Christmas Smoked Turkey Crown with Herb Butter & Applewood
This Christmas smoked turkey crown with herb butter and applewood delivers juicy, flavour-packed turkey with beautifully crisp skin and gentle festive smoke. Easier to cook than a whole bird, a turkey crown is perfect for smaller households and cooks more evenly on a BBQ or electric smoker.
Slowly cooked over indirect heat and infused with subtle applewood smoke, this method keeps the breast moist while building a golden, aromatic crust. The herb butter under the skin ensures maximum flavour and tenderness.
If you’re new to smoking or indirect BBQ cooking, read our Beginner’s Guide to BBQ & Smoking (UK) before starting.
For precise timing and perfect doneness, use our Smoker Time Calculator to avoid overcooking your turkey crown.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time (hours)
4hrs
Cook Time (minutes)
Servings
6-8
Cuisine:
British
Course:
Main
Difficulty:
Easy
Keyword:
smoked turkey crown electric smoker
Author:
Kitchen Sizzlers
Cooking Temp
170
Ingredients
3 kg turkey crown
150 g softened butter
2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dried rosemary
4 garlic cloves, minced
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tbsp olive oil
Applewood chunks or chips (for smoking)
Chef’s Notes
Brining the turkey crown overnight significantly improves moisture retention.
Avoid heavy smoke — turkey meat is delicate and can develop bitterness if oversmoked.
Pull the turkey at 72–73°C if you prefer extra juiciness; carryover cooking during resting will bring it safely to 74°C.
For extra crispy skin, briefly increase BBQ temperature to 190–200°C during the final 10 minutes.
Leftovers are perfect for Boxing Day sandwiches or turkey curry.
Equipment Used
- SUPER HIGH QUALITY ALUMINUM FOIL CONTAINERS - high quality foil Trays With Foil Lids Combo Pack Of 20 Food Storage Containers & 20 Lids 21.5cm x 15 cm capacity of 1000ml.
- GREAT FOR FOOD PACKAGING - convenient; these affordable long durable oblong Aluminum Trays by Superior is essential for leftovers, picnics, freezing, bbq, chafers, buffet serving kitsfood gifting for a friend & food service & are made from eco friendly recycalble aluminum.
- KEEP FOOD FRESH LONGER - Promote your restaurant or catering business by serving your take-away foods in almost dine in condition! This set of to go containers will ensure that entrees and appetizers stay hot until your customers get home. Even better, they can quickly reheat their food by placing the foil tray right in the oven!
- CONVENIENTLY REUSABLE DISPOSABLE - Aluminum take-out containers allow you to cooking baking rosting frying and serve all in the same oven and freezer safe foil pan! And you can also send guests home with leftovers without worrying about getting your aluminum tray back! Dispose of the foil packaging when you don't feel like cleaning, or easily hand wash and use them later as they are reusable!
- KEEP FOOD FRESH LONGER - Promote your restaurant or catering business by serving your take-away foods in almost dine in condition! This set of to go containers will ensure that entrees and appetizers stay hot until your customers get home. Even better, they can quickly reheat their food by placing the foil tray right in the oven!
- Programmable Alert with Preset Temperatures for Specific Foods: Your digital meat thermometer is programmed with preset temperatures for various cooking levels; poultry (74℃/165˚F), beef well (77℃/170˚F), veal/pork (77℃/170˚F), beef medium (71℃/160˚F), ham (71℃/160˚F) and beef med rare/fish (63℃/145˚F). All of the preset temps can be reset to your desired tastes.
- High Accuracy and Heat Resistance: The cooking thermometer features long food stainless steel food probe with step down tip designed to get food temperature precisely and quickly; Its temp range of probe: 0 to 300 degree Celsius or 32 to 572 degree Fahrenheit. Resolution: 1 Celsius, accuracy: 1 Celsius degree; Can be switched between Fahrenheit and Celsius.
- Timer Mode and Large LCD Display: Digital food thermometer with timer features countdown and count up ability, up to 99 hours, 59 minutes. The timer can be used whether the kitchen thermometer is in operation or not.
- Convenient Storage: Digital BBQ thermometer, features a magnetic back to allow you to easily attach to refrigerator or any metal surface; a hanging hole for your kitchen hooks or a lanyard; tabletop for any layout situation.
- Easy to Use: The oven thermometer with 16.5cm food grade step down tip design stainless steel probe to get temperature precisely and quickly. 100cm stainless steel mesh cable connects probe thermometer to base, outside of oven.
Method
Remove turkey crown from the fridge 45–60 minutes before cooking to come to room temperature.
Preheat your BBQ or smoker to 165–175°C using indirect heat.
In a bowl, mix softened butter with garlic, thyme, rosemary, lemon zest, salt and pepper.
Gently loosen the turkey skin without tearing it.
Spread half of the herb butter evenly underneath the skin.
Rub the remaining butter over the outside of the turkey and drizzle lightly with olive oil.
Place the turkey crown skin-side up on the indirect side of the grill.
Add 1–2 chunks of applewood for a mild, sweet smoke flavour. Avoid overloading the BBQ — turkey absorbs smoke quickly.
Insert a temperature probe into the thickest part of the breast.
Cook until the internal temperature reaches 74°C in the breast.
Remove from heat and loosely tent with foil.
Rest for 30–45 minutes before carving.
Need help timing your cook?
Scan for our BBQ Smoker Time Calculator:
kitchensizzlers.com/bbq-smoker-time-calculator/