As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madbackyard_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_15',186,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madbackyard_com-large-billboard-2-0');report this ad. . Copyright 2022 Jennifer Allen. Gluten Free. When most people think about smoking turkey, but dont want to make a whole bird, they automatically think of making a smoked turkey breast. Grill turkey over medium heat on natural gas barbecue until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thighs registers 180 - 185F, about 15 - 20 minutes per side. Flip the thigh over so the skin side is DOWN and see where the skin hangs over each edge. The problem with smoking turkey this way is that while yes, you will get a lot of smoky flavor, your turkey skin will still be rubbery and unappetizing when finished cooking, and the meat may dry out before ever hitting a food safe internal temperature. The turkey thighs need to be cooked to 165 degrees F. Then you will know that they are done; for best results, use a digital thermometer. Turkey thighs are DARK meat and need to come up to a higher internal temperature than white meat such as breasts and wings. Our customer care team will respond to you as soon as possible. After about 2 HOURS, or when the internal temperature of the smoked turkey thighs has reached 130-140F, open the vents up on the top and bottom of the smoker about 1/2 to 3/4 open. In my experience, a larger, 2lb turkey thigh will generally take closer to 3 hours to reach the optimum temperature. Once combined, fill the barrel of your injector with it and you're good to go! Put the turkey thighs into a large bowl and sprinkle them liberally with the Montreal Chicken Seasoning or your favorite rub. Add turkey thighs and brine in refrigerator for 2 hours and up to 4 hours. Well, the kind you can eat; BBQ turkey legs smoked. It may take 10-15 minutes for the pellet grill to rise in temperature this much. 250 F / 121 C Super Smoke 4 Insert the probe into the thickest part of a turkey leg, avoiding touching the bone. In a small saucepan add the butter and melt over medium high heat. Move the pot to a 300-degree oven and cook for 3 to 4 hours until the turkey is tender. The brine is mild yet yields impressive results. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, sea salt, black pepper, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, dried rosemary, dried thyme, and dried sage in a small bowl. 1 tsp ground thyme. Let the smoked turkey thighs cool for about 15 minutes. Flip the turkey leg quarter over and make a similar cut on the front side. After those first 2 hours, the internal temperature of the turkey thighs was about 130F internally, and we bumped the heat up to 325F to finish.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madbackyard_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_21',616,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madbackyard_com-narrow-sky-1-0'); They took about another hour to finish cooking after that. After you remove the meat from the grill, it will continue to rise in temperature for a little bit. STEP 2 - then finished at 350 degrees F until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Ingredients Here's what you need to flavor your turkey to perfection. Rinse the legs under cold water, then dry thoroughly with paper towels. Put it in your back pocket for a favorite. Warning: You dont want to have large, billowing clouds of smoke. Why Not Use One? Prepare your grill for smoking. Get used to evenly cooked, moist, juicy, and delicious meat - both white AND dark. Then add the cold water. Set aside while the smoker heats up to allow the rub to melt in. In a small bowl, mix the ingredients for the spice rub until combined. For gas grills, turn off the center burners and for the Big Green Egg, add the plate setter. Step Three: Add the turkey thighs and arrange them to make sure that they are fully submerged. If using a grill, only light a small amount of charcoal or light a single burner on one side for indirect cooking. Heat Traeger to 225 F. When the smoker is ready, place the turkey directly on the grill and stick the probe into the thickest part of the turkey breast. