Kc Smoked Turkey appears as a signature dish in 1 United States cities. See each city's local variant and where to eat it.
Kansas City Smoked Turkey · Kansas City
Whole turkey or turkey breast dry-rubbed with KC seasoning, smoked over hickory and oak for 6 to 8 hours until the skin lacquers mahogany and the meat stays juicy. The 'third meat' on a KC mixed BBQ plate.
Smoked turkey emerged as a Kansas City BBQ specialty in the 1980s when joints diversified beyond pork and beef to capture the Thanksgiving, Easter and party-platter markets. KC's wood blend (hickory and oak) gives turkey a deeper bark than the lighter pecan-and-applewood mix typical of Memphis or Texas smoke. Arthur Bryant's, Joe's Kansas City, Q39 and Char Bar all run defensible versions; the Thanksgiving pre-orders book out weeks ahead at most counters.
Where to eat in Kansas City:
- Arthur Bryant's Barbeque
- Char Bar Smoked Meats