Font Size:
  • A
  • A
  • A

E-mail This Page to Your Friends

x

All fields are required.

Separate multiple e-mail addresses with a comma

(i.e. sally@food.com, frank@food.com)

Sending E-mail

Sending E-mail

Or Do Not E-mail

Success!

A link to this page was e-mailed

Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy

Patrick and Gina Neely

Recipe courtesy The Neelys

Show: Down Home with the NeelysEpisode: It's a Neely Thanksgiving

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (15)

  • Cook Time:

    8 hr 0 min

  • Level:

    Intermediate

  • Yield:

    12 servings

Close

Times:

Prep
35 min
Inactive Prep
7 hr 20 min
Cook
8 hr 0 min
Total:
15 hr 55 min
x

Select a Card Size

x

Add To My Recipe Box

Please limit to 20 characters

Adding Recipe

Adding Recipe

Or Do Not Add

Success

This recipe was added to your Folder_Name folder.

x

Add To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to add this recipe to your Recipe Box.

Ingredients

Rub:

  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ground sage
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons thyme
  • 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1/2 tablespoon Neelys Seasoning, recipe follows

Turkey Brine:

  • 1 gallon water
  • 2 cups salt
  • 3 cups apple juice
  • 1 cup bourbon
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 (22-pound) turkey
  • Olive oil
  • 4 cups hickory wood chips, soaked in water for 60 minutes
  • BBQ Gravy, recipe follows

For the rub:

Directions

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl and reserve.

For the brine:

Mix the water, salt, apple juice, bourbon, peppercorn, and sugar into a 5-gallon bucket lined with a resealable bag. Stir until the salt and sugar is dissolved. Add the turkey into the bag with the brine. In a garbage bag-lined ice chest filled with ice, place the bucket in and surround with ice. Keep in a cool place and let brine 6 hours or overnight. Turn the turkey after 3 hours. Remove turkey from the brine and pat dry with paper towels.

Rub the turkey with olive oil and massage the rub onto the Turkey.

Soak wood chips for 1 hour prior to cooking the turkey and drain well. Fill the chimney starter with charcoal and light. Burn until they ash over. Place the burned coals to 1 side of the grill. Place wood chips on top of coals. Line a standard size loaf pan with aluminum foil and fill 2/3 with water. Place in the grill opposite the coals.

Take the turkey and place on the grill over the pan of water. Insert a probe thermometer in the thigh to keep a check on the temperature as it cooks. Place the lid on the grill with the vent open.

The temperature should remain constant at 225 degrees F. You may need to add more coals and chips every few hours.

After 1 hour check the turkey, if the skin is golden brown cover with foil. Continue cooking for 4 to 6 more hours or until a probe thermometer reaches 160 degrees F.

Remove from the oven and let rest 20 minutes before you carve. Serve with BBQ Gravy.

Neelys Seasoning:

  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups paprika
  • 3 3/4 tablespoons onion powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an air tight container for up to 6 months.

BBQ Gravy:

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Drumstick, from turkey
  • Neck, from turkey
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 8 cups turkey stock or chicken stock
  • 1/4 cup BBQ Sauce (recommended: Neelys BBQ Sauce)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the drumstick and neck and sear until brown. Remove from pan and reserve.

Lower heat and saute the onions. Add the stock, scrapping up the fond on the bottom of the pan. Add the drumstick and neck into the saucepan. Cover and let simmer until it comes to a boil; about 1 hour. Sauce will reduce down greatly. Remove turkey parts. Add BBQ sauce to pan and whisk together. Gravy will thicken. Season with salt and pepper.

Next Recipe

More recipes? Try these recommendations:

Perfect Roast Turkey

Similar Recipe

Perfect Roast Turkey

Picture of Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy Recipe

Photo: Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy

Similar Recipes

Read more Comments & Reviews (15)

Comments & Reviews

  • recipe Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy
    Sandy Hoffman Estates, IL 11-20-2009

    Flag

    Can this be roasted????

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I'm with Jamie. I want to roast this plus make gravy with the drippings. Has anyone ever done this?? I would love to try... try turkey recipe but don't have a smoker. Help!Read more
  • recipe Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy
    Carly San Diego, CA 11-17-2009

    Flag

    Best Turkey Ever

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    OMG you must try this turkey it is the best.
  • recipe Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy
    Jamie Aberdeen , SD 11-16-2009

    Flag

    Can it be roasted????

    Rated: 4 stars out of 5
    Just wondering......can this be roasted instead of smoked? I'm not sure if the weather will be warm enough to smoke up here... in the north this time of year. The recipe sounds fabulous and I can't wait to try it. If anyone knows if it can be roasted please let me know.Read more
  • recipe Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy
    Nicole Springfield, VA 08-30-2009

    Flag

    Almost a year later, and they can't stop talking about this turkey!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I made followed the recipe to brine and smoke this turkey for Thanksgiving last year (2008), and it's almost a year later and... everyone is still talking about how good the turkey was. That was the first time I have ever smoked anything, and it turned out so moist and flavorful. I'm already planning to do it again this year... except this year, I'm going to swap the apple juice for peach juice. Thanks Pat & Gina! No need for leftover turkey recipes in our house!!Read more
  • recipe Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy
    Roman Arizona City, AZ 12-27-2008

    Flag

    "A PERFECT BRINE AND RUB FOR A PERFECT SMOKED TURKEY."

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I wanted to give a stab at using a brine for my Christmas turkey and I came across this recipe. I never smoked any meat... before either but I just love BBQ and the combination of the two was something I needed to take on. I used an actual smoker with the hickory chips and this bird came out picture perfect and was the moistest most flavorful bird I've ever tasted. My family usually fries a turkey but after taking them a piece of this bird we all agreed on smoking for the following year. My wife's family was able to enjoy the most of this bird. In the meantime I'll continue using this recipe throughout the year. I don't think I can ever get enough. Thank you!!Read more
  • recipe Smoked Turkey with BBQ Gravy
    LaShaurne Dothan, AL 12-22-2008

    Flag

    The best smoked turkey ever

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I like smoked turkey and caught the recipe while channel surfing it was the best smoked turkey i've ever had. A certified... non turkey eater had a sample and had seconds and thirds. Thanks for making smoking a turkey so easy i brought a bigger turkey 2 smoke for ChristmasRead more
Flag This Review?Close

Please sign in to flag this review.

Not a member? Register now.

Advertisement