Prepping Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 3 hours
Serves: 10
Ingredients
- 1 whole turkey (12-14 lb)
- 1 orange brine mix (or homemade orange–based brine)
- 16 cups water (4 hot+ 12 cold)
- Turkey rub or Traeger Rub
- Apple juice (for spritzing)
Directions
- Step 1–Make the Brine-Boil 4 cups of water with brine mix, remove from heat, and stir in 12 cups cold water. Chill completely.
- Step 2–Spatchcock the Turkey – Remove the backbone, flatten the turkey, and trim any excess fat.
- Step 3-Brine Overnight – Submerge turkey in chilled brine for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator.
- Step 4-Preheat Smoker – Set to 275 °F. Remove turkey from brine, pat dry, and season generously with rub.
- Step 5–Smoke – Place breast–side up on the grill. Spritz with apple juice occasionally. Cook until internal temp reaches 165 °F (about 3 hours).
- Step 6–Rest & Serve- Let rest 15 minutes before carving. Enjoy!
