Smoked Turkey Breast Recipe: Easy, Juicy, and Packed with Flavor
This smoked turkey breast recipe delivers juicy, tender meat with buttery flavor and a touch of smoke. Easy to make, crowd-approved, and perfect for Thanksgiving or any cookout.
Servings 2 Hungry People
Calories 520kcal
Equipment
- Smoker
- Aluminum foil
- Meat thermometer
- Cotton gloves + nitrile gloves (for handling hot meat) optional
- Cooler (for resting)
- Fillet Knife optional if you wanna make it pretty
- Slicing Knife
Ingredients
- 1 Whole boneless turkey breast (pre-brined is fine)
- 1 tablespoon Salt you may not need all of this if pre-brined
- 2 tablespoon #16 Mesh Black Pepper (fresh ground is fine)
- 1 tablespoon Favorite BBQ Rub https://ilovemeat.com/classic-bbq-rub/
- 1 stick Butter
- Hot Honey optional
Instructions
- Trim the Turkey Breast - Remove any loose pieces to create a smooth, uniform shape. This step is optional but improves presentation.
- Season the Meat - Lightly coat the turkey breast with salt, then add a generous amount of black pepper. Finish with your BBQ rub of choice.
- Preheat the Smoker - Set your smoker to 250°F and let it come to temperature.
- Smoke the Turkey - Place the turkey breast in the smoker and cook for 2–3 hours, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Baste with Butter - If the breast starts to dry out baste with melted butter.
- Wrap with Butter and Optional Honey - Lay out a sheet of aluminum foil. Add a stick of butter and a drizzle of hot honey (if using). Place the turkey breast “pretty side” down on the butter and wrap tightly.
- Rest the Turkey - Place the wrapped turkey breast in a cooler or warm oven and let it rest for 1 hour. The internal temperature should rise to 165°F.
- Slice and Serve - Slice into pencil-thick pieces and serve with the buttery, flavorful juices from the foil.