Apple Smoked Barbecue Turkey

Apple Smoked Barbecue Turkey Recipe

Yield: About 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 (15 lb) turkey
• 1 lb Cattleman’s Grill Butcher House All Purpose Brine
• 2 1/2 quarts cold water
• 2 1/2 quarts apple cider
• R Butts R Smokin’ Cherry Habanero Seasoning
• Cornhusker Kitchen Spray Duck Fat

For the injection:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 2 tsp R Butts R Smokin’ Cherry Habanero Seasoning

For the Cran-Apple BBQ Sauce:

• 2 cups cranberries
• 1 cup Firebug Mild Grillin' Sauce
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup maple syrup

Instructions

Spatchcock the turkey. To take the backbone out, place the bird breast side down. Cut along both sides of the backbone with kitchen shears, from one opening of the cavity to the other. Release the skin of the turkey from the flesh, leaving it attached at the edges, but exposing the meat for seasoning.

To prepare the brine, combine the 2 1/2 quarts each of apple cider and water in a 22 quart Briner Bucket. Add 1 lb Cattleman’s Grill Butcher House All Purpose Brine. Whisk well to dissolve the brine. Add the turkey to the brine. Lock the Briner Bucket’s plastic plate in place to keep the bird submerged. Transfer to bucket to the refrigerator. Brine the turkey for one hour for every pound of the turkey’s weight.

Remove from the turkey from the brine. Pat dry with paper towels. Place on a wire rack over a sheet pan.

Combine the ingredients for the injection. Mix well. Load the injection into a pistol grip style injector. Inject the breasts, first. Then inject the thighs and wings, until the injection liquid is gone.

Season the turkey modestly with the R Butts R Smokin’ Cherry Habanero Seasoning, only under the skin and on the flesh of the bird. Return the turkey (on the sire rack) to the refrigerator and let the skin dry out for 24-48 hours.

Stabilize your Kamado Joe Classic III Ceramic Grill at 300ºF, set up for smoking. Add two large chunks of Cattleman’s Grill Competition Smoking Apple Wood Chunks.

Spray the surface of the turkey with the Cornhusker Kitchen Spray Duck Fat, to act as a binder for the seasoning. Season the backside and skin of the turkey generously with R Butts R Smokin’ Cherry Habanero Seasoning. Transfer to the grill. Place the bird directly on the grill grates, set at the highest setting of the Divide and Conquer System.

Smoke the turkey until the internal temperature reaches 155ºF-160ºF in the breasts. The temperature of the thighs/legs should be over 170ºF.

You might also enjoy: Smoked Holiday Turkey

While the turkey is cooking, prepare the Cran-Apple BBQ Sauce. Combine all ingredients in a Lodge 10” Cast Iron Skillet. Bring to a simmer. Cook until the cranberries are tender and their skins have burst open, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Blend the sauce with an immersion blender until smooth. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Remove the turkey from the grill. Cover loosely with foil. Rest at least 15 minutes before serving/carving. Serve the Apple Smoked Barbecue Turkey with the Cran-Apple BBQ Sauce on the side.