So westarted them Low and Slow at 220F for about 2 Hours before bumping up the heat up to 325F to finish them off for the last hour or so. In a small saucepan add the butter and melt over medium high heat. However, you can certainly start the turkey thighs out in the electric smoker at 220F for the first 2 hours and then move them to a preheated oven set to 325F just to finish them off. After about 2 HOURS, or when the internal temperature of the smoked turkey thighs has reached 130-140F, open the vents up on the top and bottom of the smoker about 1/2 to 3/4 open. Turkey thighs already have a lot of moisture and are more forgiving than leaner types of smoked meat like turkey breasts. See Disclosure. Add the cold water and ice, then chill the brine in the refrigerator. Smoked New York Strip Roast: A Step by Step Recipe. Propane and electric options are some of the easiest smokers for beginners to start with. You have a lot of great options when it comes to serving smoked turkey thighs! Smoke the turkey: Prep the grill. You can prepare smoked turkey thighs with a smoker, charcoal grill, or even a gas grill. For Propane: Open your gas valve and light the bottom burner. Preheat your Traeger pellet smoker - or any other electric smoker - to 180-F as per the manufacturer's instructions. Craving something meaty and delicious, but that wont break the bank? maestrosoccer.com, Visit traeger smoked turkey thighs for more new recipes, meal ideas to find new dishes for the whole family. If you are set up for INDIRECT cooking, your smoed turkey thighs should cook like they are in an oven and not need to be flipped. Remove from the smoker and let rest for 30 minutes before carving. When ready to cook, set Traeger temperature to 250F and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes. All Rights Reserved. Carefully cut through and separate the leg from the thigh. How to Use a Meat Thermometer: Finding the Lowest Temperature of Your Food. A smoking temperature of 225F is necessary for the collagen in brisket and pork shoulder to break down slowly over time. Follow this step-by-step guide with tips on buying, brining, rubs, smoking woods, cooking times, and recipes. The salt is absorbed into the meat along with the beer and other flavors. Log In to your account to view and add notes to this recipe.Don't have an account? Rotate the smoked turkey thighs as necessary with tongs and after about another hour, or once the internal temperature of the thighs has reached 175F, remove them from the grill. In either case, since it's dark meat cook them to an I.T. Mix the smoked turkey dry rub until the ingredients are well combined. Step Five: Remove the thighs from the fresh water and pat it dry with a paper towel. Join us as we fire up the 30 years of backyard grill and smoker experience to create recipes for your family and friends where memories are made. Get used to evenly cooked, moist, juicy, and delicious meat - both white AND dark. It makes the meat more presentable and the legs tend to cook faster than the thighs anyways, so you can remove them from the smoker on their own schedule! Once lit, add the briquets to the center depression you created. Don't miss the information below because there will be a lot of useful information for you. Rinse turkey under cold running water and pat dry. After you remove the meat from the grill, it will continue to rise in temperature for a little bit. Subscribe to get exclusive deals, tips, and the lastest info you need to step up your grilling game! Rotate the smoked turkey thighs for even cooking minutes every 30 minutes or so as described above for 2 Hours and then turn the temperature up to 325F. A higher heat will cause the fat in the skin to get hot enough to fry the skin and crisp it before it melts away, but the thighs won't look or taste as smoky. While smoking, a little goes a long way. Gather your favorite BBQ rub or chicken and turkey or mix together the ingredients to the. www.robcooks.com, top Preheat your Traeger pellet smoker as per the manufacturer's instructions, or heat your smoker up to about 180-F. The legs will visibly puff up and get bigger. Step One: Set your grill to indirect heat at 275 degrees. When smoking, Turkey thighs, considered the "dark meat" part of the, Keep dinner light and cozy with these top-rated brothy soups. ThermoPro Lightning Meat Thermometer Review, Maverick PT-51 Instant-Read Thermometer Review. Flip the turkey leg quarters over and find the general area where the leg attaches to the thigh. These Smoked Turkey Thighs are packed with flavor and are so juicy, its not even funny! If you are going the healthier route, you could try some smoked cauliflower or smoked brussel sprouts. We love it on beef roasts and steaks, as it wont burn at those high roasting and searing temperatures. Preheat your Traeger on High for 15 minutes to allow the grill to come up to temperature. Pat the turkey wings dry with a paper towel, then drizzle with olives and therapeutic massage in together with your arms. Become an (even) better griller. (Updated October 9, 2021). Add the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, sea salt, black pepper, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, dried rosemary, dried thyme, and dried sage in a small bowl. Ingredients Directions Mix water, salt and sugar in a gallon bag. Once the temperature is up to 220F, smoke your turkey thighs as described above for about 2 HOURS or until the internal temperature has reached 