Traeger Turkey Breast Easy and Juicy
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Traeger Turkey Breast – Love cooking on your Traeger Grill all year? Gotta try this amazing smoked turkey breast. Great for a changeup to your usual Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey will be flavorfully cooking while you prepare the sides.
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Why You Will Love This Juicy Traeger Smoked Turkey Breast
- Moist and tender with a lightly smoked flavor
- Easy to make – cooks while you prepare the rest of the meal
- Makes awesome leftover turkey sandwiches
Equipment Needed to Smoke Turkey Breast on a Pellet Grill
- Pellet Grill – Of course a Pellet Grill is the most important item needed to make this smoked turkey breast. We own and LOVE the Traeger Timberline 1300. This grill is simply phenomenal! Traeger makes many options in pellet grills in a variety of price ranges. Check out these options in Traeger grills.
- Meat thermometer – If your grill does not come with a builtin thermometer, you will need to get an accurate one to assure your smoked turkey breast is cooked to the correct temperature. This ThermoPro Thermometer is a good choice.
- Disposable Pans – because who wants to clean pans.
Ingredients for Your Traeger Turkey Breast
- Turkey Breast (of course!) We used an 8 pound breast.
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt (I like to use Kosher salt.)
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon granular garlic
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
Ingredients for the Turkey Brine
- 1-1/2 cups Kosher salt
- 16 cups water
How to Make the Traeger Turkey Breast
- Thaw your turkey breast if it is frozen. See info below for best way to thaw the turkey.
- Make the brine by combining the salt and water.
- Immerse the turkey breast, meaty side down in the prepared brine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12 hours.
- Preheat your grill to 225 degrees while preparing the turkey.
- Remove breast from fridge and pat dry.
- Mix together the butter, black pepper, salt, rosemary, thyme, garlic and poultry seasoning.
- Pull skin of the breast back and spread the butter mixture under the skin.
- Place the turkey in a disposable pan and put the pan on the bottom rack of your preheated smoker grill. I did have to remove the top rack for the pan to have a good clearance.
- Set a timer for 2-1/2 hours. Check the internal temperature of the turkey breast. It should be approximately 140 degrees.
- Reset the grill temperature to 300 degrees and cook for approximately 2 more hours. Check the temperature of the turkey halfway through. When the temperature reaches 160 degrees, it is done.
- Remove your Trager Turkey Breast from the grill and allow it to rest for 30 minutes before slicing.
What to Serve With Your Pellet Smoker Turkey Breast
- Cracker Barrel Cheesy Potatoes
- Applesauce Wheat Dinner Rolls
- Thyme Roasted Carrots
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
- Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake in Instant Pot
Popular Substitutions and Additions
- Add a bit of lemon juice to the butter mixture for some extra zest.
- Red pepper flakes and/or paprika can be added to the butter mixture for some color and flavor if you like.
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried if you have access to them. Just increase the amounts by about three times.
How to Store and Reheat Your Traeger Turkey Breast
Best Way to Store Smoked Turkey Breast
Your Traeger Turkey Breast leftovers can be stored in your fridge, wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap or in an airtight container.
How Long Will Traeger Turkey Breast Last in the Refrigerator?
Smoked turkey breast will last when stored in the refrigerator for about 3-5 days.
Can I Freeze my Traeger Grill Turkey Breast?
Yes, this turkey breast can be frozen, wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap or in an airtight container for about 3 months. I find it best to package in individual servings when freezing. That way it is easy to just pull what you need for a quick sandwich.
How to Reheat a Smoked Turkey Breast
If your turkey breast is not frozen, simply place on a plate, cover lightly and microwave in short spurts of about 10 seconds at a time until it is the temperature you like. If frozen, allow to thaw for a short time on your counter, then proceed as above.
Pellet Grill Smoked Turkey Breast FAQ
What temperature should a Traeger Turkey Breast be when done?
The internal temperature of your turkey breast should be 165 degrees.
What is the best flavor of wood pellets to use?
I like to use pecan wood pellets or apple wood. But don’t be afraid to try something new.
How do I get the skin crispy on a pellet smoked turkey breast?
By raising the temperature of your grill during the last part of cooking, it allows the skin to crisp. I like to raise the temperature of my grill to 300 degrees for the last 2 hours of cooking.
How should I thaw a turkey breast before cooking?
Thaw your turkey breast in the refrigerator for approximately 24-48 hours before cooking. Time will depend on the weight of the breast
More Traeger Pellet Grill Recipes For You to Try
Traeger Turkey Breast Recipe
Equipment
- Pellet Grill
Ingredients
Brine
- 16 cups water
- 1½ cups kosher salt
Turkey
- 1 turkey breast (bone in)
- 2 sticks butter
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
Instructions
Brine
- Combine the 16 cups water and the 1½ cups of Kosher salt. Immerse the turkey breast in this solution, cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
Turkey
- Preheat your grill to 225 degrees while preparing the turkey.
- Remove breast from fridge and pat dry.
- Mix together the butter, black pepper, salt, rosemary, thyme, garlic and poultry seasoning.
- Pull skin of the breast back and spread the butter mixture under the skin.
- Place the turkey in a disposable pan and put the pan on the bottom rack of your preheated smoker grill. I did have to remove the top rack for the pan to have a good clearance.
- Set a timer for 2-1/2 hours. Check the internal temperature of the turkey breast. It should be approximately 140 degrees.
- Reset the grill temperature to 300 degrees and cook for approximately 2 more hours. Check the temperature of the turkey halfway through. When the temperature reaches 160-165 degrees, it is done.
- Remove your Trager Turkey Breast from the grill and allow it to rest for 30 minutes before slicing.
