Traeger Smoked Spatchcock Turkey is a delicious and easy way to cook a turkey that is as juicy as it is tender. Cutting the bird in this way before you cook it ensures that the thighs and breasts cook evenly.

Traeger Smoked Spatchcock Turkey Recipe

I don’t consider myself an “expert” in many things. Part of that is just that I’m also a perfectionist, and to me being an “expert” means that you know all there is to know about that subject, and how can we ever, right?

I feel like an expert after I made this turkey.

Turkey dinner is my FAVORITE dinner, you guys. I’ve posted about this many times before, but let me remind you. We’ve done a traditional Traeger Grilled Turkey already too that you’ll love. I’m SUPER particular about turkey because I love it so much. We had a traditional turkey dinner for our wedding meal – in August. 

My whole family pitched in to cook it, and it was one of the most fabulous meals I’ve ever had. 

I don’t think my family wanted to make turkey again until I’d been married for 5 years or so, but they still love me so hopefully they recovered. 😀 

I was always skeptical about the Spatchcock method because normal turkey roasting is SO good. Plus, the stuffing. I can’t miss out on the stuffing. But I was really interested in the additional juiciness in the turkey that all of the spatchcock fans shout from the rooftops. 

They were right.

Use this to make these awesome Turkey Sliders!

How to spatchcock a turkey

The process of spatchcocking isn’t super difficult, but it can be a little rough without the right tools. Namely, a killer pair of kitchen scissors. You’re going to be cutting through the rib cage on either side of the bird, along the sides of the backbone which is the piece you need to remove. 

Step-by-Step Instructions to Spatchcock a Turkey

1. Place the bird on a stable surface, with the breasts down and the legs towards you. You should be able to see and feel the backbone of the bird on top.
2. With SHARP kitchen shears, start cutting up the side of the backbone, cutting through the ribs. This takes some muscle, and if you are squeamish about bone breaking noises you might want to tag in someone else because this gets a little intense. 
3. Cut up the other side of the backbone, through the ribs, and remove the backbone. Save it for the stock pot though!
4. Flip the turkey over and lay it flat. Using the heel of your hand, press down on the breastbone, hard, to flatten it out more. 
5. That’s it! You are ready to season and grill!

How to season a spatchcock turkey

Just because your bird is now face down, don’t neglect to season the underside! Brush the whole bird with oil or melted butter, and then go nuts with the herbs and seasoning.

For the turkey pictured here, I used a heavy hand with Traeger Chicken Rub, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and sage. You can use whatever seasoning mix/combination is your favorite. There are a lot of great combinations out there.

My advice is just to NOT SKIMP. You are seasoning a LOT of meat. It needs lots of flavor.

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What should you serve with turkey?

I go traditional with my turkey and do regular Thanksgiving sides. My favorites are:

• Mashed Potatoes
• Traeger Stuffing or Dressing
• Traditional Stuffing with Cranberries (Recipe by From Michigan To The Table)
• Corn
• Broccoli Casserole
• Homemade rolls
• Grilled Carrots
• Mocha Mousse

What can you do with leftover turkey?

Our favorites are the simple turkey sandwich on leftover rolls with a little salt and mayo, but if you are on day 2-3 of your turkey leftovers and want to get a little fancy, my Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup might just rival the main event of Thanksgiving dinner. Plus, you can use up not only the leftover turkey meat, but also use the carcass for the broth, and the gravy in the soup as well!

What are your favorites sides to make with turkey? Is there anything that you just CANNOT live with on your holiday table?