smoked turkey caesar salad recipe
Jennifer Danella

Smoked Wild Turkey Caesar Salad Recipe

A rustic twist on the classic crowdpleaser.

If there's one meal everyone loves, it may just be a caesar salad. We like to take it up a notch by, for starters, trading the classic chicken topping for wild-caught turkey (or store bought if your spring didn't include bagging a Tom). Then, we've added a rustic twist on the classic crowdpleaser by leveraging the art of smoking the turkey. The addition of delicate smokiness adds layers of flavor and depth to your favorite store-bought Caesar dressing, pairing perfectly with its tangy creaminess. 

Whether you're headed to a summer cookout or just looking for a light and fresh meal mid-week, this Smoked Wild Turkey Caesar Salad is so tasty, it might become your dinnertime staple.

Smoked Wild Turkey Caesar Salad

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 wild turkey breast
  • 2 teaspoons blackening seasoning
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 large head romaine lettuce, (or 2 small heads romaine)
  • Parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved
  • Croutons
  • Caesar Dressing

Brine Ingredients

  • 1 quart of cold water
  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

Recipe Directions

  1. To make the bring, in a large glass bowl, combine salt, brown sugar and water. Submerge the turkey breast into the bowl. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
  2. After 24 hours, remove the breast and rinse with cold water. Pat dry the breast and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
  3. Pre-heat your smoker to 225°F.
  4. Rub the blackening seasoning into the wild turkey breast using olive oil.
  5. Smoke the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F, about 4 hours. At the half way mark, baste with melted butter
  6. Remove from smoker and cut into bite sized pieces
  7. Assemble the salad with romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, croutons, then the wild turkey. Add Caesar dressing to taste and toss.