Honey Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

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Total time: Preparation 30 minutes + Cooking 3 hours 15 minutes

Yields: 16 servings

1 whole turkey

2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

2 tablespoons ground black pepper

2 tablespoons celery salt

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

12 ounce honey

½ pound mesquite wood chips

Procedure

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1. Preheat grill for high heat. In case of charcoal grill, use around twice the normal amount of charcoal. Soak wood chips in a pan of water, set it next to the grill.
2. Remove neck and giblets from turkey. Properly rinse the bird and pat dry. Place in a large disposable roasting pan.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together, fresh sage, celery salt, ground black pepper, basil, and vegetable oil. Pour the mixture evenly over turkey. Now turn its breast side down in the pan, and tent loosely with aluminum foil.
4. Place the roasting pan on the pre-heated grill. Throw a handful of wood chips onto the coals. Close the lid and allow it to cook for 1 hour.
5. Throw around 2 more handfuls of soaked wood chips on the fire. Drizzle half (6 ounce) honey over the bird and replace the foil. Close the lid of the grill and let it continue for 1 and half to two hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 80 degrees Celsius (180 degrees F) in the thickest part of the thigh.
6. Uncover the turkey, and carefully turn its breast side up in the roasting pan. Baste with remaining honey. Leave the turkey uncovered and cook for 15 minutes before serving.

This will make for an incredible Thanksgiving turkey. The combination of sweet honey and smoke will add a tremendous flavor to the otherwise dull bird. Just make sure to strike a perfect balance between the two main flavors by not over smoking the turkey.

For more Thanksgiving recipes on Stagetecture, click here.