Simple Hickory-Smoked Turkey
Simple Hickory-Smoked Turkey delivers juicy, tender meat with crackly bronze skin and a woodsy aroma from hickory. Fresh sage and savory mingle with black pepper to create a balanced herbal crust that complements the rich turkey flavor. Serve for a holiday centerpiece or any special weekend dinner when you want impressive results with minimal fuss.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook4 hrs
- Serves12
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Simple Hickory-Smoked Turkey, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 63 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 2
- Heart Health
- 69
- Metabolic
- 14
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 54
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Mix the savory, sage, salt, and black pepper in a bowl; rub 2 tablespoons of the herb mixture inside the turkey cavity and inside the neck cavity. Loosen the skin over the breast and legs; rub the remaining 2 tablespoons of the herb mixture under the loosened skin. Rub olive oil over the entire turkey.
- 2
Light 20 charcoal briquettes and arrange 10 on each side of the lower grate of a kettle charcoal grill. Set a drip pan or disposable aluminum baking pan in the center of the lower grate and pour in water. When the coals turn gray with ash, place a 2-inch square piece of hickory or other hardwood onto each bank of coals.
- 3
Set the turkey on the cooking grate and cover the grill. Use a grill thermometer to keep the temperature between 150 and 250 degrees F (65 to 120 degrees C); add 3 to 5 coals to each side about every 90 minutes. Add more wood chunks as needed to keep a gentle smoke. If open flames flare up when you remove the lid, lightly douse them with water or beer.
- 4
Smoke the turkey for 20 minutes per pound, about 4 to 4½ hours; allow the heat to rise to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) during the last hour of smoking. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh, without touching a bone, should read at least 165 degrees F (75 degrees C).
- 5
Remove the turkey from the grill and let it rest, loosely covered with foil, before carving.
- Calories 303.88 kcal Moderate 15%
- Protein 39.88 g Good Source 80%
- Carbohydrate 1.47 g 1%
- Total Fat 13.87 g Moderate 18%
- Saturated Fat 4.41 g High 22%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 126.24 mg High 42%
- Sodium 1241.95 mg High 54%
- Dietary Fiber 0.72 g Low Source 3%
- Total Sugars 0.46 g --
- Added Sugars 0.41 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 16.11 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 0.28 mg Low Source 2%
- Potassium 21.86 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin A 2.84 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.26 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
No known allergens listed for this recipe. Always double-check ingredients for your needs.
About This Recipe
Simple Hickory Smoked Turkey is made with 8 ingredients and serves 12. It takes about 4 hrs 20 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Dried Savory, Fresh Dill, and Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon. Each serving provides about 303.88 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Simple Hickory-Smoked Turkey made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Dried Savory, Fresh Dill, Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon, Olive Oil. The full list of 8 is above.
- How long does it take to make Simple Hickory-Smoked Turkey?
- About 4 hrs 20 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 4 hrs to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 303.88 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Simple Hickory-Smoked Turkey easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 8 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Simple Hickory-Smoked Turkey healthy?
- Simple Hickory-Smoked Turkey has an easyChef Pro health score of 49/100. Per serving, it provides 303.88 calories and 39.88 g of protein, or 80% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1241.95 mg (54% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.41 g (22% of the Daily Value). Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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