Smoked Turkey 5 Ways

When planning out your holiday menu, it’s likely that turkey is at the top of the list. It’s the kind of traditional dish that goes hand-in-hand with Thanksgiving. This year, put your best and most flavorful wing forward and skip the oven. This is a job for the Pit Boss. Smoked turkey makes the best centerpiece for any holiday feast, delivering on flavor and texture every time. From classic smoked turkey to regional twists on the holiday favorite, we’re bringing you our top five recipes for delicious, juicy turkey. Your holiday turkey inspo starts here:

#1 Classic Smoked Turkey

Combining our easy-to-use Turkey Bucket Kit and the delicious, smoky flavor you get from your Pit Boss wood pellet grill, this recipe is the perfect (and easiest) way to achieve a perfectly smoked turkey.

#2 Bourbon Glazed Smoked Turkey Breast

Add a shot of top-shelf flavor to your turkey with this Bourbon-Glazed Smoked Turkey Breast. Smoked on a Pit Boss Wood Pellet Grill then glazed with a sweet and rich mixture of maple syrup, butter, orange juice and your favorite bourbon, this turkey packs mouthwatering flavor into every bite.

#3 Hot & Fast BBQ Turkey

If you’re short on time, this recipe delivers a delicious, table-ready turkey in just two hours. Not only will you have dinner on the table in half the time, but this turkey is packed with traditional BBQ flavor. It starts with injecting a mixture of honey, garlic, and herbs, and finishes with a spicy-sweet glaze of BBQ sauce.

#4 Texas Style Turkey

This simple smoked turkey recipe is anything but basic, bringing the big, bold flavor of Texas BBQ right to your table. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep, the four hours low and slow on the Pit Boss is what steals the show in this recipe, infusing every bite with delicious, smoky flavor.

#5 Sweet Heat Cajun Spatchcock Turkey

Try a sweet and spicy twist on classic holiday turkey with this Cajun-inspired recipe. Using the spatchcock method exposes more of your turkey to the grill for even more smoky flavor. Why not switch up this year and try out a new cooking method AND flavor profile?

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Comments

George - December 23, 2025
Anybody have any issues with smoking a turkey on a PB1230CS1 horizontal smoker?

Mike Kalinoski - November 25, 2025
Had the same problem a year ago. Power the whole unit down and let it cool off. Set everything back up and listen for your blower to come on. Hopefully yours is still under warranty. If the blower doesn’t push any air, you won’t get anything but a small amount of fire and a stuffed pellet supply tube. I was able to get a replacement, but it took a bit of time.

Todd - November 24, 2025
Vacuumed hooper and ash tray for a pre run
Set to smoke and after 30 minutes not heating
Ambient temperature is only 55.
Working fine last week
Tips?

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