquite and post oak for smoking turkey, though many people would disagree with me, especially in South Texas.
The best wood for smoked turkey is a mild wood with a smoke aroma that the whole family likes.
Now we’re ready to smoke. Heat the smoker to 250 degrees f and prepare a water pan (a small pan of water…I use an old bread pan or an aluminum pan) full of water and place it in the chamber.
The water pan adds moisture to the chamber and helps the smoke penetrate and adhere to the turkey. Though pellet grills don’t usually need help maintaining a consistent temperature like stick smokers do, the water pan still provides moisture in the air.
Bring the large turkey out to the pellet grill and place it inside, not touching the water pan. Make sure the turkey is not exposed to any direct heat, only indirect heat (which is how all pellet grills are set up but I know some readers smoke turkeys on a charcoal grill over indirect heat with wood chips.)
Then insert the instant read thermometer probe into the thickest part of the breast, and place the other end into the pellet grill temperature probe inserts.
I like to add the probe after I have settled the turkey into the barbecue smoker
If your pellet grill doesn’t have a temperature probe for instant readings, you will want to use a basic meat thermometer probe connected to a digital read out, or I recommend the Meater wireless probe which goes into the thickest part of the turkey breast and communicates directly with an app on your phone…the app is pretty cool and will talk to you about your progress as the turkey smoke.
I’m obsessed with the
Either way, we will only be smoking to temperature, not to time, so we need a temperature probe that can tell us when the internal temperature of the turkey is approaching 160 degrees.
When the probe is inserted, close the chamber and begin the cook!
How To Smoke A Turkey On A Traeger Pellet Grill – FULL STEP-BY-STEP
FAQ
How long does it take to smoke a turkey at 225 on a pellet grill?
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