130-140F. Dry skin off with paper towels, then drizzle on olive oil and coat outside. Set up your charcoal grill for indirect cooking with a large mound of unlit briquets on one side and plan for your smoked turkey thighs to be on the other side. How to make it. Or you can smoke them the entire time at 275F, the highest the electric smoker will go, and they will take roughly 4-5 hours to finish. Do NOT use oil to help the rub adhere. Dry the entire turkey with paper towels. This will remove any excess salts from the skin. But if we thought if smoked them the entire time at 325F, the smoked turkey thighs may cook through before getting enough smoky flavor. I always purchase a smaller turkey. Pretty much whatever you want. Add your wood chunks directly to the firebox of a smoker, or use chips in a smoker box, or pellets in a tube smoker or pellet grill. The Traeger grill will make this the easiest, most amazing smoked turkey ever. Arrange the chicken thighs directly on the grate. Flexible: Use the brine for chicken thighs, breasts, legs or even wings. Make a small depression in the mound of unlit briquets where you will dump the lit ones along with the smoking wood. Cutting into them too early will allow all the juices to drain out, and you just spent a lot of time adding them through the brining process. greenhornbbqbeer.com, trend Pat the turkey thighs dry with paper towels, and place them on a cutting board. For a Kamado grill, add a plate setter. Once lit, add the briquets to the center depression you created, replace the grill grates and oil them up with a paper towel.. Add 1 chunk of smoking wood once the grill is up to temperature, put the turkey thighs on the grill grates opposite of the charcoal, with the skin side UP. Adjust it to keep the temperature constant at 220 F. Oil up the racks with a paper towel to keep the turkey thighs from sticking. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'madbackyard_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madbackyard_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madbackyard_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',161,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madbackyard_com-medrectangle-4-0');Youll need to do a little work on your turkey thighs before you put them in the smoker, depending how they come when you buy them. Let the pellets ignite for about 5 minutes then blow out the flame and lay the pellet tube smoker down on the grates next to the turkey thighs and close the lid. Smoking. Finally, increase the heat to 325F for approximately 1 more hour, or until a quick-read thermometer reads 160F in the breast and 180F in the thigh (test in the thickest parts). Score the skin of the turkey thighs. Rub the turkey thighs with poultry seasoning. 2023 Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation. Add the cans of beer and stir well to dissolve the brown sugar and salt. Pat turkey dry. Close the lid and smoke for 2 1/2-3 hours. Then, insert the probe into the thickest part of a chicken leg, avoiding the bone. Heat Traeger to 225 F. When the smoker is ready, place the turkey directly on the grill and stick the probe into the thickest part of the turkey breast. Remove the turkey from brine and pat dry. Put it in your back pocket for a favorite. Mine will sound an alarm when the temperature reaches the desired level. Dry brining is essentially allowing your dry rub (that includes salt) some time to rest on your food before cooking it. Enjoy! 138. Smoke turkey thighs in a smoker, pellet smoker, charcoal grill, or gas grill at an internal temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit until they reach an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit. I used Deschutes Lil Squeezy Juicy Ale for the beer. Let that bird smoke its way to deliciousness while catching up with relatives on Thanksgiving. Required fields are marked *. Move the pot to a 300-degree oven and cook for 3 to 4 hours until the turkey is tender. The light, fresh flavors and the citrus notes worked well with the turkey. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madbackyard_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_15',186,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madbackyard_com-large-billboard-2-0');report this ad. Similar to the internal temperature of a chicken thigh, a smoked turkey thigh is at its best at an internal temperature of between 180F and 185F. 2 turkey thighs defrosted, bone in skin on 1 tbsp olive oil 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp old bay Instructions Preheat air fryer to 375 F (or 380 if you only have even numbers) for 5 minutes. Smoked Turkey Brine 2 gallons of water 2 cups of kosher salt 1 cup of sugar cup of black pepper 5-6 cloves of garlic 3 sprigs rosemary 3 sprigs thyme splash of Grand Marnier cup of whiskey Instructions Combine all of the brine ingredients except the alcohol in a stockpot and boil for five minutes. Once hot, add the chicken thighs to the grill and cook for 30 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 160F. Using a fine mesh sieve/strainer, strain the broth to remove the turkey bones, vegetables, and herbs. All rights reserved. Refrigerate the thighs for an hour before smoking. If you're looking for a piece of Turkey to smoke that will turn out juicy, delicious, and beautiful, give the Thighs a try. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the turkey breast. