Cajun Smoked Turkey

By wing118677

Shake things up this holiday season with this delicious Cajun Smoked Turkey! This flavorful main dish goes great with your favorite side dishes!

Ingredients

• FOR THE INJECTION:
• 1 (12-ounce) bottle beer, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 6 large garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoon Creole seasoning
• 1 tablespoons liquid crab boil
• 1 tablespoon Louisiana-style hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (12- to 14-pound) natural turkey, rinsed and patted dry with paper towels
• FOR THE RUB:
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 fist-sized chunks of apple wood or other light smoking wood

Details

Servings 12
Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 230mins
Adapted from keyingredient.com

Preparation

Step 1

To make the injection, place beer, butter, garlic, Worcestershire, Creole seasoning, liquid crab boil, hot sauce, salt, and cayenne pepper in the jar of a blender and puree until completely smooth. Using a meat injection syringe, inject mixture into meat of turkey all over with each injection spaced about 1-inch apart.

To make the rub, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne in a small bowl. Season turkey inside and out with rub. Fold wings under the body and tie the legs together, then brush entire turkey lightly with vegetable oil.

Fire up smoker or grill to 325°F, adding smoking wood chunks when at temperature. When wood is ignited and producing smoke, place turkey in smoker or grill and smoke until an instant read thermometer registers 165°F in thickest part of the breast, about 2 to 3 hours.

Remove the turkey from smoker and allow to rest, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes. Carve and serve.