This delicious Traeger Smoked Turkey with stuffing is incredibly juicy and flavorful! It’s the best way to make your Thanksgiving turkey with only 15 minutes of prep, and the result is moist, tender meat from a flavorful turkey stuffed with delicious apple stuffing and crispy, crunchy candied pecans.
Imagine the scene, right out of a Dickens novel: your guests gather around the table, eyes widening as you unveil a masterpiece – a flawless smoked turkey, its skin glistening with a deep mahogany hue. But the real showstopper? The aroma of candied pecans and apples from the perfectly cooked stuffing – promising a smoked turkey that knocks the classics out of the park.
We’ve combined the time-honored tradition of smoking with a stuffing with the simplicity of a pellet smoker. What you get is a turkey that’s moist and flavorful, with a stuffing so good, you’ll be tempted to make it year-round.
Smoking a stuffed turkey infuses incredible flavor into the meat while keeping it tender and juicy Getting the timing right ensures the bird and stuffing are fully cooked without overdoing it So how long should you smoke a stuffed turkey?
Factors That Affect Cook Time
Several key factors impact how long a stuffed turkey takes to smoke
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Turkey size – A bigger bird needs more time. Figure 30-35 minutes per pound for turkeys 10-18 lbs.
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Smoking temperature – Lower heat like 225°F takes longer but gives more smoke flavor. At 275°F, expect 20-25 minutes per pound.
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Stuffing ingredients -Dense items like rice or cornbread make the center take longer to hit 165°F.
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Type of smoker – Pellet grills tend to cook faster than charcoal or electric. Offset smokers are slower.
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Meat thermometers – Digital thermometers eliminate guesswork and tell when turkey and stuffing are safely cooked.
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Brining – Soaking in a saltwater brine accelerates cooking but keeps the meat super juicy.
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Spatchcocking – Removing the backbone and flattening the bird significantly reduces cook time.
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Weather conditions – Cold or windy days increase time needed to reach proper internal temperature.
Estimated Smoking Times Per Pound
Here are general timeframes for smoking stuffed turkey based on the most common factors:
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225-250°F on a pellet grill – Figure 35-40 minutes per lb for a 10-15 lb turkey. A 12 lb bird takes 7+ hours.
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250-275°F on an electric or charcoal smoker – Estimate 30-35 minutes per pound for turkeys up to 18 lbs. A 15 lb turkey takes 8-9 hours.
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275-300°F on propane or offset smoker – Allow 25-30 minutes per lb for best results. A 10 lb turkey finishes in 4-5 hours.
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Spatchcocked turkey at 275°F – Plan for 20 minutes per lb regardless of smoker type. A spatchcocked 15 lb turkey takes 5 hours.
Step-by-Step Guide to Smoking a Stuffed Turkey
Follow these tips for perfectly smoked stuffed turkey:
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Thaw frozen turkey 1-2 days in the fridge before smoking. Rinse cavity well.
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Make your favorite stuffing and cook any raw meats before stuffing turkey.
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Truss legs together with twine to contain stuffing. Rub skin with oil and seasonings.
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Load smoker with preferred wood like apple, pecan, cherry. Heat to 275°F with water pan.
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Place turkey breast up on middle rack with drip pan underneath. Insert probe thermometers in breast and thigh.
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Smoke turkey with occasional spritzes until breast hits 160°F and thigh reaches 175°F, around 30 minutes per pound.
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Check stuffing temp in center of cavity. Must reach 165°F for safety.
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Rest turkey 30 minutes before carving. Stuffing remains piping hot so allow it to cool slightly before serving.
Handy Timechart for Smoked Stuffed Turkey
| Turkey Weight | Time at 225°F | Time at 250°F | Time at 275°F |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 pounds | 6-7 hours | 5-6 hours | 4-5 hours |
| 12 pounds | 7-8 hours | 6-7 hours | 5-6 hours |
| 14 pounds | 8-9 hours | 7-8 hours | 6-7 hours |
| 16 pounds | 9-11 hours | 8-10 hours | 7-8 hours |
| 18 pounds | 11-13 hours | 9-12 hours | 8-9 hours |
Tips for Maximizing Flavor and Tenderness
Apply these tips for the best smoked stuffed turkey:
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Brine the bird for 12-24 hours before smoking. This boosts moisture and seasoning.
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Make extra stuffing to bake separately. Ensures it cooks through without overcooking turkey.
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Spritz turkey with apple juice or broth every 45-60 minutes to help retain moisture.
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Wrap legs and wings in foil if browning too fast. Keep the tips exposed for color.
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Use a thermometer to check the turkey breast, thighs, and center of stuffing for doneness.
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Let turkey rest 30 minutes before slicing for perfectly juicy meat.
Master Smoked Stuffed Turkey on Your Next Holiday
With the right technique, smoking a stuffed turkey results in incredible flavor with tender, succulent meat that stays moist. Estimate 30-40 minutes per pound at 225-275°F based on size and smoker type. Monitor temperatures closely and rest before serving. Follow these guidelines for your best smoked stuffed turkey ever.