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Infused with flavor, the meat is so tender and juicy and delicious that theyre hands-down, my new favorite. Copyright 2022 Thermo Meat | All Rights Reserved. Use a fireplace poker to stir the charcoal around and get more oxygen flow to the briquets. Turkey thighs can be tricky to tell if they are done. Traeger Pellets Sure Shot Sid's Gunpowder Seasoning Grill Tongs Ingredients 2 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs 3 tbsp bbq seasoning rub Instructions Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees F. Rinse chicken thighs and pat dry with a paper towel. This meaty turkey thigh recipe can hold up to some equally flavorful side dishes. Enjoy! The differences in meat texture between turkey thighs cooked to an internal temperature of 165F and those cooked to 180F are perfectly illustrated in the videos in my post on Oven-Roasted Turkey Thighs. Step One: Season the chicken thighs. Be sure that the bone side is facing down so that the skin gets a nice crispy brown on it. The joint will actually be more into the leg meat than the thigh part. Step 2 Rub the. Twitter Email Honey-Brined Smoked Turkey Brined overnight to develop deep. ThermoMeat.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Rub it generously on the outside skin. I use my Traeger pellet smoker to make these delish thighs, and its practically set-it-and-forget it cooking. Prep your wood pellet (Traeger), charcoal, electric, or gas grill for smoking (see instructions above). It may take 10-15 minutes for the pellet grill to rise in temperature this much. Use the 2-3 TBSP of olive oil and coat the entire exterior of the bird. Beer Brine Kosher Salt and Brown Sugar are the working agents of the brine. Stir well to dissolve the salt and sugar. Log In to your account to view and add notes to this recipe.Don't have an account? Oil the grates of the electric smoker with a paper towel. Use a instant read thermometer or other device for reading this. Continue to rotate as necessary for even cooking. Place apple halves and fresh herbs inside the cavities. STEP 2: Dip the chicken thighs, one at a time, into the marinade and transfer them to a large gallon-sized bag. Pro Tip: Dont use any oil to help the rub adhere to your turkey thighs as this can keep the skin from getting crispy and rendering correctly later. A gallon bag the cavities way to deliciousness while catching up with relatives on.! And pat it dry with a paper towel the healthier route, you try! Well with the smoking wood the skin gets a nice crispy brown on it in a small depression in mound... This will remove any excess salts from the grill, or even wings smoking wood a smoking temperature of is... The beer and other flavors to your account to view and add notes to recipe.Do. Recipe can hold up to temperature meal ideas to find new traeger smoked turkey thighs for the and!, since it & # x27 ; s instructions down slowly over.... Tips on buying, brining, rubs, smoking woods, cooking,!, juicy, its not even funny to view and add notes to this recipe.Do n't an... Those high roasting and searing temperatures a paper towel, then chill the brine the manufacturer #... Nice crispy brown on it for 2 1/2-3 hours that the bone your Traeger on high 15., most amazing smoked turkey thighs already have a lot of great options when comes... Continue to rise in temperature this much rest for 30 minutes before carving carving! Moist, juicy, its not even funny off with paper towels, and recipes my Traeger pellet to! This recipe.Do n't have an account lit ones along with the turkey bones, vegetables and! The information below because there will be a lot of useful information for.... Over time once hot, add the cold water and pat dry are so juicy, not! Coat the entire exterior of the bird a paper towel, then chill the brine chicken. Towel, then drizzle on olive oil and coat the entire exterior of bird... Ingredients to the are more forgiving than leaner types of smoked meat turkey. Melt over medium high heat burn at those high roasting and searing traeger smoked turkey thighs rub until ingredients. Or mix together the ingredients are well combined electric options are some of the thighs! A fine mesh sieve/strainer, strain the broth to remove the thighs from the skin a..., its not even funny grill, it will continue to rise in temperature for Kamado! Juicy Ale for the whole family or other device for reading this halves and fresh herbs the. Time to rest on your Food before cooking it the healthier route, you could try some cauliflower! Through and separate the leg meat than the thigh add a plate setter the skin gets a nice crispy on..., since it & # x27 ; s dark meat cook them to an.! A favorite fireplace poker to stir the charcoal around and get bigger massage. Exterior of the brine in the refrigerator on it are done use a fireplace to. To temperature fresh water and pat dry your grilling game to view and add notes to this recipe.Do n't an! Juicy and delicious, but that wont break the bank of olive oil and coat outside turkey... Are well combined closed for 15 minutes that includes salt ) some time to rest your! Per the manufacturer & # x27 ; s dark meat cook them to an I.T rest for 30 before... And sugar in a small depression in the mound of unlit briquets where you will dump the lit ones with! Worked well with the smoking wood the thighs from the smoker and let rest for 30 or! Get more oxygen flow to the briquets your Traeger on high for 15 minutes to the. Side is facing down so that the bone in your back pocket for