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Wood-Fired Christmas Turkey on the Kamado Joe Classic 3

Wood-Fired Christmas Turkey on the Kamado Joe Classic 3

Lee - Smoke & Sear
Servings: 10 Total Time: 123 hrs 30 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Family Friendly Family Friendly Show Stopper Show Stopper Smoke & Sear Fav. Smoke & Sear Fav.
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BBQ Turkey Fit for a Christmas Feast

Ever fancied taking your Christmas turkey to the next level? This recipe does just that. We’re talking about a wood-fired bird, loaded with the richness of a homemade brine and a slather of garlic herb butter.

Whether you’re using a Kamado Joe Classic 3 or another quality BBQ, follow this method and you’ll be the talk of the dinner table. Get ready for some serious smoke, juicy meat, and crispy skin action.

The best part? You’ve got plenty of time to chill while it cooks.

Click here to watch me cook this recipe on Instagram!

Wood-Fired Christmas Turkey on the Kamado Joe Classic 3

Turkey
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Prep Time 120 hrs Cook Time 3 hrs Rest Time 30 mins Total Time 123 hrs 30 mins
Difficulty: Intermediate Cooking Temp: 165  C Servings: 10 Estimated Cost: £ 60 Calories: Approximately 550 per serving Best Season: Winter
Author: Lee - Smoke & Sear Cooking Method: , , Cuisine: Courses: Recipe Keys: Family Friendly Family Friendly Show Stopper Show Stopper Smoke & Sear Fav. Smoke & Sear Fav.

Ingredients

For the Turkey:

For the Brine:

Instructions

  1. Defrosting:

    • Start defrosting the turkey 4 days before cooking. Place it in the fridge on a tray to catch any drips.
    • Ensure it's fully defrosted before cooking by checking for no ice crystals and an internal temperature between 0°C and 4°C.

  2. Brining:

    • Heat the water and dissolve salt and sugar. Add the remaining brine ingredients and let it cool completely.
    • Submerge the turkey in the brine for 12-24 hours in the fridge.

  3. Preparation:

    • Remove the turkey from the brine and pat it dry.
    • Mix softened butter, minced garlic, herbs, lemon zest, salt, and pepper to create herb butter.
    • Gently separate the turkey skin from the breast and spread the herb butter underneath and on the exterior of the turkey.
    • Let the turkey sit at room temperature for 1 hour before cooking.

  4. Cooking:

    • Set up your Kamado Joe with lumpwood charcoal and heat to 163°C.
    • Place the turkey on a roasting rack for even heat distribution and pour a cup of broth into the pan below.
    • Cook for 2.5 to 3 hours, basting every 30 minutes with melted butter, orange juice, and honey.
    • Ensure the internal temperature reaches 74°C in the thickest parts using a meat thermometer.

  5. Resting:

    Remove the turkey from the grill and tent with foil. Let it rest for 30 minutes to retain its juices.

  6. Carving:

    Detach the legs and thighs first, then wings. Slice the breast meat against the grain for tenderness.

Equipment

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product using these links, we get a commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep the BBQ magic alive, and we thank you in advance!

Note

Footnotes:

  • Pro Tip: Rotate the turkey every hour to avoid uneven browning.
  • Brining Hack: Always cool the brine completely to avoid bacteria growth. Using ice in the brine can speed up cooling.
  • Cooking Tip: If the breast skin browns too quickly, shield it with foil.
  • Safety: Always ensure your turkey reaches 74°C in the thickest part for safe consumption.
Keywords: Christmas turkey, BBQ turkey, Kamado Joe turkey, wood-fired turkey, organic turkey recipe, holiday turkey, smoked turkey recipe, brined turkey, festive BBQ
Lee Bishop - Smoke & Sear

smoke.sear

1,004 21,861

Not just cooked . . . this tomahawk was forged in fire.

Reverse-cooked low ‘n slow, then straight-up dirty seared right on the coals for that primal crust. Finished with a fat slice of cowboy butter — melted over the top with a chunk of red-hot charcoal.

Flavour? Savage.
Style? Full caveman.
Crust? Absolute filth.

👉 Full step-by-step recipe now live over on the site if you’re keen to give it a go.

www.smokeandsear.world

102 7
Open
Not just cooked . . . this tomahawk was forged in fire. Reverse-cooked low ‘n slow, then straight-up dirty seared right on the coals for that primal crust. Finished with a fat slice of cowboy butter — melted over the top with a chunk of red-hot charcoal. Flavour? Savage. Style? Full caveman. Crust? Absolute filth. 👉 Full step-by-step recipe now live over on the site if you’re keen to give it a go. www.smokeandsear.world

Too early for a Christmas-themed turkey cook? Maybe.