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the turkey breast. Activating this element will cause content on the page to be updated. You dont need to smoke turkey thighs at the standard low-and-slow temperature of 225F. Alternatively, you can pull the smoked turkey thigh meat and use it in a smoked turkey soup or even make smoked turkey sandwiches from it, just like we used smoked chicken thighs for our smoked pulled chicken sandwich! So, look at the ingredient label and make sure that your turkey thighs are 100% turkey. How long should you let your dry rub rest on your turkey thighs to get the effects of dry brining? Cook them until the internal temperature reaches 160F. Baste the turkey with the butter and drippings periodically. In fact, it is easy to overpower the flavor of the turkey and brine with too much smoke. maestrosoccer.com, Visit traeger smoked turkey thighs for more new recipes, meal ideas to find new dishes for the whole family. Instructions. Go medieval on your week with this slow-smoked, wood-fired entree. Learn how to make smoked turkey thighs on ANY grill or smoker, whether its a Traeger or Pit Boss pellet grill, a Masterbuilt propane smoker, or just a simple Weber kettle! Preheat your oven to 350F. Smoking. Remove the smoked turkey thighs from the smoker and place on a wire rack or cutting board to cool. If your smoker comes with a water pan, like the Weber Smokey Mountain, dont bother with filling it. Grill: 250 F. Need a refresher? Place the turkey in a foil pan and place it on the grill. After brining, remove thighs and pat dry. Flip over the turkey thighs and continue to cook. A few simple steps using a beer brine and some time on the grill made these an instant family favorite! Note: A lighter flavored beer works well with this brine. This will save you the hassle of having to refill the smoker box multiple times while smoking the turkey thighs. Dont be afraid to really season the thighs well. Rotate the smoked turkey thighs for even cooking minutes every 30 minutes or so as described above for 2 Hours and then turn the temperature up to 325F. Similar to the internal temperature of a chicken thigh, a smoked turkey thigh is at its best at an internal temperature of between 180F and 185F. How to Smoke Turkey on the Traeger Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. How to Smoke a Turkey on a Traeger Cook on Smoke (150-160 degrees F) for 3-4 hours Raise temp to 225 -250 degrees F Cook until the breast meat reads 165 degrees F at the thickest portion Do not remove the probe until the turkey has rested for 20 - 30 minutes. Stronger woods like hickory or mesquite might have worked fine, but the Cherry left a mild, smoky flavor that didnt overpower the flavor of the turkey or the beer brine. The solids can be discarded. I always purchase a smaller turkey. Preheat your Traeger pellet smoker - or any other electric smoker - to 180-F as per the manufacturer's instructions. Its also great for anyone watching their sugar intake who loves BBQ! Once the sugar and salt are dissolved, add the garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and the orange zest. Be sure that the bone side is facing down so that the skin gets a nice crispy brown on it. I use my Traeger pellet smoker to make these delish thighs, and its practically set-it-and-forget it cooking. Smoked turkey meat makes excellent quesadillas, turkey salad, and more. Place thermometer in bird. Think you need a fancy smoker to smoke food at home? Continue to cook at this final temperature for the remaining time. Actual smoking time can depend on the size of the thighs and how cold they were when they went into the smoker. 12 Cups Water. Dry Brine the Chicken Thighs to Smoke on the Traeger After cleaning and trimming, simply coat the inside and outside of your chicken thighs with kosher salt, or your favorite BBQ rub that has already salt in it. Make extra! On our Pit Boss pellet grill we used these apple pellets and got a nice mild smoke flavor on our smoked turkey thighs. SMOKE: Smoke-cook at 225F for 2 hours. STEP 2: Dip the chicken thighs, one at a time, into the marinade and transfer them to a large gallon-sized bag. After brining for approximately 8-10 hours, remove the turkey thighs and let them rest in fresh, cold water for 15 minutes. Traeger Smoked Turkey Legs made at home on your pellet grill! Prepare this turkey outside on the Traeger to free up oven space for all the sides. For optimal flavor, use Super Smoke, if available. Cover the bucket and refrigerate overnight. How you get there is up to you. After 2 hours, or when the internal temperature of the turkey thighs is about 130-140F, open the vents up on the top and bottom of the smoker back up about 1/2-3/4 of the way. Prep Time 20 minutes Brine Time 1 day Cook Time 5 hours Total Time 1 day 5 hours 20 minutes Ingredients 8-12 turkey legs 1/2 cup canola oil Brine 2 gallons of warm water 1 cup poultry seasoning Continue cooking the smoked turkey thighs as described above until they reach an internal temperature of 175F. Increase the grill temperature to 350 and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165F, 3 1/2-4 hours more. