During this time, make the BBQ glaze. 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. Be sure that the bone side is facing down so that the skin gets a nice crispy brown on it. A Traeger smoked turkey is the perfect way to elevate your Thanksgiving dinner table! Make sure you have the flame broiler CLOSED so that the pellet grill is set up for INDIRECT cooking. The brine is mild yet yields impressive results. Oil the racks of the smoker with a paper towel to keep the turkey thighs from sticking later. Check it out here! The idea is to remove any excess salts that may have accumulated on the skin. Approximately every 30 minutes, baste the turkey thighs with melted butter or olive oil that is mixed with some of the spice rub. Why Use a Meat Thermometer? Place the rubbed turkey directly on the rack in the smoker. Activating this element will cause content on the page to be updated. But what if youre more of a dark meat fan? Log In to your account to view and add notes to this recipe.Don't have an account? 1 / 3. This solution often contains sugar, and Ive even seen some with trace starches in them. Light just one burner so the temperature stays low in the 220F range. Cover the bowl with Saran and refrigerate overnight. You can also always brush on a sweet barbecue sauce or honey glaze at the very end too if you want to go full on Barbecue Style with your smoked turkey thighs. 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. Rub the canola oil all over the outside of turkey, then place breast-side up in a disposable aluminum roasting pan. Instructions. It basically burns new fresh wood chips at a constant rate, much like how a pellet grill works, freeing you up to do other things while getting your food nice and smoky! Set the probe temperature to 165 F. Use Super Smoke if you have that option. Refrigerate for 24 hours, then remove the turkey legs and discard the brine. Place the turkey in a foil pan and place it on the grill. Flip the turkey thighs back over and you should have a nice trimmed and neat looking turkey thigh (that kind of looks just like a large chicken thigh!). Turkey thighs can be tricky to tell if they are done. Common poultry spice rub ingredients such as kosher salt, pepper, paprika, brown sugar, onion powder, and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper. Arrange the chicken thighs directly on the grate. After about another hour, or once the the smoked turkey thighs have reached 175F internally, remove them from the gas grill. Gas grillers should use a smoking box. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madbackyard_com-portrait-1','ezslot_25',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madbackyard_com-portrait-1-0');Smoke the turkey thighs until they reach an internal temperature of 175F. Avoid flipping and cooking skin side down as you may lose a lot seasoning and tear the skin on your smoked turkey thighs. Dry Brine the Chicken Legs to Smoke on the Traeger After rinsing and drying, simply coat the outside of your chicken legs with kosher salt, or your favorite BBQ rub that has already salt in it. Dry Brine Traeger Turkey 4.4 Jeffrey Potts gave his winning 2015 Meat Madness turkey the royal treatment by dry brining it overnight for a super tender interior with a flavorful, toasted shell on the outside. When ready to cook, set Traeger temperature to 250F and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes. Rinse the turkey well, inside and out. A turkey thigh measuring an internal temperature of 185 degrees Fahrenheit according to the FireBoard 2 Drive on a Weber Smokey Mountain smoker. We search and create information related to Traeger Smoked Turkey Thighs every day so there will be a lot of results displayed. Bring to a boil then remove from heat. We are going to bring the internal temperature of our smoked turkey thighs up to at least 175F. Once combined, fill the barrel of your injector with it and you're good to go! Carefully cut through and separate the leg from the thigh. Smoke until the probe reaches 165 F. Check out some of our favorite Turkey and Side Dish recipes below that can easily be modified to be done on any grill or smoker. www.traeger.com, top Steps 1 Bring the brine ingredients to a boil over high heat on the stovetop. Add the turkey thighs and make sure they are completely covered by the liquid. Simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour until the broth is yellow and fragrant. Preheat grill to 300 degrees, then place the turkey (uncovered and in the roasting pan) on the grill. Preheat smoker. Step One: Set your grill to indirect heat at 275 degrees. Pour in the cooking liquid and stir the pot firmly with a wooden or plastic spoon to loosen any stuck-on bits from the bottom of the pot. SMOKE: Smoke-cook at 225F for 2 hours. 2 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs Cooldown to 40 degrees. Add the cans of beer and stir well to dissolve the brown sugar and salt. the thighs should be around 180 degrees. How to smoke a turkey on a Traeger Day 1: Mix the turkey brine: Combine the warm water with the sugar and salt and stir vigorously until both are completely dissolved. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. It ADDS GREAT FLAVOR for your meat or fish and exposes them to a tasteful smoke of smoldering wood. We love it on beef roasts and steaks, as it wont burn at those high roasting and searing temperatures. As a result, the skin gets crispy, and the flavor is locked in. In a small saucepan add the butter and melt over medium high heat. Juicy with a nice smoke ring around the outside of the meat. 1 tsp finely ground black pepper. Youll need to set up your grill or smoker a little different depending on whether you are using a grill, smoker, or a pellet grill like a Traeger or Pit Boss. The brine needs a chance to work, so youll want to start the work on this about eight hours before you want to grill. Turkey thighs are DARK meat and need to come up to a higher internal temperature than white meat such as breasts and wings. Prep Time 20 minutes Brine Time 1 day Cook Time 5 hours Total Time 1 day 5 hours 20 minutes Ingredients 8-12, Step 1 Preheat smoker to 250F. Close the lid and smoke thighs for 20 minutes (without sauce). Continue to baste and flip every 30 minutes until the turkey thighs reach a minimum internal temperature of 185F (approximately 3 hours), making sure to insert the thermometer in the thickest portion near the bone. Definitely use a meat thermometer to check this. As outdoor living enthusiasts, we love to mention and link to various products we have used or researched. Follow this step-by-step guide with tips on buying, brining, rubs, smoking woods, cooking times, and recipes. Plug in the pellet grill, let it run through its start up process, and then turn the temperature to 220F. Continue to smoke the chicken until the thighs reach a temperature of 170-175 degrees F. Remove, rest, serve, and enjoy! Rinse the entire bird with water in your kitchen sink. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook! For Great Baking Recipes, Check Out Our Partner Site Youre Gonna Bake It After All. Oil the grates of the electric smoker with a paper towel. of about 175 or so. Place the turkey, breast side down, in the bucket with the brine, making sure the turkey is completely submerged. You can add the brine to the stovetop, bring it to a boil, and then let it come down to room temperature before brining, but I did not notice a difference in the turkey when I did this, so you can definitely save yourself some time and skip that step. Smoked Turkey with Fig BBQ Sauce Prep Time 4 Hours Cook Time 2 Hours Effort Pellets Apple These brined, Traeger Kitchen Smoked Turkey Legs Prep Time 30 Minutes Cook Time 5 Hours Effort Pellets Hickory These drumsticks aren't a wimpy, wing night special, they're big on flavor with a crusted outside and juicy. Or check out this handy comparison between smoker boxes and pellet tube smokers if you cant decide which is right for you. 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. The collagen and connective tissue in these much larger animals (a steer can easily weigh over 1200lbs and a pig over 300lbs) support a lot of weight and are denser and harder to convert into gelatin. And for dessert, dont forget the smoked peach cobbler or smoked chocolate chip cookies! www.therecipes.info, tip Actual smoking time can depend on the size of the thighs and how cold they were when they went into the smoker. Gluten Free. Traeger Smoked Turkey Legs made at home on your pellet grill! Brine them, smoke them, and enjoy one of the best bites that BBQ can produce. Want to see a list of our FAVORITE Vertical Smokers for 2022? Smoke the turkey: Prep the grill. Let the smoked turkey thighs cool for about 15 minutes. When smoking turkey legs on the Traeger Lil'Tex or any other pellet grill or smoker, like the Loaded Wichita Yoder offset smoker, you want to get up to 180 degrees internal temperatures. I found just as much success adding to a bowl of fresh, cool water. Coat both sides of the turkey thighs evenly with the Montreal Chicken Seasoning or your favorite rub. Go medieval on your week with this slow-smoked, wood-fired entree. Follow this step-by-step guide with tips on buying, brining, rubs, smoking woods, cooking times, and recipes. Infused with flavor, the meat is so tender and juicy and delicious that theyre hands-down, my new favorite. If you are pressed for time, you can always start them at 325F or turn the heat up sooner in the cook. More on how exactly to do this on various grills and smokers below. Rub it generously on the outside skin. Fill the pan with 1/2 inch (1-2cm) of water. Pat the turkey wings dry with a paper towel, then drizzle with olives and therapeutic massage in together with your arms. This will save you the hassle of having to refill the smoker box multiple times while smoking the turkey thighs. Smoked turkey butter rub (for under skin) Butter Garlic Salt I always purchase a smaller turkey. Or you can choose more traditional Thanksgiving flavors to pair them with some sweet potatoes or brussel sprouts. After brining for approximately 8-10 hours, remove the turkey thighs and let them rest in fresh, cold water for 15 minutes. Joined Jun 2, 2021 Messages 783 Reaction score 706 Points 93 Location Birmingham, AL Grill Traeger Pro 575 / Weber Genesis / Orion Cooker Anyone ever done these? Check out our COMPLETE Comparison Guide HERE. Look for turkey thighs that are unseasoned. Often, chicken and turkey is injected with a brine solution to a) keep the meat tender and juicy and b) to pump up the weight so they can sell it for more money. Season turkey thighs with dry rub for 4 hours and up to 12 hours before smoking. On our Pit Boss pellet grill we used these apple pellets and got a nice mild smoke flavor on our smoked turkey thighs. . Flip the turkey thighs skin side down and trim any excess skin hanging off the sides of each turkey thigh and also remove the small triangular tail bone at the bottom of each thigh if present. 08 of 09 Sweet and Spicy Curry with Chickpeas View Recipe Allrecipes Magazine Experience the evolution of fire with Traeger's next generation of wood pellet grills. Making a whole, Preheat the wood pellet smoker to 225 degrees fahrenheit; Place the, Use your favorite sauce Them legs! Assume those links are affiliate links which means we may earn a small commission if you click and buy. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan over a low heat. Cover the bowl and let the brine do the work in the refrigerator for about eight hours. Combine sage, mustard, garlic powder, coriander, cumin and pepper; spread mixture over both sides of turkey thighs. Dry Brine the Chicken Thighs to Smoke on the Traeger After cleaning and trimming, simply coat the inside and outside of your chicken thighs with kosher salt, or your favorite BBQ rub that has already salt in it. If you are tired of having to reload fresh wood chips into your electric smoker, especially on longer cooks like pork butt and brisket, then check out this Masterbuilt Automatic Slow Smoker Attachment. Some recommended products may use affiliate links. There are too many variables from fuel source to type of smoker to the size of meat to make a definitive declaration of cooking time on any piece of meat. Liberally rub the chicken thighs with the homemade rub or your favorite dry rub. Our ultimate guide to great smoked turkey. Hi, I'm Jenn! This will remove any excess salts from the skin. If they are still partially frozen, they will not absorb the amazing brine flavors. The darker meat makes it difficult to tell if it is fully cooked or not. Many people are familiar with smoking a turkey breast or a turkey leg, but what about how to smoke turkey thighs?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thermomeat_com-box-3','ezslot_0',122,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thermomeat_com-box-3-0'); The higher fat content in turkey thighs along with their large size and thick skin makes them a nice option for smoking over an extended period of time. In fact, it is easy to overpower the flavor of the turkey and brine with too much smoke. It may take 10-15 minutes for the pellet grill to rise in temperature this much. Read recipe notes submitted by our community or add your own notes. Rotate the smoked turkey thighs as needed and cook at this temperature for about another hour, or until the internal temperature has reached 175F. How long should you let your dry rub rest on your turkey thighs to get the effects of dry brining? If making a sheet pan turkey, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place on a cutting board and pat dry with some paper towels. Trim the excess fat from the turkey thighs and pat them dry with a paper towel. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then arrange them in a single layer on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Add the turkey thighs to the grill and let them smoke for approximately 60-75 minutes, until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Read Everything You Need to Know about how to use Smoker Boxes here, and see a selection of our Favorite Pellet Tube Smokers here. See Disclosure. Watch as the temperature rises to around 300F and then start closing the vents down again back to 1/2 way open (or os open as needed) until maintaining a temperature of 325F in the grill. 4. Use your boning knife to cut right through where the two bones meet. Once smoke is being produced and the grill or smoker is at 220F, put your turkey thighs on the indirect side, skin side UP, and close the lid. 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. So first set up your smoker for 220F with INDIRECT heat. A medium sized whole turkey smokes on the pellet grill in about 3.5-4 hours STEP 1 - at 275 degrees F (for the first 2 hours). In a bowl mix together your turkey dry rub ingredients. If you allow your dry rub to rest at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours you will see the benefits that dry brining has on your smoked turkey thighs. Remove the neck, gizzards and liver, setting aside (for stock or gravy). Prepare this turkey outside on the Traeger to free up oven space for all the sides. Flip the thigh over so the skin side is DOWN and see where the skin hangs over each edge. Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madbackyard_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_22',174,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madbackyard_com-narrow-sky-2-0');Then slowly close down the top and bottom dampers to about 1/3-1/4 open until you are maintaining a temperature of about 220F. The longer you smoke, the more intense the flavor will be, so adjust accordingly. Enjoy! Preheat your grill or smoker to a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Poultry Turkey Thighs. Set the temperature to 275 degrees. When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 400 and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. Joined Jun 2, 2021 Messages 472 Reaction score 368 Points 63 Location Birmingham, AL Grill Traeger Pro 575 / Weber Genesis / Orion Cooker Anyone ever done these? Now you know we love smoking turkey at Mad Backyard, especially our world famous Pellet Grill Thanksgiving Turkey, our fool proof Spatchocked Turkey, a Cajun Butter Injected Smoked Turkey Breast, caveman inspired Pterodactyl Smoked Turkey Wings and of course the show stopping Trash Can Turkey! www.therecipes.info, tip When this salt is reabsorbed back into the meat it dissolves muscle proteins, allowing for better moisture retention. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesnt mean that they cant benefit from the enhanced flavor and moisture retention benefits that dry brining provides. & # x27 ; re good to go set up for INDIRECT cooking in them content! Your favorite rub the heat up sooner in the pellet grill to rise in temperature this much foil. Bowl of fresh, cool water so the temperature stays low in the bucket with the brine the of! Your Thanksgiving dinner table is yellow and fragrant about another hour, or once the. 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