If you want a delicious citrusy flavored juicy smoked turkey then you will love my citrus dry-brined smoked turkey!
What is a citrus dry brine?
A Citrus dry brine is a rub for meat that infuses it with citrus flavor and pre-salts it before cooking. It allows the extra moisture to be removed and the juice from the meat to be retained. You can find my recipe for it here. And it’s also yummy on chicken, pork, and fish! A dry brine is also more forgiving for time than a wet brine.
Should I Spatchcock my turkey before cooking it?
IMO (In my opinion) spatchcocking your turkey helps it to cook more evenly. I think it keeps the meat more juicy and delicious! If you need help learning how to spatchcock a turkey or chicken, you can watch my video on it here. It seems a little scary at first but once you’ve done it once it’s super easy! I recommend sharp kitchen scissors!
How long will it take to cook my Citrus Dry Brined Turkey?
It usually takes about 10-13 minutes per lb of turkey to smoke it in the following manner.
I recommend smoking your turkey at 225 for the first 2 hours then turning it up to 350 for the remainder of the smoke for a 12-15 lb turkey. If you have a larger turkey, keep it at 225 for up to 3-4 hours then crank it up so the skin gets crispy but not overdone.
You will want to make sure your turkey is cooked until 165 degrees. Then let it rest for a few minutes and it’s ready to carve!
I recommend using the MEATER wireless thermometer! It has an app for your phone to monitor the temperature of the turkey. I place it in the breast near the bone, as this will be the longest part to reach 165 degrees.
If you order the thermometer from my link..thank you! It helps me earn a small commission but doesn’t change the price for you Here are my disclosures and policies if you want to read about them.
If you like this recipe you might also like these:
Gluten Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes
What do I need to make this Gluten Free Citrus Dry Brined Turkey?
You will need the following items to make this turkey:
A smoker- I have a Green Mountian Grill but there are so many brands to choose from now!
Smoker Pellets- I used the Traeger Thanksgiving blend to smoke my turkey.
You will need a fresh or thawed turkey. Mine was 13 lbs.
A batch of my Citrus Dry Brine.
Butter
Olive oil
A spray bottle with a mixture of water, orange juice, and white wine in it.
A meat thermometer. I use the MEATER one.
Pin this now and make it later!
Here’s a video on how to make it.
Here’s the recipe for my Citrus dry brined smoked turkey Gluten Free Citrus Dry Brined Smoked TurkeyDelicious smoked turkey with juicy flavor of citrus and smoke.
Here’s the printable recipe:
Gluten Free Citrus Brine Turkey
Course: DinnerDifficulty: Medium10
servings30
minutes3
hoursIngredients
1 Thawed or fresh turkey
1 stick Butter
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1 A batch of Citrus Dry Brine
1 Spray bottle with water, OJ, and white wine in it.
Directions
- Spatchcock your turkey up to 3 days before you are going to smoke it.
Rub the citrus dry brine all over the turkey and under the skin where you can.
Place the turkey on a sheet pan and put it uncovered in the fridge for up to 3 days. I think 3 days creates the perfect flavor.
Remove the turkey and get your smoker ready to smoke.
Rub your turkey with butter and drizzle with olive oil. Don’t forget to get some under the skin.
Add your pellets. I like the Thanksgiving blend from Traeger.
Turn your smoker on to 225 degrees.
Put your turkey on the smoker.
Spray it every hour with the mixture.
Smoke it at 225 for the first 2 hours for a turkey up to 15 lbs. If you have a bigger turkey leave it at 225 for longer before turning it up.
Turn the smoker up to 350 to finish cooking and it will crisp the skin up.
Once your turkey reaches 165 remove it from the smoker and let it rest for a few minutes before carving it.
Serve it with your favorite side dishes!
Enjoy!
As Always,
Best Wishes for Gluten Free Dishes!
XO,
Michelle
