Smoked Brined Turkey Breast with Garlic and Herb Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-28 · Updated 2026-06-28

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Juicy smoked turkey breast brined for tenderness and basted with garlic-herb butter for rich flavor and a crisp skin. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 960 minutes, pairs boneless turkey breast, water, kosher salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 360 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 780 min Cook: 180 min Serves 6 American cuisine 360 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pounds boneless turkey breast
1 gallon water
3/4 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
2 tbsp fresh thyme chopped
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
1 tsp black pepper
2 cups soaked apple wood chips

The leave-in probe thermometer we’d cook this turkey with → Best Leave-In Probe Meat Thermometers in 2026: Wireless and Wired Picks for Roasts and Turkey

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large pot, combine 1 gallon water with 3/4 cup kosher salt, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 6 minced garlic cloves. Stir until salt and sugar dissolve. Submerge 4 pounds boneless turkey breast in the brine, cover, and refrigerate for 12 hours.
Step 2: Remove turkey breast from brine, rinse under cold water, and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
Step 3: Preheat smoker to 275°F and add 2 cups soaked apple wood chips to the smoker box.
Step 4: In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, and 1 teaspoon black pepper until well combined.
Step 5: Rub the garlic herb butter all over the turkey breast, coating evenly.
Step 6: Place turkey breast on the smoker grate and smoke for about 3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, basting with remaining butter mixture every 45 minutes.
Step 7: Remove the turkey breast from the smoker and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.