🔥 Smoked Turkey Breast with Sweet Heat Maple Glaze

A Fun & Easy Thanksgiving Recipe from BBQRubs.com

Thanksgiving doesn’t always have to be about wrestling a 22-pound bird into the oven at 6 a.m. This year, let’s make it easier — and way more flavorful — with a Smoked Turkey Breast that cooks faster, tastes richer, and steals the whole Thanksgiving show.

If you're hosting a small gathering, Friendsgiving, or just want an excuse to fire up the smoker on a holiday (we get it), this recipe is for you.

🦃 Why Turkey Breast?

• Cooks in half the time

• Perfect for smaller crowds

• Stays juicy with the right rub (we’ve got you covered)

• A great excuse to skip the dry, traditional turkey nobody admits is dry

🍁 What You’ll Need

Ingredients

• 1 whole bone-in or boneless turkey breast (4–6 lbs)

• 3 tbsp Good Shit Seasoning (sweet heat perfection)

• 1 tbsp Special Shit (for depth + color)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 cup apple wood or cherry wood chips

• Maple Glaze:

  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup

  • 2 tbsp butter

  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

  • ½ tsp crushed red pepper (optional)

🔥 Instructions

1. Prep the Turkey

Pat the turkey breast dry (moisture = enemy of crisp skin).
Rub with olive oil, then coat generously with Good Shit and Special Shit.

This is Thanksgiving — season like you mean it.

2. Get the Smoker Ready

Preheat smoker to 250°F.
Add apple or cherry wood for a sweet, holiday-friendly flavor.

3. Smoke Low & Slow

Place turkey breast on the smoker, skin side up.
Cook until internal temperature reaches 160°F, about 2–3 hours depending on size.

Let the rub do its magic.

4. Make the Maple Glaze

In a small pan, melt butter, add maple syrup and apple cider vinegar, and stir.
Simmer 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
Add a pinch of crushed red pepper if you want a mild kick.

5. Glaze & Finish

Brush the turkey with the warm maple glaze during the final 20 minutes of smoking.

This is where Thanksgiving becomes legendary.

6. Rest & Slice

Remove turkey at 165°F, tent loosely with foil, and rest 10–15 minutes.
Slice thick and admire the juicy smoke ring.

🍽️ Serving Ideas

• Pair with smoked mac & cheese

• Add a drizzle of BBQRubs.com BBQ sauce

• Use leftovers for a next-day sandwich with cranberry mayo

• Serve with cornbread stuffing or roasted sweet potatoes

🔥 Final Thoughts

This smoked turkey breast is the perfect mix of sweet, savory, smoky, and simple. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or keeping Thanksgiving low-key, this recipe guarantees applause, clean plates, and zero leftovers.

And of course, it all starts with the right rubs — grab Good Shit, Special Shit, Burnt Sacrifice, and all your holiday seasoning and sauce essentials at: 👉 BBQRubs.com