There is nothing better than a smoked turkey breast. It is such a versatile food that can be used in a ton of different recipes. You can chop it up for salads and soups, or slice it up for a smoked turkey breast sandwich. It really is good. I’m going to cover what I think is the best smoked turkey breast recipe; it is a really easy way to smoke the turkey breast so it comes out moist and flavorful.
Some people like to purchase pre-smoked turkey breast, which can be very good. With these they are already fully cooked, so you can warm them up if you like and eat it that way or just slice or chop it up for your various recipes. What I am going to cover today is taking a fresh turkey breast and smoking it.
My method for smoking a turkey breast is the same for when I smoke a whole turkey. You definitely will want to check out my post on How to Smoke a Turkey. Smoking a turkey breast can be done on any type of grill, whether you have a gas or charcoal grill. If you want a really moist turkey breast I highly suggest you brine it. I have some really good Smoked Turkey Brine Recipes worth checking out.
I’m often asked about rubs for smoked turkey as well. You can use a rub, feel free to experiment a bit with different ones, as they will each add a unique flavor. You can also check out my post on Smoked Turkey Rub for more ideas.
Once you’ve decided on a rub or brine and your turkey breast is ready to go, it is time to set up your grill. Like I said earlier you can use either a gas or charcoal grill. You can use smoker for that matter as well. You will want to set up your grill for indirect cooking, which basically means the food will be on the opposite side of the heat source. When smoking turkey I like to aim for a temperature between 225F and 250F. At this temperature the cooking time for a smoked turkey breast will be about 30 minutes per pound. So, a 6lb turkey breast will take around 3 hours to smoke.
One used place the turkey breast on the grill it is time to add some smoke. I prefer to use cherry, apple, or hickory wood chips when smoking my turkey. I find that they add a really nice aroma and flavor. Add a handful of soaked wood chips to the coals. If you are using a gas grill check out my post on Smoking with a Gas Grill to learn how to smoke your turkey breast.
Once the smoked turkey breast is finished it should register a temperature of around 170F. At this time it is time to take it off the grill and let it rest for about 15 minutes before slicing into it. Smoked turkey breasts have a really great flavor and can be used in a variety of different recipes. It is so simple to do, so get out there and smoke some turkey breasts.