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A turkey breast cut into slices with fresh rosemary and thyme.
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5 from 5 votes

Smoked Turkey Breast

How to smoke a turkey breast on a pellet grill. Start off with a simple rub, smoke for a few hours and then bump up the temp to give you a juicy, tender turkey breast. You won't even miss having the entire bird!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Rest Time30 minutes
Total Time4 hours 40 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 People
Calories: 390kcal
Author: Kristin

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3-4 Pound Turkey Breast
  • 1-2 teaspoons Kosher Salt See notes on salt
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

For the Dry Brine

  • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder

Instructions

Prepare the Turkey

  • Make sure you give a frozen turkey breast time to thaw. Raw turkey breast should only take a day or two to thaw in the refrigerator. 
  • About 30 minutes before you want to start smoking your turkey, take it out of the fridge, remove all packaging, netting, and discard it. 
  • Trim off any excess fat or skin but leave the top layer on.
  • Dab with paper towels to remove any moisture.
  • Start off by sprinkling salt on both sides of the breast. About 1-2 teaspoons depending on how big the breast is. See notes on Salt.
  • Allow the breast to sit for 30 minutes. This helps the salt infuse into the meat.
  • While resting, mix the rub in a small container.
  • Using a brush, rub on a thin layer of olive oil all over the turkey breast.
  • Evenly coat the turkey breast with the rub on both sides.

Smoking the Turkey

  • Cook time will depend on the size of the turkey breast. It can take anywhere from 2-5 hours. See notes on cook times.
  • Make sure your grill has enough wood pellets before beginning.
  • You can cook in a roasting pan or right on the grill grate.
  • Turn your smoker on and let it warm up. Place turkey breast on the grill and insert the temperature probe into the thickest part of the breast.
  • Smoke for 2 hours at 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • After 2 hours, increase the temp to 350 degrees and continue to cook for 1-3 hours until the internal temp reads 165 or what your package directions recommend. 
  • A smaller turkey breast should only need about an hour at 350 while a larger breast could take up to 3. Just watch the internal temp and pull when it reaches 165 degrees.
  • I'ts done when the internal temperature of the turkey breast reaches 165 degrees with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast.
  • Remove from grill and allow to rest for 10-20 minutes.
  • Slice and serve.

Notes

NOTE ON SALT: If the turkey breast is pre-brined or salt injected, use a little less salt.
NOTE ON COOK TIME: For a 3 pound breast it took 2 hours at 225 and then an addition 1.5-2 hours at 350. 
Substituions
Butter: The olive oil can be substituted for melted butter.
Poultry Seasoning: If you do not want to make a dry rub, any poultry seasoning can also be used. 
Oven Roasted: This recipe can easily be made in the oven as well. Follow all the prep instructions and then cook according to the turkey packaging. 

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 73g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 1575mg | Potassium: 842mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg