How Long to Smoke a 25 lb Turkey to Perfection

This smoked turkey recipe is the perfect turkey to serve on Thanksgiving or other special occasions. The turkey is delicious and tender, and the whole bird tastes like it came from an upscale restaurant. I can guarantee this smoked turkey will take your holiday meal to the next level!

Nothing beats a home-cooked turkey on Thanksgiving, and this smoked turkey recipe will help you get the best smoked turkey ever! Don’t feel intimidated by this recipe. Smoking a turkey can be just as easy as cooking it in your kitchen.

You can make a smoked turkey at home, no matter what kind of grill you’ve got on your deck. In fact, our first-ever smoked turkey was done on our old gas grill, and to date, is one of the most amazing smoked turkeys I’ve ever had (you never forget your first!).

Nowadays, I prefer to use my Camp Chef SmokePro pellet smoker because it maintains the smoke and temperatures for me so I don’t have to do as much babysitting. But you can make this smoked turkey on a gas grill, charcoal grill, or any type of smoker you have. The most important thing is to use a grill where you can create indirect heat, maintain consistent temperatures, and add in the element of wood smoke.

The post below is loaded with lots of information to help you get the best smoked turkey around. Please take the time to read through the entire post before you smoke your first bird. Following all the recommendations below will help you avoid any pitfalls on the big day.

Smoking a juicy, flavorful turkey is an art. With the right technique, timing and temperature, you can infuse your turkey with that quintessential smoky flavor. But smoking a large 25 lb bird presents some challenges. It’s important to factor in the size of the turkey when determining the smoking time. Undercook it and you risk food poisoning from bacteria. Overcook it and you’ll end up with an overly dry bird. Follow this guide to learn how long to smoke a 25 lb turkey.

Factors That Affect Smoking Time

Several factors impact how long it will take to smoke a turkey:

Size of the turkey – A 25 lb bird will take much longer to smoke than a 12 lb turkey The larger the turkey, the more time needed.
Brining – Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine before smoking will add moisture and flavor, But a brined bird may cook slightly faster
Smoker temperature – Lower temperature smoking (225-250°F) will require more time than hotter smoking (300°F+).
Stuffing – Avoid stuffing the turkey, as this can extend cook times. Cook stuffing separately.
Weather – Cold or windy days may increase smoke time for an outdoor smoker. Monitor the bird closely.

Smoking Times Per Pound

As a general rule of thumb, estimate 30-35 minutes per pound for smoking a turkey at 235°F. For a higher 250°F smoker temp, estimate 25-30 minutes per pound. Hot and fast smoking at 275°F will take around 20-25 minutes per pound.

So for a 25 lb turkey:

At 235°F, total time is 12.5 to 13.75 hours
At 250°F, total time is 10.5 to 12.5 hours
At 275°F, total time is 8.5 to 10 hours

Let’s break down the time estimates based on smoking temperature:

235°F Smoker Temperature

At a smoker temp of 235°F, estimate 30-35 minutes per pound. For a 25 lb turkey, that equals:

30 minutes x 25 lbs = 750 minutes or 12.5 hours
35 minutes x 25 lbs = 875 minutes or 13.75 hours

So your total smoke time will be 12.5 to 13.75 hours at 235°F. This lower temperature will result in a moister, more tender turkey.

250°F Smoker Temperature

When smoking at 250°F, estimate 25-30 minutes per pound. For a 25 lb turkey that is:

25 minutes x 25 lbs = 625 minutes or 10.5 hours
30 minutes x 25 lbs = 750 minutes or 12.5 hours

You can expect a total smoking time of 10.5 to 12.5 hours for a 25 lb turkey at 250°F.

275°F Smoker Temperature

For hot smoking at 275°F, estimate 20-25 minutes per pound. For a 25 lb turkey:

20 minutes x 25 lbs = 500 minutes or 8.5 hours
25 minutes x 25 lbs = 625 minutes or 10 hours

So at 275°F, your 25 lb turkey will take 8.5 to 10 hours to smoke. The higher temperature will result in crisper skin.

