Traeger Maple Brined Turkey
Traeger Maple Brined Turkey is the perfect Thanksgiving turkey recipe, just the right amount of wood fired flavored from the pellet grill!
Equipment
- Traeger/Pellet Grill
- Smoker
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 gallons water
- 1 1/2 cups kosher salt
- 3/4 cup real maple syrup
- 3/4 cup whiskey, bourbon, or apple cider
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
- Optional: a few sprigs of fresh thyme and/or rosemary
- 14 to 16 pound whole turkey (thawed)
- 1 apple sliced
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 lemon sliced
- 1 onion sliced
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- In a very large pot (big enough for the turkey to fit into) combine the water, salt, maple syrup, either whiskey, bourbon, or apple cider, brown sugar, peppercorns, rosemary and thyme (if using). Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute and let the brine come to room temperature.
- Once the brine is at room temp add the turkey, breast side down. Refrigerate at least 24 hours.
- Remove the turkey from the brine, discard the brine, and pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
- Stuff the turkey with the wedges of apples, oranges, lemons, and onions and the fresh thyme and rosemary (if using).
- Brush the melted butter over all sides of the turkey.
- Place the turkey in your smoker or pellet grill set to 225 to 250 degrees. Smoke the turkey for 30 minutes per pound (approx. 7 to 9 hours for a 14 to 16 pound turkey) or until internal temperature is 175 degrees in the dark meat.