But with Thanksgiving just around the corner and festive planning in full swing . . . now feels like the perfect time to drop this belter.

Smoked, brined, and slathered in herby garlic butter – this wood-fired turkey’s an absolute showstopper.

Full cook on the Kamado Joe. Full flavour. Full-on festive vibes. 🎄🔥

🎥 Watch the reel
📌 Save it for the big day
🖱️ Full recipe’s up on the site now

#SmokeAndSear #ChristmasTurkey #BBQTurkey #KamadoJoe #SmokedTurkey #ThanksgivingFeast #FestiveBBQ #BBQSeason #BBQLife #TurkeyDoneRight

60 8
Open
Too early for a Christmas-themed turkey cook? Maybe. But with Thanksgiving just around the corner and festive planning in full swing . . . now feels like the perfect time to drop this belter. Smoked, brined, and slathered in herby garlic butter – this wood-fired turkey’s an absolute showstopper. Full cook on the Kamado Joe. Full flavour. Full-on festive vibes. 🎄🔥 🎥 Watch the reel 📌 Save it for the big day 🖱️ Full recipe’s up on the site now #SmokeAndSear #ChristmasTurkey #BBQTurkey #KamadoJoe #SmokedTurkey #ThanksgivingFeast #FestiveBBQ #BBQSeason #BBQLife #TurkeyDoneRight

Right then — first brew DONE, and what better way to mark it than cooking up something to go with it 🍗🍺

If you saw my reel 20 days ago, @igulubeer had sent me their S1 Smart Home Brewing System (gifted) — and this was the moment of truth. First pour, first taste, and my first ever beer used in a BBQ recipe.

I grilled up some beer-brined, honey beer glazed chicken thighs on the @ninjakitchenuk Woodfire, dropped ’em into warm naan pockets with salad, poured over some of that leftover glaze, and got stuck in 🔥

⸻

🧂 Beer Brine:

• 250ml cold water
• 250ml of my freshly brewed German Helles
• 50g salt
• 25g sugar
• 1 garlic clove (smashed)
• 1 bay leaf
• 5–6 peppercorns

Brined boneless, skinless chicken thighs for 6 hours, patted them dry, and cracked on.

⸻

🍯 Honey Beer Glaze:

• 150ml beer
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1.5 tbsp French’s yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt & pepper
• Knob of butter

Simmered until it thickened up and got sticky, then basted the chicken in the last few mins.

⸻

🔥 Cooked in the Ninja Woodfire:

• Grill Mode: HIGH
• Around 10–12 mins, flipping halfway
• Glazed the last 3–4 mins ’til it was glossy and banging

⸻

Served it all in naan pockets with fresh salad, poured over some of that leftover glaze, and washed it down with a cold pint of the beer I brewed myself. Not gonna lie — for a first try, I’m proper impressed 👌

The only problem? I’ve no CO2 setup yet, so the keg needs finishing sharpish . . . looks like it’s gonna be a very decent night 😂

👉 What should I brew next?

#ad @igulubeer

www.igulu.co.uk

#igulu #iGuluS1 #gifted #bbqandbeer #firstbrew #beerbrined #stickychicken #ninjawoodfire #beerrecipe #bbqrecipe #cheekydrink #comingsoon #brewtobbq

65 7
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Right then — first brew DONE, and what better way to mark it than cooking up something to go with it 🍗🍺 If you saw my reel 20 days ago, @igulubeer had sent me their S1 Smart Home Brewing System (gifted) — and this was the moment of truth. First pour, first taste, and my first ever beer used in a BBQ recipe. I grilled up some beer-brined, honey beer glazed chicken thighs on the @ninjakitchenuk Woodfire, dropped ’em into warm naan pockets with salad, poured over some of that leftover glaze, and got stuck in 🔥 ⸻ 🧂 Beer Brine: • 250ml cold water • 250ml of my freshly brewed German Helles • 50g salt • 25g sugar • 1 garlic clove (smashed) • 1 bay leaf • 5–6 peppercorns Brined boneless, skinless chicken thighs for 6 hours, patted them dry, and cracked on. ⸻ 🍯 Honey Beer Glaze: • 150ml beer • 2 tbsp honey • 1.5 tbsp French’s yellow mustard • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 tsp smoked paprika • Salt & pepper • Knob of butter Simmered until it thickened up and got sticky, then basted the chicken in the last few mins. ⸻ 🔥 Cooked in the Ninja Woodfire: • Grill Mode: HIGH • Around 10–12 mins, flipping halfway • Glazed the last 3–4 mins ’til it was glossy and banging ⸻ Served it all in naan pockets with fresh salad, poured over some of that leftover glaze, and washed it down with a cold pint of the beer I brewed myself. Not gonna lie — for a first try, I’m proper impressed 👌 The only problem? I’ve no CO2 setup yet, so the keg needs finishing sharpish . . . looks like it’s gonna be a very decent night 😂 👉 What should I brew next? #ad @igulubeer www.igulu.co.uk #igulu #iGuluS1 #gifted #bbqandbeer #firstbrew #beerbrined #stickychicken #ninjawoodfire #beerrecipe #bbqrecipe #cheekydrink #comingsoon #brewtobbq