Internal Temperature

Always use an instant-read thermometer to check the turkey’s internal temperature when smoking. The turkey is safely cooked and ready to eat when:

The breast reaches 165°F
The thigh reaches 175°F

The thigh takes longer to cook than the breast. If the breast temp is 165°F but the thigh is under 175°F, continue smoking until the thighs are fully cooked.

For food safety, do not eat turkey that is undercooked. Allow the 25 lb bird to smoke until all parts reach the minimum safe internal temperatures.

Tips for Perfectly Smoked Turkey

Follow these tips for flawlessly smoked turkey:

Brine the turkey for added moisture and flavor
Dry the turkey skin thoroughly before smoking for crisper skin
Use a meat thermometer to check doneness temperatures
Allow the fully smoked turkey to rest 20-30 minutes before carving
Carve carefully to maintain moisture

With the proper technique, a 25 lb smoked turkey can become the star of your holiday table. Monitor the smoking times closely based on the size of your turkey. And always double check the internal temperature to ensure your turkey is fully cooked. Delight your guests with tender, juicy smoked turkey this season.

how long to smoke 25 lb turkey

Supplies Needed for a Smoked Turkey

Here are the supplies you’ll need to gather prior to making your smoked turkey:

Make sure the fresh turkey your purchase is around 15 pounds or less for food safety reasons. If you have a large group gathering for Thanksgiving, I recommend getting 2-3 smaller birds instead of one large turkey for dinner. See the next section about how much turkey to plan per person if you are unsure what size turkey to purchase.

The reason I recommend avoiding smoking a turkey over 15 pounds is that it can take too long to cook. Your bird will be sitting in the food safety danger zone between 40-140 degrees F for too long, and you risk bacteria overgrowing and spoiling your turkey before it is finished.

It’s best to cook 2-3 smaller turkeys versus a large one. If you REALLY want to cook a larger bird, I recommend using my Spatchcocked Smoke Roasted Turkey recipe. It is a flattened bird that cooks at a higher temperature so it is safer and more evenly cooked (no dry breasts on a spatchcocked bird!).

Brine and Seasoning for Smoked Turkey

Once you have your turkey (or turkeys) purchased, let’s take a moment to talk about brining and seasoning the turkey for smoking.

Brining. If you are using a pre-brined, store-bought turkey, you do not need to brine the turkey prior to smoking. If your turkey is not already brined, then go ahead and make your own brine for the turkey. I definitely recommend my Apple Spice Smoked Turkey Brine for this very occasion. It’s sweet with the perfect blend of spices.
Seasoning. Turkey tastes great with a little seasoning. Use a simple Sweet Rub or Smoked Turkey Rub on the surface of your turkey to add some authentic BBQ flavor and compliment the smoke from the grill. If you want to save yourself some time on Thanksgiving, you can purchase my Sweet Rub from the Hey Grill Hey Store.

Quick note: The sugar in the Sweet Rub will cause the skin of the bird to get quite dark and caramelized. It is not burned! It will simply appear darker. Keep this in mind if you choose to use the Sweet Rub instead of the Turkey Rub.

How long to smoke 25 lb turkey per pound?

FAQ

How long will it take to smoke a 25 pound turkey?

At 225 degrees F, you can plan on it taking approximately 30 minutes per pound to smoke your turkey. Alternatively, if you are running your smoker at 250 degrees F, it will typically take 25 minutes per pound.

Is it better to smoke a turkey at 225 or 250?

When smoking at 225°F, it can take about 30 to 45 minutes to cook one pound of turkey. That means a 12-pound turkey should take at least six hours to cook in a smoker. To smoke your turkey faster, increase the smoker’s temperature to 250°F to 275°F.

Is a 20 lb turkey too big to smoke?

Before you go running out to find the biggest turkey you can find we recommend sticking with one that weighs 16 pounds or less.

How long does it take to smoke a whole turkey at 225?

Set the smoker to 225° F. Place the turkey on a cooking rack and cook for 8 to 12 hours or until the inner thigh temperature reaches 180° F. Check the temperature of your turkey after 3½ hours. Your turkey must pass through a critical range of 40° F to 140° F in 4 hours or less.