Simple Cajun smoked turkey cooked over real wood and charcoal — full of smoke, spice, and tips for a juicy bird every time.

• 1 whole turkey, thawed
• 1 bottle Malcom’s Bird Brine
• 1 bottle Malcom’s King Craw Cajun Seasoning
• Meat Bag (optional)
• Water (enough to completely submerge turkey)
• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 stalk celery, cut into chunks
• 1 medium onion, quartered
• 1 head garlic, smashed
• Cooking spray or oil (for coating the skin)
• Chicken Rack (optional)

Instructions

1. Brine the Bird
   1. Start with a completely thawed turkey. In a large Meat Bag or food-safe container, mix Malcom’s Bird Brine with 1 gallon of water. (For turkeys 12-14lbs or less, use 1/2 bottle. For turkeys over 14lbs, use entire bottle).
   2. Submerge the turkey and add more water as needed to cover it completely. Tie the bag up tight and refrigerate for 24 hours.
   3. Brining helps the meat stay juicy and pull flavor deep inside — it’s one step you don’t want to skip.
2. Prep the Turkey
   1. After at least 24 hours, remove the turkey from the brine and pat it completely dry with paper towels.
   2. Stuff the cavity with celery, onion, and garlic.
   3. Tuck the wings and tie the legs so everything cooks evenly and the tips don’t burn.
3. Make the Injection (optional)
   1. Mix 1 stick of butter, 1 cup chicken broth and about 2 tablespoons Malcom’s King Craw Cajun Seasoning.
   2. Stir to combine. Inject the mixture into the breast, thighs, and wings, distributing evenly. Season the Skin
   3. Spray or rub the outside of the turkey with cooking spray or oil — this helps crisp the skin and gives the seasoning something to stick to.
   4. Generously coat the bird with Malcom’s King Craw Cajun Seasoning (or your fave turkey seasoning).
4. Smoke the Turkey
   1. Fire up your smoker for indirect cooking and add your favorite wood (hickory and pecan work great). Run the pit around 275°F. Place the turkey on the smoker breast side up.
5. Protect the Turkey
   1. When the skin has the color you want — that deep golden-brown Cajun look — spray the outside again with cooking spray and loosely tent with foil to prevent over-darkening.
   2. Continue cooking until the breast hits 160°F internal and the dark meat reaches about 175°F.
6. Rest and Serve
   1. Remove the turkey from the pit and let it rest for at least 20-30 minutes before carving. This lets the juices redistribute and keeps the meat tender.

• Don’t skip the dry step. The drier the skin, the better it browns and crisps up.
• Use a meat thermometer. It’s the only way to nail that perfect doneness.
• Color control: On a stick burner, smoke runs heavy — so tent the turkey once the color looks good. You want mahogany, not black.
• Flavor variations: Swap Malcom’s King Craw Cajun Seasoning for your favorite turkey seasoning — classic poultry blends, garlic and herb, or a buttery savory rub all work great with this same process.

Smoked Turkey Recipe using a Sweet Tea Brine, Texas Flavors and Mesquite Wood.

• 12lb whole turkey
• 2 gallons sweet tea
• 3–4 lemons halved
• 1 bottle Malcom’s Bird Brine
• 12oz Turkey Injection *recipe below
• 1/4 cup peanut oil
• 1/4 cup Meat Church Holy Gospel Rub
• 2 Tablespoons Killer Hogs TX Rub

Turkey Injection

• 14oz can chicken broth
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 Tablespoons Killer Hogs Hot Sauce
• 1 teaspoon Meat Church Holy Gospel Rub
• Combine ingredients in a mixing container and whisk. Shake or stir well before injecting.

Instructions

1. Place turkey in a large container and add the full bottle of bird brine and the lemons. Pour in the sweet tea and make sure the turkey is fully submerged in the brine. Place in the refrigerator or a cooler with ice for 24 hours.
2. Remove turkey from brine and pat dry. Spatchcock the turkey by flipping it over breast side down. Use kitchen shears to cut along the back bone on each side removing it from the bird. Cut the breast bone with a chefs knife and press down on the bird until it pops. Flip the turkey over breast side up and tuck the wing tips behind the neck.
3. Brush peanut oil over the skin and season with Holy Gospel Rub followed by a light layer of TX Rub. Inject the breast, thighs, and legs with the injection.
4. Prepare stick burner pit for indirect smoking at 275°F using lump charcoal and post oak splits for fuel. (Do not add the mesquite wood at this point)
5. Place the turkey on the pit and add 2-3 chunks of mesquite wood to the fire for smoke flavor.
6. At the 1 hour mark insert a probe thermometer into the breast of the turkey. Set the thermometer to 160°F. Add a couple more chunks of mesquite to the hot coals.
7. Monitor the internal temperate of the turkey and hold the pit at 275° the entire cook. Once the thermometer alarm sounds carefully remove the turkey from the pit and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Smoked Fried Turkey – whole turkey brined and smoked with pecan wood,  then deep fried it in peanut oil for a juicy, smoked turkey with a crispy turkey skin.  

• 1 Whole Turkey 12lbs
• 1 bottle Malcom’s Bird Brine
• 2 gallons Water
• 1 can Vegetable Cooking Spray (or your favorite oil)
• 2 Tablespoons Killer Hogs AP Seasoning 
• 2 Tablespoons Malcom’s King Craw Seasoning

Instructions

1. Remove thawed turkey from packaging be sure to check the cavity and neck area for giblets.
2. Place the turkey in Meat Bag or large container and pour in the bottle of Bird Brine. Add 2 gallons of water (enough to completely submerge the bird) and place in the refrigerator or in a cooler on ice for 24-48 hours.
3. Remove turkey from brine and allow to drain. Place on a wire rack over a sheet pan and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to dry the skin. (It helps to pat the excess moisture off the skin with paper towel)
4. Prepare pellet grill for indirect smoking at 275°F using pecan pellets.
5. Spray the skin with the cooking spray – or another oil – and season with AP seasoning on all sides.
6. Place the turkey in the smoker breast side up until an internal meat probe hits about 150° F.
7. Set up a turkey fryer for deep frying at 350°F using peanut oil for best flavor. Any clear frying oil will work.
8. Remove the turkey from the smoker and insert the turkey frying rod/hanger through the cavity.
9. Leave the meat probe inserted in the thickest part of the breast to monitor internal temperature while frying.
10. Carefully lower the turkey breast side down into the hot oil. Use extreme caution and follow the turkey fryer directions carefully.
11. When the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the breast, carefully remove the turkey from the hot oil allowing it to drain. Place the turkey immediately on a cutting board breast side up and remove the turkey frying rod/hanger.
12. Season the outer skin with King Craw Cajun Seasoning and let the bird rest for 5-10 minutes before carving.