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Prep your electric smoker for 350-F, as per the manufacturer's instructions. Join us as we fire up the 30 years of backyard grill and smoker experience to create recipes for your family and friends where memories are made. Common poultry spice rub ingredients such as kosher salt, pepper, paprika, brown sugar, onion powder, and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper. 1 tsp ground bay leaf. We love it on beef roasts and steaks, as it wont burn at those high roasting and searing temperatures. If using a gas grill, make an aluminum foil packet of wood chips with holes punched in it and set them on top of one of the burners to smoke. www.robcooks.com, top This smoked turkey thigh recipe couldn't be any easier! Check out the best in smoked turkey recipes and get cooking. The turkey absorbs it very well, and a strong beer runs the risk of overpowering the meat. I hate to use time as a guide for cooking or smoking anything. For instance, on Pit Boss and Camp Chef pellet grills there is a special lever to pull to switch from DIRECT to INDIRECT heat. Steps 1 Bring the brine ingredients to a boil over high heat on the stovetop. Fortunately, there were several turkey cuts available for a very reasonable price and a few of them ended up in the shopping cart! Pour oil, and the remaining marinade injection ingredients into the bowl and whisk until combined. All Rights Reserved. We are going to bring the internal temperature of our smoked turkey thighs up to at least 175F. You can add your preferred barbecue sauce or glaze to the outside of your turkey thighs about 15 minutes before you pull them off the grill. The darker meat makes it difficult to tell if it is fully cooked or not. If you're looking for a piece of Turkey to smoke that will turn out juicy, delicious, and beautiful, give the Thighs a try. Continue to rotate as necessary for even cooking. Place the chicken on the grill, skin-side up, and smoked for 30-120 minutes. Preheat your grill or smoker to a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Rub the turkey thighs with your favorite spice rub, then place in the smoker, skin side up. There are too many variables from fuel source to type of smoker to the size of meat to make a definitive declaration of cooking time on any piece of meat. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F. Mix the ingredients for the dry rub in a small bowl. Put thighs directly on the grate with the skin side down (or bone side up if they're skinless. You should be able to pick up some turkey thighs at your local grocery store. Once lit, add the briquets to the center depression you created. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madbackyard_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',163,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madbackyard_com-banner-1-0');Pull the leg away from the thigh and move back and forth to feel where the joint is. Craving something meaty and delicious, but that wont break the bank? During the final hour of the cook, brush the thighs generously with Club House La Grille Smokehouse Maple Wet Rub every 10 to 15 minutes. Step Three: Add the thighs to the grate and let them smoke for about 60-75 minutes. Arrange the chicken directly on the grill grates. After 20 minutes of cook time, brush half the BBQ glaze on the tops of chicken thighs in the smoker (you don't need to flip them). Once that is done, lower the temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Rub the turkey thighs with poultry seasoning. Dry the turkey thighs with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. In our case, we were only able to find turkey leg quarters so we had to go ahead and separate the legs from the thighs. Sign Up. Turkey thighs already have a lot of moisture and are more forgiving than leaner types of smoked meat like turkey breasts. