Smoked turkey breast is a delicious and flavorful alternative to traditional roasted turkey. Using applewood chips and a dry rub adds a delicious smoky flavor with a touch of sweetness
If you’ve never had a smoked turkey before, you must try it! I think it is by far better than any deep-fried turkey or oven roasted turkey that you’d have for Thanksgiving. Not to mention the turkey comes out super moist and delicious and great for making a club sandwich the next day. The rub makes this.
If you like smoker recipes try my recipe for Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken, Smoked Lobster Tails, Easy Smoked Salmon, Smoked Salsa, or Smoked Queso.
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Why I love my Smoker
I love my smoker. It is a lot easier than lighting a charcoal grill and waiting FOREVER for the stupid coals to light up. All you do is flip the switch and turn it to whatever temperature you want to smoke at. All the other food blogs out there like to grill,and there is nothing wrong with that. This girl likes to smoke her meat instead. 🙂
Ingredients Needed
- Dry Rub
- Brown sugar –Or regular granulated sugar,I do not use sugar substitutes of any of my recipes but if you know the conversions feel free to do so
- Smoked paprika–gives the seasoning an extra layer of smoke flavor
- Chipotle chili powder –Is a blend of mixed red chilis that have been dried up and pulverized until it resembles powder. Sometimes other spices like cumin and paprika.
- Garlic powder – made from dehydrated garlic cloves and like the chili powder above it gets pulverized into a powder or flour consistency.
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Ground cumin–Cumin is a member of the parsley family. It is a dried seed that is made from a plant called Cuminum cyminum.
- Butter,melted and melted –can also use olive oil
- 3 pound turkey breast –the main star! Can also do this with a whole chicken.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to make Applewood Smoked Turkey Breast
Step 1:Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F,adding your wood chips to the burner.
Step 2:In a bowl,combine the sugar,paprika,chili powder,garlic powder,salt,pepper,onion powder and cumin,mixing well to combine.
Step 3:Gently lift the skin of the turkey and rub the melted butter all over the meat. Use it all up! I use both my hands and a spoon to drizzle it down in spaces that I can’t reach. Take the spice rub and rub it all over the meat as well,underneath the skin. Rub the rest of it all over the outside of the skin,covering the turkey.
Step 4:Smoke the turkey breast for 1.5 hours at 225 degrees.
Smoked Turkey Breast Tips and Tricks
Smoke turkey breasts over applewood chips at a low temperature until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
I have tested this recipe at 300 degrees and that temperature is too high for a smoked turkey breast. The result comes out very dry so stick to 225 degrees or lower.
What can I see with smoked turkey?
If you’re looking for some tasty side dishes you’ve come to the right place.
Paula Deen’s Crock Pot Mac and Cheeseand Slow Cooker Calico beansare some great side dishes to make in a crock pot.
Make a loaded air fryer baked potatowith all the fixings in your air fryer or a twice baked potato.
Some fun fruit salads to serve with this apple wood smoked turkey breast would be Fruit Cocktail Salad or Red,White,and Blue Berry Cheesecake Salad.
Recipe FAQS
This turkey breast was almost 4 pounds and took only 1.5 hours to smoke. A 7 pound turkey breast would take up to 3 hours.
My favorite wood chips to use for smoking a turkey breast is always Applewood. I have a Traeger grill and used their pellet chips. Other types of wood chips that would work would be Apple,Cherry,Maple,Alder,and Hickory.
Always store leftovers in clean,food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock,glass,plastic, whatever!
Recipes to Check Out
Grinder Salad Sandwich –Tiktok
Easy Air Fryer Chicken Breast –How Long to Cook
If you tried this Applewood Smoked Turkey Breast or any other recipe on my website,please please leave a 🌟 star ratingand let me know how you go in the 📝 commentsbelow. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Ninja Foodi Grill Smoked Turkey Breast
Prep Time:30min
Cook Time:1.5 hrs
Total Time:1.5 hrs
Yield:81x
Category:Medium
Method:Smoker
Cuisine:American
Description
If you’ve never had a smoked turkey before,you must try it! I think it is by far better than any deep-fried turkey or oven roasted turkey that you’d have for Thanksgiving.
Dry Rub
- 3 tablespoonsbrown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoonssmoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoonschipotle chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoonsgarlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoonssalt
- 1 ½ teaspoonsblack pepper
- 1 teaspoononion powder
- ½ teaspoonground cumin
- 6 tablespoonsunsalted butter,melted
- 3–4pound turkey breast
Instructions
- Remove the turkey from the packaging and pat it completely dry with paper towels. Place it on a baking sheet and refrigerate it for an hour or two so it dries thoroughly.
- Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F,adding your wood chips to the burner.
- In a bowl,combine the sugar,paprika,chili powder,garlic powder,salt,pepper,onion powder and cumin,mixing well to combine.
- Gently lift the skin of the turkey and rub the melted butter all over the meat. Use it all up! I use both my hands and a spoon to drizzle it down in spaces that I can’t reach. Take the spice rub and rub it all over the meat as well,underneath the skin. Rub the rest of it all over the outside of the skin,covering the turkey.
- Smoke the turkey breast for 1.5 hours at 225 degrees.
Recipe adapted from How Sweet Eats
