Smoked turkey is a mouthwatering alternative to roasted turkey, with an incredible depth of flavor in every moist, tender bite. But with most home cooks lacking their own smoker, it can be tricky to figure out where to get a smoked turkey. Don’t worry – you have great options!
In this article, I’ll share the best places to buy ready-to-eat smoked turkeys, order smoked turkeys from restaurants, or learn to smoke one yourself Let’s dive in so you can enjoy juicy, wood-smoked turkey this holiday season.
Purchase a Fully Cooked Smoked Turkey
The easiest route is to buy a pre-smoked turkey that’s fully cooked and ready to serve. Many high-end butcher shops, specialty meat markets, and online retailers sell smoked turkeys you can order ahead of time and simply pick up to carve and enjoy.
Some specific places to purchase ready-to-eat smoked turkeys include:
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Local specialty butcher shops and meat markets – Many offer smoked turkeys around the holidays when you order ahead.
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Online specialty meat companies like Burgers’ Smokehouse – They ship pre-smoked turkeys nationwide. Order ahead and get it delivered to your doorstep.
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Grocery store deli counters – Some stock smoked turkeys seasonally. Check with your local market.
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Warehouse clubs like Costco – They carry fully cooked smoked turkeys, sold exclusively through Stevison Meat Co No membership required to purchase
The major benefit of buying pre-smoked is convenience – the turkey arrives smoked, cooked, and ready to serve. The downside is cost – expect to pay more versus smoking it yourself.
Order Smoked Turkey from a Restaurant
Another route is to order a smoked turkey from a local restaurant, BBQ eatery, or catering company. Many smoke turkeys specially for holidays when ordered ahead of time.
Some specific places that may offer smoked turkeys:
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BBQ restaurants and smokehouses – Ask your favorite local spots if they offer smoked turkeys for holiday meals.
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Catering companies – Most caterers can provide a smoked turkey for events and smaller family meals with advance notice.
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Upscale restaurants – Some fine dining or upscale restaurants will specially smoke a turkey if ordered ahead for the holidays.
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Butcher shops with kitchens – Butchers that prepare food may feature smoked turkeys as holiday specials.
The benefit here is getting a fully cooked, gourmet smoked turkey without any effort. The chef handles the entire process start to finish. The downside is the price tag – expect a premium to have a restaurant smoke your turkey.
Hire a Private Chef to Smoke a Turkey For You
For the ultimate ease and luxury, hire a private chef to purchase, brine, smoke, and carve a turkey just for your holiday meal. They’ll bring all the equipment, prepare your turkey, smoke it on-site, and present you with a Instagram-worthy smoked turkey to enjoy. It’s pricier but takes the work totally off your plate.
Smoke a Turkey On Your Outdoor Grill
With the right setup, you can transform your standard backyard grill into a smoker to make delicious smoked turkey at home. Here’s how to
The Taste of The Holidays
Greenbergs have been smoking turkeys in Tyler for over 80 years. Little has changed in that time.
We prep each turkey by hand. After giving it our signature rub, we send the turkey to smoke for upwards of 16 hours.
Our Turkeys range in size from 5 to 15 pounds. We are unique in that you can order that size that you require as long as it is available. A rule of thumb for size is a third to half a pound per person for average eaters. Of course, this may vary, but we find this to be accurate in most cases.
We’ll Give You a Hand with the Leftovers
Leftovers are one of the best holiday traditions. But you can only eat so many turkey sandwiches.
Let Greenberg Smoked Turkeys give you a hand. Browse our selection of recipes perfect for leftover turkey.
AWESOME Smoked Turkey Recipe For Beginners!
FAQ
How much does it cost 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. For example, a 12-pound turkey will take approximately 6 to 8 hours. It’s important to keep the smoker’s temperature consistent and monitor the internal temperature of the turkey closely.
Can I buy a ready cooked turkey?
You can buy a whole, fully cooked smoked turkey frozen from butterball. Just heat it up, or thaw and carve if you want to eat it cold.
Is Costco whole smoked turkey good?
The turkey is moist with good smoke flavor. It’s a great alternative if you don’t want a to make a whole turkey from scratch. And no the Turkey is not dry!
How many people will a 10 lb smoked turkey feed?
| Number of Guests | Size Turkey Recommended |
|---|---|
| 4 – 6 | 4- to 9-lb. turkey* |
| 8 – 10 | 8- to 15-lb. turkey |
| 12 – 16 | 12- to 24-lb. turkey |
| 18 – 20 | 18- to 30-lb. turkey |