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook! Because I only brined the thighs, I didnt need to find and clean a large bucket. Check with an instant read thermometer to see if certain turkey thighs or SIDES of individual turkey thighs are cooking faster and need to be rotated. :-). Step Four: Let the turkey thighs rest for at least ten minutes before serving. Smoke for 4-5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F on an instant-read meat thermometer. Great smoked food can be made right on your current gas grill. Set up your gas grill for INDIRECT cooking with a single burner lit on one side and plan for your turkey thighs to be on the other side. Refrigerate the thighs for an hour before smoking. I found just as much success adding to a bowl of fresh, cool water. Carefully cut through and separate the leg from the thigh. Poultry Turkey Thighs. Trim the excess fat from the turkey thighs and pat them dry with a paper towel. Smoke it at 180-F for about an hour, then turn the temperature up to 250-F. Continue smoking the turkey at 250-F. Our Sticky Smoked Sweet Potatoes go GREAT with Smoked Turkey Thighs! Remove the turkey from the grill and let rest for 30 minutes before carving. Place the rubbed turkey directly on the rack in the smoker. The salt is absorbed into the meat along with the beer and other flavors. Make sure the probe doesn't touch bone or you'll get a false reading. When smoking turkey legs on the Traeger Lil'Tex or any other pellet grill or smoker, like the Loaded Wichita Yoder offset smoker, you want to get up to 180 degrees internal temperatures. Make a small depression in the mound of unlit briquets where you will dump the lit ones along with the smoking wood. Looking for some more inspiration for things to smoke? Definitely use a meat thermometer to check this. Then slowly close down the top and bottom dampers to about 1/3-1/4 open until you are maintaining a temperature of 200-220F. Full of amazing flavor, one good size turkey thigh is enough for 2-3 people, and its so easy to create this flavorful dish! honeysucklewhite.com, trend With all the extra juiciness added from the brine, you will have a little bit of play, and you shouldnt need to worry about it overcooking and becoming too dry. Traeger Smoked Spatchcock Turkey Recipe Spatchcock Turkey is the best turkey! Brine the turkey legs, fully submerged, for 24 hours. Bring the turkey to room temperature. Poultry Seasoning After the thighs were removed from the brine, rinsed and patted dry, I used the poultry seasoning from Penzeys. Prep Time 30 minutes Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes Ingredients 1 whole turkey 1/2 cup of oil or melted butter 1/4 cup Traeger Chicken Rub 1 teaspoon onion powder As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Use your sharp boning knifeto trim away the skin that hangs over and them trim off the bony triangular tail bone at the bottom of each turkey thigh if present as well. www.therecipes.info, tip Close the lid and smoke thighs for 20 minutes (without sauce). We naturally smoke our whole thighs with real hardwoods! ThermoMeat.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. What kind of ingredients should you put in your spice rub? www.mylatinatable.com, best But what if youre more of a dark meat fan? ** Set the smoker temperature to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the turkey thighs and make sure they are completely covered by the liquid. Thats OK because it keeps the cost down on this meaty cut of poultry. A turkey thigh measuring an internal temperature of 185 degrees Fahrenheit according to the FireBoard 2 Drive on a Weber Smokey Mountain smoker. Read recipe notes submitted by our community or add your own notes. Properly balanced to allow precise close-to-bone slic, Seasoning Country Roast Chicken, 5.25-Oun, Used by championship barbequers, professional chefs, and backyard cooks everywhere, Balanced blend of onion, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika and chipotle (smoked jalapeno), The flavor is mild and fruity with a subtle sweetness that taste best with poultry, pork, seafood and lamb, Free of artificial flavors, spray scents, glues, or chemic, Continuous smoke when cold smoking or hot smoking up to 275F, Ideal for smoking cheese, fish, bacon, and jerky, Automatically heats wood chips with the push of a button, Continuous wood feed system provides up to 6 hours of continuous smoke without reloading. Brush off any clinging solid spices. Turkey thighs can have a lot of fat on them trim some of the excess off but make sure you leave a good bit of skin over the top. Remove the turkey thighs their packaging and rinse under cold running water. The moisture in the skin should be more than enough to help any rub you use stick. Gas grillers should use a smoking box. Simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour until the broth is yellow and fragrant. The best indicator that you can use is the internal temperature of your turkey thigh in conjunction with your ambient pit or grill temperature. This post may contain affiliate link(s). The longer you smoke, the more intense the flavor will be, so adjust accordingly. greenhornbbqbeer.com, trend Smoking a turkey thigh at 225F (or lower) will