Thanksgiving may still be a few weeks away, but Meat Church is already thinking about turkey.
The popular BBQ brand just kicked off its holiday turkey content with a new Honey Glazed Turkey recipe, giving home cooks another option for the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving feast. The recipe was published Oct. 21, and Meat Church announced the new addition on Instagram, telling followers that “it’s turkey time.”
And if you’re looking to take your Thanksgiving turkey outside this year, this one is made specifically for the smoker.
Meat Church’s Honey Glazed Turkey Is Smoked
The new recipe calls for a 12- to 13-pound turkey that is first brined with Meat Church’s Bird Baptism Brine, brown sugar and honey. The turkey should be submerged in the brine and refrigerated overnight, or for at least one hour per pound.
From there, Meat Church recommends spatchcocking the turkey, which involves removing the backbone and pressing the bird flat. The technique allows the turkey to cook more evenly and makes it well suited for the smoker.
The smoker should be set to 275 degrees, with Meat Church recommending a medium smoking wood or pellet such as pecan, hickory or a fruit wood. For the turkey featured in its recipe video, the brand used pecan and cherry pellets.
Before the turkey goes on the smoker, pats of butter are tucked underneath the skin around the breast and thighs. The entire bird is then seasoned with Meat Church’s Honey Hog rub.
The recipe’s biggest departure from a traditional smoked turkey comes at the finish.
Once the breast reaches 155 degrees, Meat Church recommends basting the turkey with melted butter. The reserved honey is then spread over the entire bird before it goes back into the smoker for about five more minutes, or until the honey becomes tacky.
The finished turkey should rest for at least 30 minutes before carving, depending on its size.
Meat Church Has More Than 20 Turkey Recipes
If honey-glazed smoked turkey isn’t quite what you’re looking for, Meat Church isn’t short on alternatives.
The brand says it has more than 20 turkey recipes on its website, covering several different approaches to the Thanksgiving bird. Its turkey recipe collection currently includes options such as Maple Bourbon Turkey, Honey Hog Spatchcock Turkey, Mexican Turkey Breast, 400-Clove Garlic Turkey, Spatchcock Turkey, Beer Can Turkey, and Creole Butter Turkey Breast.
