Honey Brined Smoked Turkey

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2004

Show: Food Network SpecialsEpisode: All Star Thanksgiving

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (157)

Cook Time:
4 hr 0 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
10 to 12 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: 13 min
Cook: 4 hr 0 min
Total:: 4 hr 28 min

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Ingredients

1 gallon hot water
1 pound kosher salt
2 quarts vegetable broth
1 pound honey
1 (7-pound) bag of ice
1 (15 to 20-pound) turkey, with giblets removed
Vegetable oil, for rubbing turkey

Directions

Combine the hot water and the salt in a 54-quart cooler. Stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey. Add the ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side up, and cover with cooler lid.. Brine overnight, up to 12 hours.

Remove the turkey from the brine and dry thoroughly. Rub the bird thoroughly with the vegetable oil.

Heat the grill to 400 degrees F.

Using a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil, build a smoke bomb. Place a cup of hickory wood chips in the center of the foil and gather up the edges, making a small pouch. Leave the pouch open at the top. Set this directly on the charcoal or on the metal bar over the gas flame. Set the turkey over indirect heat, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat, and set the alarm for 160 degrees F. Close the lid and cook for 1 hour.

After 1 hour check the bird; if the skin is golden brown, cover with aluminum foil and continue cooking. Also, after 1 hour, replace wood chips with second cup.

Once the bird reaches 160 degrees F, remove from grill, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
Emiliano philadelphia, PA 11-20-2009
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Big Green Egg?
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Anyone make this on a BGE? Any modifications needed?
recipe Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
Patti Belleville, NJ 11-19-2009
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WELL LET ME TELL YALL HONEY
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I could just kill that Alton Brown!! Ever since he showed me this recipe I just caint get rid of folks. Everyone from... miles around tell me this is the best turkey they have ever tasted. When I saw this recipe about 6 years ago he had a little more to it. He added some cumin and cinnamin sticks to the wood chips that he wrapped up in the foil and put on the grill. But I also add some of them to the brine. And everyone says "Grilled Turkey???" We get 'em everytime. I don't think I will ever make another kind o' turkey again. And that person that gave 4 stars and didn't even try the turkey yet...seems awfully nutty to me....Get a Grip!!! I just Love You Alton Brown...I'm a slightly thick chick (but very cute and sexy) and you are my hero. :) Are you married?Read more
recipe Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
David Pasadena, TX 11-17-2009
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Delicious and Easy! The best smoked turkey ever.
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I tried this recipe and it is even better than my dad's....and he is a master smoker! The brine makes a huge difference.... Alton Brown never let's you down! Read more
recipe Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
Nina Austin, TX 11-14-2009
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Looking to Roast in oven versus Smoke...
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I love Alton and all of his recipes. This will be the first time I attempt this recipe...however I would prefer to roast the... turkey in the oven versus smoking it...does anyone have any idea on the time it would take? My turkey is about 15-16 pounds.Read more
recipe Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
cheryl warner robins, GA 11-08-2009
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best turkey i have ever served!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

i love altons recipes because he is a southern cook like me.(paula too!) i tried this brine a couple of years ago and couldnt... believe how moist and tender it was. THE COLOR WAS BEAUTIFUL TOO.this now my go to never fail turkey recipe don"t hesitate to try it,you'll be so glad you did!Read more
recipe Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
Beverly Hampton, VA 10-22-2009
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MY FIRST REVIEW
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I had a frozen turkey for 10 months. Thought nothing would save it; but, I thought of this recipe. I brined the turkey. ... Didn't have vegetable broth, so I added some grated carrot, onion, and celery leaves to the hot water and used chicken broth instead. I didn't have my smoker with me; so, I stuffed the turkey with a filling and roasted it in the oven. Tented with foil until almost finished. Then removed the foil to brown. I didn't season the cavity like I normally do, just put on the vegetable oil. WOW!! The turkey was very flavorable and seasoned just right. The white meat was very moist. From now on, I will always brine the turkey, even if I don't smoke it. Read more