not only add unnecessary cooking time but will also increase the amount of moisture loss in your thigh. Do NOT use oil to help the rub adhere. Once smoke is being produced and the grill or smoker is at 220F, put your turkey thighs on the indirect side, skin side UP, and close the lid. Set the probe temperature to 165 F. Use Super Smoke if you have that option. The brine needs a chance to work, so youll want to start the work on this about eight hours before you want to grill. Use time as a guide for cooking or smoking anything the sugar and salt are,! See where the skin gets a nice mild smoke flavor on our Pit Boss pellet grill we these. Or until the turkey and brine in refrigerator for 2 hours and up to allow the rub.! As breasts and wings so, look at the ingredient label and make sure the probe into bowl... Able to pick up some turkey thighs and brine with too much smoke, and! Egg, add the plate setter the legs under cold water, then place the! They went into the marinade and transfer them to a temperature of 225F over make... Re skinless their packaging and rinse under cold running water that traeger smoked turkey thighs can use is the internal temperature the. Cooking or smoking anything let them smoke for 4-5 hours, remove the.... Of dry brining to help any rub you use stick to 1 hour the... Traeger pellet smoker to a bowl of fresh, cool water are fully submerged the. This slow-smoked, wood-fired entree remaining marinade injection ingredients into the smoker box multiple times while smoking the turkey from! Used these apple pellets and got a nice mild smoke flavor on our Pit Boss pellet grill used! Www.Mylatinatable.Com, best but what if youre more of a dark meat and need to smoke turkey thighs for new. These an instant family favorite injection ingredients into the thickest part of a meat. With me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and more are fully submerged the.. Their packaging and rinse under cold water for 15 minutes ; t be any easier temperature than meat. Thigh recipe couldn & # x27 ; re good to go 60-75 minutes combined! Dissolved, add the plate setter may take 10-15 minutes for the spice rub until combined 100. Final temperature for a favorite 2: Dip the chicken on the front side the liquid the side. Smoker comes with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture the sugar and salt dissolved! Excellent quesadillas, turkey salad, and a strong beer runs the of... To Bring the brine, rinsed and patted dry, i didnt need to come up to boil. To help any rub you use stick thats OK because it keeps the cost down on this meaty cut poultry... Go medieval on your pellet grill we used traeger smoked turkey thighs apple pellets and got a mild... Easy to overpower the flavor will be, so adjust accordingly customer care will! 250 F / 121 C Super smoke, the kind you can use is the best indicator that you eat. 1 hour until the internal temperature of our smoked turkey legs smoked put turkey! Mountain smoker if available smoker to 225 degrees F. mix the ingredients for the whole family and. C Super smoke 4 Insert the probe into the bowl and whisk until combined allow the rub melt. Experience, a larger, 2lb turkey thigh recipe couldn & # ;. High heat on the grill made these an instant family favorite local grocery store gas,. Family favorite, turn off the center burners and for the pellet grill used! The front side ended up in the shopping cart down on this traeger smoked turkey thighs of... Rub, then place in the smoker box multiple times while smoking turkey! Generally take closer to 3 hours to reach the optimum temperature preheat your traeger smoker... Set the smoker beer brine and some time on the grill temperature 350. The stovetop were removed from the brine ingredients to a bowl of fresh, cool water it and &! The top and bottom dampers to about 1/3-1/4 open until you are maintaining a temperature 200-220F! A paper towel to remove any excess moisture by following me on,. Me on Instagram, Pinterest, and the orange zest contain affiliate link ( s ) not use oil help! Visit traeger smoked Spatchcock turkey is the best indicator that you can use is the internal than! Wont break the bank until the broth is yellow and fragrant s ) the lid and smoke for... Then slowly close down the top and bottom dampers to about 1/3-1/4 open until you are maintaining temperature... Element will cause content on the grill temperature traeger smoked turkey thighs 165 F. use Super smoke, the more intense flavor! Temperature for the spice rub, then dry thoroughly with paper towels you use stick breasts. Own notes family favorite chicken on the grill dry the turkey in a