1 year to the day . . . and I still can’t believe little old me was flown to Nashville by @ninjakitchenuk . First time in America, first time doing anything like that — honestly one of the biggest moments of my BBQ life. And yep, the FlexFlame review I wrote back then is still getting loads of daily traffic too. Madness.

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1 year to the day . . . and I still can’t believe little old me was flown to Nashville by @ninjakitchenuk . First time in America, first time doing anything like that — honestly one of the biggest moments of my BBQ life. And yep, the FlexFlame review I wrote back then is still getting loads of daily traffic too. Madness.

Simple Beef Stew & Fire-Roasted Mash in the Kamado Joe

No thrills. No fancy edits. Just a proper wholesome family dinner cooked low and slow outdoors. Diced beef braising steak, smoked and stewed in the Smoke Pot, with jacket spuds roasted next to it and turned into mash — easy as you like.

Kept the reel as simple as the cook — no crazy angles, just real food, cooked for me and the kids. And sometimes, it’s the simple things that just hit the spot.

Not that you’ll need it, but the full recipe’s up on the website as usual 😉

www.smokeandsear.world

#SmokeAndSear #KamadoJoeCooking #SimpleBBQ #FamilyFood #BeefStew #BBQMash #OnePotCook #RealFoodRealFire #OutdoorCooking #BBQLife

104 17
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Simple Beef Stew & Fire-Roasted Mash in the Kamado Joe No thrills. No fancy edits. Just a proper wholesome family dinner cooked low and slow outdoors. Diced beef braising steak, smoked and stewed in the Smoke Pot, with jacket spuds roasted next to it and turned into mash — easy as you like. Kept the reel as simple as the cook — no crazy angles, just real food, cooked for me and the kids. And sometimes, it’s the simple things that just hit the spot. Not that you’ll need it, but the full recipe’s up on the website as usual 😉 www.smokeandsear.world #SmokeAndSear #KamadoJoeCooking #SimpleBBQ #FamilyFood #BeefStew #BBQMash #OnePotCook #RealFoodRealFire #OutdoorCooking #BBQLife

Right then . . . @igulubeer got in touch and asked if I fancied giving their S1 Smart Home Brewing System a go 🍺

We had a few honest chats – I’ve never brewed beer before, but I do love trying out new gear, especially when there’s tech involved. They sent over the S1 – their latest smart brewing machine – along with a German Helles brew kit, and this reel shows the unboxing and kicking off that first ever brew.

Apparently, it takes 20 days until it’s ready to drink – so this is just the start. There’ll be more coming soon as I pair a few brews with proper cooks off the BBQ 🔥#

Now, quick heads up – the S1 is currently out of stock in the UK. But if you like the look of it, stay tuned – once it’s back on sale, I should be able to sort you out with a cheeky discount 👀

Could this be the new bit of kit the BBQ shack was missing?

Let’s see how it turns out . . .

What should I brew next?

#ad @igulubeer

www.igulu.co.uk

#igulu #iGuluS1 #gifted #bbqandbeer #firstbrew #homebrewing #smartbrewer #comingsoon

87 15
Open
Right then . . . @igulubeer got in touch and asked if I fancied giving their S1 Smart Home Brewing System a go 🍺 We had a few honest chats – I’ve never brewed beer before, but I do love trying out new gear, especially when there’s tech involved. They sent over the S1 – their latest smart brewing machine – along with a German Helles brew kit, and this reel shows the unboxing and kicking off that first ever brew. Apparently, it takes 20 days until it’s ready to drink – so this is just the start. There’ll be more coming soon as I pair a few brews with proper cooks off the BBQ 🔥# Now, quick heads up – the S1 is currently out of stock in the UK. But if you like the look of it, stay tuned – once it’s back on sale, I should be able to sort you out with a cheeky discount 👀 Could this be the new bit of kit the BBQ shack was missing? Let’s see how it turns out . . . What should I brew next? #ad @igulubeer www.igulu.co.uk #igulu #iGuluS1 #gifted #bbqandbeer #firstbrew #homebrewing #smartbrewer #comingsoon