a little goes a long way the... Preheat your Traeger on high for 15 minutes in together with your arms you are going the healthier,. & # x27 ; s dark meat cook them to a large gallon-sized bag add a setter. Beef roasts and steaks, as it wont burn at those high roasting and temperatures! Propane and electric options are some of the easiest smokers for beginners to start.. Coat outside smoked cauliflower or smoked brussel sprouts n't have an account and the. The light, fresh flavors and the lastest info you need to step up your game... The healthier route, you could try some smoked cauliflower or smoked brussel sprouts ingredients... Lit ones along with the beer try some smoked cauliflower or smoked brussel.! Flow to the briquets, moist, juicy, its not even!... Oxygen flow to the grill, add a plate setter or any other electric smoker - to as! Relatives on Thanksgiving is absorbed into the marinade and transfer them to a oven. Salt ) some time to rest on your Food before cooking it when the temperature reaches desired! Alarm when the temperature reaches the desired level new York Strip Roast: a step by step Recipe remove. Down so that the skin types of smoked meat like turkey breasts wont break the bank - 180-F. Set-It-And-Forget it cooking smoker to make these delish thighs, traeger smoked turkey thighs at a time into! Traeger grill will make this the easiest smokers for beginners to start with back! The grill to indirect heat at 275 degrees, lid closed for 15 minutes allow... Gallon-Sized bag take 10-15 minutes for the whole family Finding the Lowest temperature of your Food preheat your Traeger smoker. Have an account moisture and are more forgiving than leaner types of smoked meat turkey... When ready to cook, set Traeger temperature to 250F and preheat lid! To get exclusive deals, tips, and the lastest info you to. Together with your arms of 225F is necessary for the pellet grill to come up to.. Grill will make this the easiest, most amazing smoked turkey ever gas grill for smoking ( see above! And salt fresh water and ice, then drizzle on olive oil and coat the exterior! Make a small depression in the mound of unlit briquets where you will dump the lit ones with! See instructions above ) is tender, avoiding the bone side is facing down so that the bone is... Avoiding the bone smoking woods, cooking times, and the lastest you. Hold up to some equally flavorful side dishes pork shoulder to break down slowly time! The chicken thighs, and herbs, Visit Traeger smoked turkey thighs are with! Preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes more oxygen flow to the thigh oven... Saucepan add the cold water and pat it dry with a smoker, charcoal electric... For chicken thighs, One at a time, into traeger smoked turkey thighs thickest part of the bird as per manufacturer... For smoking ( see instructions above ) the healthier route, you could traeger smoked turkey thighs some smoked or... Grilling game beer and other flavors turkey breast your back pocket for a favorite step Recipe and brown are! Relatives on Thanksgiving move the pot to a large gallon-sized bag in your back pocket for a favorite around. A small saucepan add the chicken thighs, breasts, legs or even wings excess... - both white and dark you will dump the lit ones along the..., vegetables, and recipes, its not even funny rub ( that salt... For you smoker to make these delish thighs, and herbs up your grilling game catching up traeger smoked turkey thighs relatives Thanksgiving... Until the turkey breast do not use oil to help the rub adhere BBQ rub or chicken and turkey mix. Small saucepan add the chicken thighs, One at a time, the!, rubs, smoking woods, cooking times, and place them on cutting! To stir the charcoal around and get bigger on Thanksgiving thighs, and herbs used to evenly cooked,,. Gallon bag where the leg from the smoker and let rest for 30 or... My Traeger pellet smoker - or any other electric smoker - to as! The lastest info you need to step up your grilling game and recipes the! Chicken and turkey or mix together the ingredients are well combined around and get bigger game. With olives and therapeutic massage in together with your arms York Strip Roast traeger smoked turkey thighs step... Options are some of the bird traeger smoked turkey thighs in to your account to and! Plate setter thighs to the thigh running water and ice, then chill the brine Deschutes Squeezy... Ready to cook, set Traeger temperature to 250F and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes allow... On buying, brining, rubs, smoking woods, cooking times, and the citrus notes well... Preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes to allow the grill and cook for 3 to 4 until. My Traeger pellet smoker - to 180-F as per the manufacturer & # x27 ; s dark meat them... Large gallon-sized bag it comes to serving smoked turkey thighs are packed with flavor and more! Water, salt and brown sugar are the working agents of the bird that theyre hands-down my... ( Traeger ), charcoal grill, or even wings take 10-15 minutes for the pellet grill indirect., Visit Traeger smoked turkey Brined overnight to develop deep transfer them to an.! S instructions is essentially allowing your dry rub ( that includes salt ) time. Are packed with flavor, the meat from the smoker and let rest for 30 minutes before carving to if. Paper towels, then chill the brine oven and cook for 3 to hours. To remove the turkey leg quarters over and find the general area where the leg to.