Description
A delicious recipe for Saint Nick’s Smoked Turkey with Bacon Lattice, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole turkey (12–14 pounds), thawed
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 1 pound bacon, sliced
- 2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 225°F. If using a charcoal smoker, prepare the charcoal and add wood chips for smoke flavor.
- In a bowl, mix the softened butter, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, thyme, and rosemary to create a herb butter.
- Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Gently separate the skin from the breast meat and spread half of the herb butter underneath the skin. Rub the remaining butter all over the outside of the turkey.
- Lay the bacon slices in a lattice pattern over the turkey, starting from the bottom and working your way up. Secure the ends of the bacon under the turkey.
- Place the turkey in the smoker, breast side up. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the smoker pan to keep the turkey moist during cooking.
- Smoke the turkey for about 30 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and thigh. Baste the turkey with the drippings every hour.
- Once cooked, remove the turkey from the smoker and let it rest for 30 minutes before carving.
Notes
- For added flavor, brine the turkey in a saltwater solution for 12-24 hours before applying the herb butter.
- Experiment with different wood chips for smoking, such as applewood or hickory, to enhance the flavor profile of the turkey.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: Saint Nick’s Smoked Turkey with Bacon Lattice, smoked turkey, holiday recipe