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Best smoked whole turkey recipe with cajun butter injection and a cajun rub. Served on a cutting board.
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4.70 from 13 votes

How to Smoke a Turkey

Cajun Butter Injected Smoked Turkey gets filled with cajun butter injection, covered in cajun smoked turkey rub, and smoked to perfection!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time4 hours
Course: Main
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 226kcal
Author: Jeremy Klae

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Oregano
  • 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Parsley
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • ½ tablespoon Thyme
  • ½ tablespoon Salt
  • ½ tablespoon White Pepper

CAJUN BUTTER INJECTION

  • 1 Cup Butter
  • 2 tablespoon Louisiana Hot Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning

TURKEY

  • Whole Turkey
  • 2 Yellow Onions - Halved
  • 2 Apples - Halved

Instructions

  • Thaw Turkey for 3-4 days to ensure it is completely thawed.
  • Unwrap Turkey, remove the Neck and Giblet bag and discard unless you plan to use them in another recipe.
  • Rinse Turkey under cold water inside and out.
  • Place turkey on a large tray to prepare for injection and rub.

Preparing the Cajun Butter Injection

  • Melt one cup of butter in the dish.
  • Add Louisiana Hot Sauce and Cajun Seasoning.
  • Mix well.
  • Using a Meat Injector inject all sections of your turkey until you have used all the butter.
  • Dump the remaining seasonings and injection into the cavity of the turkey.

Preparing the Cajun Rub

  • Spray the entire Turkey with cooking spray of any kind.
  • Rub the entire turkey with the Cajun Rub. You should have plenty to cover the whole bird.

Preparing the Turkey and Smoker

  • Stuff Turkey Cavity with Apples and Onions.
  • Heat Smoker to 300° F.
  • Place Turkey on Smoker and cook until the meat has reached an internal temperature of 165°F in the Breast and 175°F in the Thigh.
  • Once you have hit temp, place your turkey in a red butcher paper-lined cooler, cover, and allow to rest for approximately 20-30 minutes or until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 337mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2342IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg