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    Home » Recipes » Grill Recipes » Smoker Recipes » Smoked Turkey Breast Without Brine (Traeger Pellet Grill Demo)

    Smoked Turkey Breast Without Brine (Traeger Pellet Grill Demo)

    Published: Jan 3, 2023 · Modified: Jan 13, 2023 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Smoked Turkey Breast Traeger Recipe photos with text overlay.

    My tasty smoked turkey breast without brine recipe is easy to make and it turns out super juicy. Today you’ll learn how to smoke turkey breast (3-4 LB boneless or bone-in) on the Traeger Pellet Grill, Green Egg, or whatever you’re using. Let’s smoke turkey!

    Smoked Turkey Breast Traeger Pellet Grill Cooked.
    This smoked bone in turkey breast always turns out juicy, tender, and with tons of flavor.

    Are you on Instagram? Check out my latest pellet smoker tips @sipbitego.

    Also check out how to make spatchcock smoked turkey and how to make a smoked whole turkey.

    Table of Contents

    • Why this smoked turkey breast recipe is so great…
    • Ingredients
    • How to smoke a turkey breast on a pellet grill
    • FAQs
    • More Tasty Grill + Smoker Recipes
    • Meat thermometer recommendations
    • Are you a foodie, too?
    • Smoked Turkey Breast Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    Why this smoked turkey breast recipe is so great…

    • It’s a pretty fast smoker recipe.
    • One of the most simple smoked turkey breast recipes for beginners.
    • Use either bone in turkey breast or boneless turkey breast.
    • Learn my flavorful smoked turkey breast rub to produce maximum flavor.
    • See how long to smoke turkey breast on the Traeger, specifically, though this recipe will teach you the best cooking times to use with any pellet grill or ​​electric smoker.
    • It’s a great way to cook turkey for 2-3 people, without smoking an entire turkey.
    Traeger Smoked Turkey Breast
    After smoking, I’ll save part of the turkey breast meat for sandwiches to enjoy the next day…

    Ingredients

    Since this is a recipe for smoked turkey breast without brine, you’ll need to make a tasty dry rub to add tasty flavor to the lean protein.

    Here’s what you need to make it.

    Infographic chart with ingredients for smoked turkey breast without brine
    No need to baste the turkey – this is a delicious juicy but dry rub flavored method to smoking it.

    Smoked turkey breast ingredients

    • Turkey breast, boneless or bone-in
    • Butter, melted

    Try making this cranberry BBQ sauce…

    For the turkey dry rub poultry seasoning

    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Dried herbs: rosemary, thyme, sage
    • Paprika
    • Red pepper flakes
    • Salt and black pepper

    See my review of the Traeger Fin And Feather Rub…

    How to smoke a turkey breast on a pellet grill

    Now I’ll walk you through exactly how to smoke a turkey breast on a Traeger or other pellet grill.

    Step 1. Preheat the Traeger grill or whatever smoked you’re using to 225 degrees F.

    Note: some people like to prep the turkey breast first by running it under cold water.

    Step 2. Make the smoked turkey breast poultry seasoning. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the dry rub poultry seasoning (onion powder, garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, sage, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper).

    Set aside.

    Infographic demonstrating How to SEASON SMOKED TURKEY BREAST
    This is a great smoker recipe for a small crowd, because it’s faster to smoke parts of the turkey instead of the whole thing.

    Step 3. Place turkey breast on a work surface and pat turkey breast dry with paper towels.

    Coat all over with melted butter by using your hands to massage the butter into the turkey breast.

    Step 4. Season the turkey with the poultry seasoning (use as much as desired – in this Traeger demo, all of the seasoning was used).

    Use your hands to massage the seasonings into the turkey breast.

    raw Turkey Breast With Dry Rub seasoning

    Step 5. Place your turkey breast on the smoker grill grate and cook for 40 – 45 minutes per pound, until the internal temp reaches 160°F.

    You may find that some smoked turkey recipes say 30 minutes a pound will work, but I have found that is not enough time at 225°F.

    Notes: You do not need to rest the turkey on a roasting pan, directly on the grates works just fine.

    If you want to smoke the turkey at 250 degrees F, that’s okay and will speed up the cook time, as well. But I always go with 225 degrees F.

    See how to make air fryer turkey legs…

    Smoked Turkey Breast With Traeger Ironwood 650 Grill

    Step 6. The exact smoked turkey breast time will vary based on how large of a turkey you’re smoking.

    Use an instant read thermometer to verify when your turkey does reach an internal temperature of 160-165°F.

    Then it’s time to remove the turkey from the pellet grill.

    Make sure to stick the thermometer in the thickest part of the piece of meat to make sure you’ve checked the temperature correctly.

    See my favorite Thanksgiving recipes cooked with turkey blend Traeger pellets….

    Smoked Turkey Breast Traeger Grill Cooked

    Step 7. Wait at least 20-30 minutes before slicing so the juices can settle.

    You can cover the turkey breast with tin foil to keep it warm and leave it out at room temperature. Then slice and enjoy!

    Smoked Turkey Breast Traeger Grill Cooked
    How delicious does this Traeger smoked turkey breast look?

    Love easy but delicious recipes?

    Check out this beginner-friendly smoked brisket flat, my favorite smoked ham, sous vide whole chicken and tri tip in oven recipes – they all have a beautiful presentation.

    See how to enhance a turkey gravy packet…

    FAQs

    What flavor wood chips do you use to smoke turkey breast?

    In this demo, the Traeger wood pellet blend was used, but Maple, Hickory, and Cherry pellet wood chunks are good options, too.

    How do you store leftover smoked turkey?

    Wrap up any extra turkey leftovers ​​covered and refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Make delicious leftover turkey sandwiches with avocado to enjoy this dish another day. See these leftover turkey recipes for more inspiration.

    Can you smoke an already cooked turkey breast?

    Although this recipe involves smoking raw turkey, you can also smoke an already cooked turkey breast if you just want to warm up the meat and add a little smoked flavor!  Smoke time will be shorter because you don’t have to worry about bringing the internal temperature of the meat up to safe levels.

    What temperature is a smoked turkey breast done?

    If you are using a meat thermometer, you can check that the internal temperature of your turkey breast has reached 165 degrees F. At this point the meat is safe for eating, and it’ll have had plenty of time to absorb a rich smokey flavor.

    Should I smoke my turkey breast up or down?

    For best results, position your turkey breast with the rounded breast side up.

    What can I serve with smoked turkey breast?

    This is delicious served with staples like crock pot sweet potatoes, air fryer baby potatoes, sautéed carrots with garlic butter and herbs, and sous vide asparagus.

    Traeger Pellet Grill Smoked Turkey Breast Thanksgiving Platter.

    More Tasty Grill + Smoker Recipes

    • Smoked mac and cheese
    • Smoked cream cheese
    • Smoked brisket flat
    • 321 ribs
    • Beer can chicken on the smoker
    • Smoked wings
    • Smoked tomahawk steak
    • Traeger tri tip
    • Smoked turkey breast
    • Smoked turkey legs
    • Whole smoked turkey
    • Smoked Traeger pizza
    • Smoked onion rings
    • Traeger smoked ham
    • Smoked whole chicken
    • Smoked jalapeno poppers
    • Smoked corn on the cob
    • Traeger beef ribs
    • Smoked leg of lamb
    • Smoked shrimp
    • Grilled chicken wings
    • Grilled skirt steak
    • Flank steak marinade
    • Grilled potato wedges
    • Smoked pulled pork
    • Want more? See my lineup of easy smoker recipes

    See this Traeger Flatrock grill review.

    See my favorite smoker tools and seasonings in my Amazon Storefront.

    Meat thermometer recommendations

    Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly. 

    On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

    1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
    2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill. 

    It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature. 

    How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

    While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

    Are you a foodie, too?

    Hey home chefs, if you’re looking for other ways to make Thanksgiving dinner turkey, check out this air fryer turkey breast tenderloin and my fresh roasted turkey breast recipe. They both make very ​​tender, juicy turkey breast.

    You can also make frozen turkey into a delicious meal as seen in this sous vide turkey breast recipe.

    To get my latest and greatest dishes, connect with me on Instagram @sipbitego. And for more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel and scroll through the Sip Bite Go recipe collection.

    Smoked Turkey Breast Traeger Pellet Grill Cooked.

    Smoked Turkey Breast Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    My tasty smoked turkey breast without brine recipe is easy to make and it turns out super juicy. Today you’ll learn how to smoke turkey breast (3-4 LB boneless or bone-in) on the Traeger Pellet Grill, Green Egg, or whatever you’re using. Let’s smoke turkey!
    5 from 21 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entree, Main Course
    Cuisine: American, BBQ
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
    Resting Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 397kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Ingredients

    Smoked turkey breast ingredients

    • 3 lb turkey breast boneless or bone-in
    • 2 tbsp butter melted

    For the smoked turkey breast dry rub poultry seasoning

    • ¼ tsp onion powder
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ¼ tsp rosemary dried
    • ¼ tsp thyme dried
    • ¼ tsp sage dried
    • ¼ tsp paprika dried
    • ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp pepper black

    Instructions

    • Preheat the Traeger grill or whatever smoked you’re using to 225 degrees F. Make sure there are enough pellet wood chips in the smoker to last a few hours and you have a drip pan in place. In this demo, the Traeger wood pellet blend was used, but Maple, Hickory, and Cherry pellet wood chunks are good options, too.
    • Make the smoked turkey breast poultry seasoning. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the poultry seasoning (onion powder, garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, sage, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper). Set aside.
    • Place turkey breast on a work surface and pat turkey breast dry with paper towels. Coat all over with melted butter by using your hands to massage the butter into the turkey breast.
    • Season the turkey with the poultry seasoning (use as much as desired – in this Traeger demo, all of the seasoning was used). Use your hands to massage the seasonings into the turkey breast.
    • Place your turkey breast on the smoker grill grate and cook for 40 – 45 minutes per pound, until the internal temp reaches 160°F. You may find that some recipes say 30 minutes a pound will work, but I have found that is not enough time at 225°F.
    • The exact smoked turkey breast time will vary based on how large of a turkey you’re smoking. Use an instant read thermometer to verify when your turkey does reach an internal temperature of 160-165°F (note: 165°F is the official safe temperature, removing it at 160°F in theory allows time for the turkey to keep cooking up to temperature). Remove from heat.
    • Wait at least 20-30 minutes before slicing so the juices can settle. You can cover the turkey breast with tin foil to keep it warm and leave it out at room temperature.

    Video

    Notes

    See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/smoked-turkey-breast
    See the recipe video for smoking turkey breast on Sip Bite Go’s YouTube.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 397kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 73g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 199mg | Sodium: 1043mg | Potassium: 838mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 330IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. angela says

      November 21, 2022 at 5:18 pm

      I have a boneless 3 lb butterball turkey breast but it says on the turkey breast not to defrost, just to go from freezer to oven……so do I thaw it completely first before using this recipe or do I make the recipe with a frozen turkey breast?

      Reply
      • Jenna Passaro says

        November 22, 2022 at 6:07 pm

        Hi Angela, I hope you see this reply ASAP!! I would definitely THAW IT if it was me!

        And luckily, a turkey breast shouldn’t be more than a few pounds, and it thaws at the rate of about 5 LBs / day… so we are 2 days out from Thanksgiving and I’d thaw that — pop it in the fridge to smoke the turkey breast.

        Now I don’t know WHY they say don’t defrost, but if you want the time and temperature to work out for this Traeger turkey breast, I’d personally thaw it.

        Let me know how it goes. 🙂

        Jenna

        Reply
    2. Devin Walsh says

      July 22, 2022 at 1:17 pm

      Any relation to Vince?5 stars

      Reply
    3. CJ says

      November 30, 2021 at 7:08 am

      I brined my turkey AND added the seasonings in this recipe and it was the best turkey breast I ever smoked, and I have been smoking them for years!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenna Passaro says

        November 30, 2021 at 11:27 am

        CJ – What high compliments.

        So glad it turned out.

        Curious what was in your brine.

        Ready for more turkey yet? Try my smoked WHOLE turkey recipe next.

        – Jenna

        Reply
    4. Steve says

      November 26, 2021 at 5:33 am

      Made this for Thanksgiving and everyone raved. Was juicy with great smoked flavor. I left off the red pepper flakes and used smoked paprika. And i threw an apple in the cavity. This was so easy. Thanks for the great recipe.5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenna Passaro says

        November 28, 2021 at 10:59 am

        Love the idea of adding an apple to the cavity. So happy to hear your thanksgiving smoked turkey turned out!

        Reply
    5. Rick McGrew says

      November 25, 2021 at 3:57 pm

      Fantastic recipe. Turned out perfect5 stars

      Reply

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    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

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    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

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