Description
This Cajun Butter Smoked Turkey Breast recipe delivers a juicy, flavorful smoked turkey with a rich herby butter bath that infuses the meat with smoky and savory notes. Perfect for those who enjoy a Cajun spice kick combined with tender, moist turkey breast smoked slowly to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Turkey
- 20 ounces turkey breast, boneless
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Spice Rub
- 4 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, preferably low sodium
Butter Bath
- 8 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/8 cup fresh dill or fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or smashed
Instructions
- Preheat smoker: Heat the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, adding wood chunks or pellets to provide your preferred smoke flavor for the turkey breast.
- Prepare spice rub: In a small bowl, prepare the Cajun seasoning rub. Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels to remove any moisture, then gently brush with olive oil to help the seasoning adhere.
- Season turkey: Rub the Cajun spice evenly over the entire surface of the turkey breast.
- Make butter bath: Place the butter, chopped parsley, dill or thyme, and garlic in a heat-safe pan such as a cast-iron skillet or small aluminum pan. Place the pan on the smoker grates to melt the butter and infuse it with smoke flavor.
- Smoke turkey: Place the seasoned turkey breast directly on the smoker grates and smoke for 1 hour 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Butter bath and continue smoking: Transfer the turkey to a large disposable aluminum pan or foil boat. Pour the melted butter bath over the turkey and cover tightly with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Finish smoking: Continue to smoke the turkey for an additional 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit using an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part.
- Rest and serve: Remove the turkey from the smoker and let it rest, covered, for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use a drip pan to collect turkey juices for gravy, although using turkey broth may produce a more balanced flavor without intense smoke taste.
- Place a water pan inside the smoker to keep the turkey moist. You can add fresh herbs, whole peppercorns, turkey broth, or apple juice to the water pan to enhance the flavor of the rising steam.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg