LET’S GET THANKSGIVING ON THE TABLE
Smoked Thanksgiving
Recipes &
Planning Guide
Whether you’re smoking the turkey, adding a double smoked ham or putting together the whole meal, I’ll help you find the recipes and instructions you need to get everything to the table. Start with a plan, choose the food your family likes and leave yourself enough time to enjoy the day, too.
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A LITTLE PLANNING GOES A LONG WAY
Get your Thanksgiving plan together.
Before you decide when to light the smoker, work backward from the meal. Figure out how much turkey you need, allow time for thawing and brining, then build in some room for a cook that takes longer than you expected.
How Much Turkey?
Work out how much turkey to buy before you start shopping.
Thawing the Bird
Give a frozen turkey time to thaw before the rest of the preparation begins.
Choosing a Brine
Decide whether to brine your turkey, then choose the approach that works for you.
Your Cooking Timeline
Put the preparation, cooking and serving steps in an order you can follow.
THE MAIN EVENT
Choose your smoked turkey recipe.
If the turkey is the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table, these are some of my favorite ways to prepare it. Pick the method and flavors that sound good to you, then follow that recipe through the cook instead of trying to combine every turkey trick you’ve ever heard.
Spatchcocked Turkey with Herbed Butter
Butterfly the bird and add herbed butter for a turkey that cooks more evenly and makes a great holiday centerpiece.
Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey – “Lots of Butter” Method
One of my favorite Thanksgiving approaches, with plenty of butter worked into the plan.
Smoked Cranberry Brined Turkey
A cranberry brine brings a holiday twist to the Thanksgiving turkey.
Smoked Turkey with Bacon Butter
Bacon butter goes under the skin before the bird heads to the smoker.
Smoked Maple Barbecue Turkey
A maple barbecue version for the family that likes a little sweetness with its smoke.
Buttermilk Brined Smoked Turkey
A buttermilk brine gives you another way to prepare the bird before smoking it.
A SMALLER BIRD ISN’T YOUR ONLY CHOICE
Turkey breast, roasts and stuffed breast.
You don’t have to cook a whole turkey to put a good Thanksgiving meal on the table. These recipes give you options for a smaller gathering, easier slicing or a little something different alongside the main bird.
Smoked Boneless Turkey Breast for Thanksgiving
A boneless turkey breast keeps the preparation and slicing straightforward.
Smoked Turkey Roast Basted with Bacon
A little bacon inside the netting helps make this turkey roast something worth serving for the holiday.
Cranberry Pecan Stuffed Turkey Breast
Turkey breast filled with stuffing, cranberries and pecans for a holiday meal with a different presentation.
MAKE ROOM FOR THE HAM
Double smoked ham belongs here, too.
A ham is a good partner for the turkey, and it can just as easily take the lead if that’s what your family prefers. These recipes take a ham beyond what you get straight out of the package and give you another reason to fire up the smoker.
Double Smoked Holiday Ham Glazed with Maple Syrup
A maple-glazed holiday ham that I’ve made many times over the years.
Smoked Pulled Ham
Cook the ham until it’s ready to pull for a different way to serve it at the holiday table.
Rum Injected Double Smoked Ham
A double smoked ham with rum sauce or maple sauce for injecting and basting.
ROUND OUT THE PLATES
Don’t forget the Thanksgiving sides.
Some of the food can go in the smoker and some can come from the kitchen, which gives you more room to work and makes it easier to finish the meal on time. Here are family favorites and a smoky side that fits right in with the turkey or ham.
Family Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Our family’s dressing, cranberry sauce, whipped sweet potatoes, holiday green beans and Grandpa Carrow’s hot chocolate, all together in one place.
Smoked Mac and Cheese Recipe
Creamy mac and cheese with a little smoke makes a welcome addition to the holiday table.
SAVE A LITTLE ROOM
Thanksgiving desserts belong on the table, too.
After the turkey, ham and all the sides, there’s usually still someone looking for something sweet. These are a few of my favorites, with options for the pellet smoker or oven and a batch of chocolate no bake cookies that keeps the kitchen work simple.
Dump Cake in the Pellet Smoker
A peach dump cake with cinnamon and allspice that can go in the pellet smoker or the oven.
Cherry Black Forest Dump Cake
Cherry pie filling, chocolate cake mix and butter make an easy dessert to serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Chocolate No Bake Cookies
Chocolate, peanut butter and quick oats come together in a stovetop cookie that doesn’t need the oven or smoker.
SOMETHING TO EAT WHILE THEY WAIT
Keep the appetizers coming.
A few things to nibble on will give your guests something to do besides ask when the turkey is going to be ready. Choose an appetizer that fits your smoker space and schedule, then let the main course take the time it needs.
6 Thanksgiving Appetizers that Impress
Six appetizer ideas to help you choose something for the Thanksgiving crowd.
Smoked Turkey and Cranberry Stuffed ABT’s
Turkey and cranberry bring a Thanksgiving twist to bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeños.
Smoked Jalapeno Cheddar Turkey Bombs
Turkey cutlets become bite-sized appetizers with jalapeño and cheddar in the mix.
FIND THE PART YOU NEED
Turkey questions, answered.
If you need help with one particular part of the cook, open the section that fits what you’re working on. The guides are arranged from planning and preparation through cooking, serving and making good use of the leftovers.
Plan the Meal
Prepare the Turkey
Smoke and Check the Turkey
- How to Smoke a Turkey
- Best Wood for Smoking Turkey
- Best Temperature for Smoking a Turkey
- How Long It Takes to Smoke a Turkey (Time Per Pound Guide)
- How to Keep Smoked Turkey Moist
- When Is Smoked Turkey Done?
- Turkey Pasteurization: Is Turkey Safe Below 165°F?
- Why Turkey Skin Turns Rubbery (And How to Fix It)
Transport and Leftovers
More Turkey Recipes
Thanksgiving Questions and More
WATCH IT COME TOGETHER
Sometimes it helps to see it done.
If you’d rather watch me work through the preparation, these videos will give you a look at the process before you get started on your own turkey.
Prep and Smoke a Turkey
Watch me prepare, brine, season and smoke the turkey.
Spatchcock the Turkey
See how I remove the backbone and open the bird up for the smoker.
KEEP A LITTLE HELP CLOSE BY
Need a hand with your Thanksgiving cook?
If you’re working through a question about your smoker or the food, come join us at SmokingMeatHelp.com. You can ask for help, compare notes and share how the Thanksgiving meal turned out.