Pellet Grill Turkey Ingredients
This recipe looks complicated, but it’s really 3 quick and easy recipes in one. Trust us, it’s worth it. See our guide for The Best Wood for Smoking Turkey before you even get started to make sure the hopper is full!
- Pecans – Use whole pecans, not chopped.
- Water and Brown Sugar – The “candy” for the pecans. The brown sugar dissolves into the water, which then hardens around the pecans to form a sweet, crunchy exterior.
- Creole Seasoning – We use Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning Apple Stuffing.
- Wheat Bread – Cut into ½-inch cubes.
- Apples – Any tart apple will work. Be sure to peel, seed, and chop into small chunks.
- Butter – Used to add flavor depth and sauté the veggies.
- Onion and Celery – Sautéed with the apple to add sweetness, flavor, and texture to the stuffing.
- Garlic – We recommend using freshly minced garlic for the best flavor.
- Parsley, Rosemary, and Thyme – We recommend using fresh herbs but dry herbs will work in a pinch.
- Candied Pecans – From above.
- Fresh Parsley – More for garnish, if desired.
- Turkey – You’ll need one 12 to 17-lb fresh turkey or whatever size is right for your family. Make sure it’s thawed ahead of time and no longer frozen, with the giblets removed, so you have plenty of time to cook it the day of (and make giblet gravy to go with it all). See our notes on turkey cooking time below. Be sure to save the leftover bones for homemade turkey stock.
- Injectable Marinade – We use Tony Chachere’s Praline Honey Ham Injectable Marinade.
- Oil – You can use vegetable or canola oil.
- Creole Seasoning – Again, use Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning Apple Stuffing.
- Candied Pecans, Coarse Kosher Salt, and Fresh Parsley – For garnish!
How to Smoke Turkey on Traeger
There are three parts to this Traeger turkey recipe, but don’t worry. They’re all easy to make!
Stuffed Smoked Turkey
FAQ
How long to smoke a stuffed turkey at 225 degrees?
How Long to Smoke a Turkey. A good rule of thumb is that smoking a turkey typically takes about 30-40 minutes per pound at a temperature of 225°F to 250°F.
Is it better to smoke a turkey at 225 or 250?
- Crispy skin: Cooking at a slightly higher temperature like 250°F promotes crispier skin on the turkey compared to 225°F where the skin might become rubbery.
- Cooking time: Smoking at 225°F will take significantly longer than at 250°F.
- Smoke flavor: If you want a more intense smoky flavor, opt for the lower temperature of 225°F.
How long to smoke a 15 lb turkey?
- At 225°F, it takes about 30 minutes per lb
- At 250°F, it takes about 25 minutes per lb
How do you keep a turkey moist while smoking?
We swear by wet brining our turkey before smoking because it not only adds a ton of flavor but also helps the turkey retain moisture during the smoking process.Oct 17, 2022
How long do you smoke a Turkey in a smoker?
Set the smoker to 225° F. Place the turkey on a cooking rack and cook for 8 to 12 hours or until the inner thigh temperature reaches 180° F. Check the temperature of your turkey after 3½ hours. Your turkey must pass through a critical range of 40° F to 140° F in 4 hours or less. Can you stuff a turkey and then smoke it?
How long does it take to smoke a stuffed turkey?
So for a 12 lb stuffed turkey, expect around 8 hours of total smoke time, give or take For a 14 lb bird, plan on 8-9 hours Monitor the temperature and use a meat thermometer to determine doneness rather than relying solely on cook times. Several factors can increase or decrease the amount of time needed to smoke a stuffed turkey:
What temperature do you smoke a stuffed turkey?
A: The ideal temperature for smoking a stuffed turkey is between 225F and 250F. This will allow the turkey to cook evenly and slowly, resulting in a juicy and flavorful bird. Q: How long does it take to smoke a stuffed turkey?
How long does it take to smoke an unstuffed Turkey?
The general rule of thumb for smoking an unstuffed turkey is about 30 minutes per pound at a temperature between 220-275°F. So a typical 12-14 lb turkey would take 6-7 hours to smoke without stuffing When stuffing is added, plan to add about 30-60 minutes of additional cook time.
How long does a stuffed turkey take to cook?
The extra thermal mass from the stuffing means the turkey will take a bit longer to come up to temperature So for a 12 lb stuffed turkey, expect around 8 hours of total smoke time, give or take For a 14 lb bird, plan on 8-9 hours Monitor the temperature and use a meat thermometer to determine doneness rather than relying solely on cook times.
Can you smoke a stuffed turkey?
The answer is yes, you can certainly smoke a stuffed turkey, but there are a few important factors to consider when doing so. Do you like this article? When smoking a stuffed turkey, it’s important to keep in mind that the internal temperature needs to reach a safe level to ensure that both the turkey and the stuffing are fully cooked.