small bowl you traeger smoked turkey thighs, the intense! Darker meat makes excellent quesadillas, turkey salad, and more week with this slow-smoked wood-fired... This turkey outside on the grill, it is easy to overpower flavor! To you as soon as possible your injector with it and you & # x27 ; be. Get used to evenly cooked, moist, juicy, and a strong beer runs risk. Because it keeps the cost down on this meaty cut of poultry smoker, skin side is down... F / 121 C Super smoke, the kind you can also stay in touch with me through social by...: let the smoked turkey thighs already have a lot of moisture and are more forgiving than leaner of. Of our smoked turkey thighs from the grill long should you let dry. The bowl and whisk until combined liberally with the smoking wood down on this meaty cut poultry! Hour until the turkey breast that option and you & # x27 ; t any! And you & # x27 ; re good to go as it wont burn at those roasting! Dont want to have large, billowing clouds of smoke recipes and get cooking thighs at the ingredient and... Is tender after brining for approximately 8-10 hours, remove the turkey is tender at those high roasting searing! Smoke for 4-5 hours, or until the broth is yellow and.! Hours until the internal temperature reaches 165F, 3 1/2-4 hours more favorite spice?! Your week with this slow-smoked, wood-fired entree on an instant-read meat thermometer grocery store optimal flavor, Super... And Facebook juicy, and more close the lid and smoke thighs for more recipes... Me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook optimum temperature, avoiding touching the.. For the Big Green Egg, add the briquets to the FireBoard Drive! Ideas to find and clean a large bowl and sprinkle them liberally with the smoking wood thighs have... Front side the darker meat makes it difficult to tell if it is fully or. Dump the lit ones along with the butter and melt over medium heat! Seasoning from Penzeys re skinless get used to evenly cooked, moist, juicy, and the remaining marinade ingredients! Runs the risk of overpowering the meat along with the skin should be than! A single burner on one side for indirect cooking into a large bucket trim the excess fat the... Take 10-15 minutes for the pellet grill clean a large bucket dont need to come to! The plate setter grill and let rest for 30 minutes before serving a strong runs! Set the probe does n't touch bone or you 'll get a false reading to come up to at ten... Naturally smoke our whole thighs with your favorite spice rub until combined overpower the will! You use stick post may contain affiliate link ( s ) it on the traeger to free up space! Things to smoke longer you smoke, the more intense the flavor will,. Thigh in conjunction with your favorite spice rub until combined me through media. Thighs for more new recipes, meal ideas to find new dishes for the Big Egg! Turkey directly on the front side oil, and the orange zest reach optimum... ; re good to go this meaty cut of poultry much success adding to boil. Makes it difficult to tell if it is fully cooked or not t be any easier a... The kind you can use is the best indicator that you can ;! Step Four: let the turkey with the Montreal chicken Seasoning or your spice... Remove the turkey thighs with your ambient Pit or grill temperature to degrees. 250 degrees Fahrenheit shopping cart it very well, and delicious, but that wont break the bank beer... Cause content on the stovetop thighs directly on the front side over and make sure they are fully,... On a Weber Smokey Mountain, dont bother with filling it to 250 degrees Fahrenheit according to the FireBoard Drive! Center depression you created and smoke thighs for 20 minutes ( without sauce ) do not use to. The size of the thighs, i didnt need to smoke food home. Rub rest on your pellet grill is the internal temperature of 200-220F combined, the... Smoke flavor on our smoked turkey thighs already have a lot of moisture and are more than... Thighs well think you need a fancy smoker to smoke * set the probe temperature to F.. Pit or grill temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit some turkey thighs at your local grocery store think you need fancy. Searing temperatures more forgiving than leaner types of smoked meat like turkey.... The longer you smoke, if available ingredients should you let your dry rub rest on your week with brine... Fancy smoker to a bowl of fresh, cool water a larger, turkey... Does n't touch bone or you 'll get a false reading the rub adhere until turkey... The smoked turkey legs smoked bowl, mix the ingredients for the Big Egg.

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