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Your Thanksgiving plans are about to change forever! I know mine did! My Juicy Grilled Turkey Recipe is the juiciest turkey I have ever made and has the crispiest skin ever.
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We love turkey at my house, not just for the holidays but at any time of year. I’ll always love my Thanksgiving Turkey in the oven, and Boneless Turkey Breast for a smaller crowd. But, dishes like this and my Instant Pot Turkey are life-changing.
Turkey on the Grill
This is how this recipe came about… Last year my oven broke the week of Thanksgiving. To say I panicked is an understatement. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention… for the first time ever, I decided to try grilling a turkey.
I am here to tell you that it was the juiciest turkey I have ever made! My family loved it! I realized that not only was it incredibly easy to grill a turkey, I also saved space in the oven. This is one of our most memorable holiday recipes.
I couldn’t wait to share this recipe with all of you! You too can enjoy the best Thanksgiving turkey by following my guide on how to grill turkey!
Grilled Turkey Recipe
- It took less than 3 hours to make this deliciously juicy turkey!
- The prep time on this turkey is minimal! Literally, rub the turkey and dab it with butter, and you are done.
- No need to brine this turkey or tie the legs!
- It has so much flavor. The combination of the rub and the grill is out of this world!
- The crispy skin is next level! So delicious and crispy.
- And best of all… it frees your oven to make all those delicious side dishes!
Turkey on the Grill Ingredients
- chicken broth
- butter
- onion
- rosemary sea salt rub
- citrus of your choice I used lemons and clementines, cut into wedges
- fresh chopped parsley optional, for garnish
- fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme are optional, for garnish and stuffing
- whole turkey
How to Grill Turkey
- Lift up the grate of your grill and place a shallow (approximately 1″ aluminum pan) on top of the grill bars.
- Fill the pan with turkey or chicken stock about halfway up.
- Place the grate back on the grill.
- Preheat the grill to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once preheated turn off the middle burner and turn the side burners to low.
- Place the turkey over the aluminum pan on the grates.
- The drippings from the turkey and the rub make the most amazing turkey au jus. You can serve it as is or make the gravy out of it using a roux.
- When the turkey is done, turn off the grill and remove the turkey from the grill, and place it on a serving platter.
- Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes.
- When the grates are cool, remove the grates and retrieve the turkey au jus. If you don’t want to wait until the grates are cool, you can use heavy-duty grilling gloves to remove the grates.
Grilled Turkey Recipe Tips
This recipe is so easy – the rub replaces the brining. You will never brine a turkey again once you make this easy version.
- After seasoning, dab your turkey all over with melted butter. This will give you the crispest skin and makes the juiciest turkey.
- We used the indirect grilling method which works great on large pieces of meat. Place the turkey in the middle of the grill and only light the two side burners.
- Make sure to place an aluminum foil pan under the turkey. The drippings along with the turkey or chicken broth make the most amazing gravy.
- Using a dry rub and dabbing butter on top will guarantee the crispiest skin.
Turkey Temperature
I always recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Always insert it in both the breast and the thigh area. It should be inserted close to, but not touching, the thigh bone.
The perfect temperature will read 180° F in the thigh and 170° F in the breast. Follow my turkey temperature chart for step-by-step instructions.
For tips on thawing turkey in time for Thanksgiving, take a look at my guide on How to Thaw Turkey!
Best Turkey Seasoning
Knowing how to season turkey is key to cooking the best bird every year.
- Coat your bird with the homemade Rosemary Salt Seasoning. Trust me, this seasoning is amazing!
- Using your hands, pat down the seasoning and rub it into the skin and meat of the bird.
- Then brush the melted butter all over the bird. You will need to brush it gently in order for the rub not to come off. Trust me, this will ensure the crispiest skin.
- I like to stuff the turkey with lemons and oranges and extra rosemary to infuse the flavor.
You can also use my Turkey Rub Seasoning. I love the flavors of this rub! It’s my favorite for Boneless Turkey Roast and is delicious on the grill, too.
You can use any seasoning of your choice, but these are my favorite two.
Grilling a Turkey FAQs
You do not need to tie the legs. Trust me, I have tried it both ways. The problem with tying the legs is that in order to have a juicy breast, you will always have the inner thighs a bit undercooked and a little red. Leave the legs untied and you will have a perfectly grilled turkey with juicy breast meat.
I recommend purchasing 1.25 pounds per person. I purchased a 20 pound turkey and it fed approximately 15 people. I also like having turkey leftovers. Aren’t they the absolute best?
Leftover Turkey Recipes
- Turkey Tetrazzini
- Turkey Sliders
- Egg Roll in a Bowl replace the ground turkey with shredded turkey
- Turkey Carcass Soup
Check out all my favorite things to do with leftover turkey.
Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
- Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Sous Vide Turkey Breast
- Deep Fried Turkey
- Spatchcock Turkey
- Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Smoked Turkey Recipe
Use the leftover turkey to make my Turkey Stock, and make Turkey Carcass Soup! Don’t forget to try my Dry Turkey Brine, Turkey Rub, Butter Injection for Turkey, and Compound Butter for Turkey, too. Plus, make my Turkey Gravy for even more flavor!
See my Easy Thanksgiving Dinner Tips for more ideas.
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📋 Recipe
Juicy Grilled Turkey
Equipment
- Grill
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken broth to catch drippings under turkey
- 4 Tbsp. butter melted
- 1 onion
- 1 batch rosemary sea salt rub
- citrus of your choice I used lemons and clementines, cut into wedges
- fresh chopped parsley optional, for garnish
- fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme optional, for garnish and stuffing
- 20 lb. turkey
Instructions
- Season turkey with rosemary salt seasoning. Pat the rub all over the bird and rub it into the meat and under the skin.
- Dab turkey with melted butter all over. Make sure to dab, not brush, so you don't brush off the seasoning.Then, stuff the turkey with citrus wedges along with an onion and fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme if using. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.
- Preheat the grill to 450°F. Pour chicken broth into a foil roasting pan and place under the grill where you'll be cooking the turkey to catch the drippings. Reserve drippings to make gravy!
- Turn off the middle burner and set the side burners to low. Grill turkey over indirect heat for 2½ hours, over the foil roasting pan. Check the turkey every 30 minutes or so. A whole turkey will reach an internal temperature of 165°F when done cooking.
Video
Notes
- After seasoning, dab your turkey all over with melted butter. This will give you the crispiest skin and makes the juiciest turkey.
- We used the indirect grilling method which works great on large pieces of meat. Place the turkey in the middle of the grill and only light the two side burners. Refer to the step by step above on how to step up the indirect grilling method.
- Make sure to place a shallow aluminum foil pan under the turkey. The drippings along with the turkey or chicken broth make the most amazing gravy.
- Using a dry rub and dabbing butter on top will guarantee the crispiest skin.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the proper temperature. You can check the temperature in the thickest part of the breast or in the area in between the thigh and the breast.
Recipe looks great! Question,
…how do you grill at 450 degrees with the side burners set to low? Even if I preheat my Weber on high to 450 degrees there’s no way it will maintain 450 degrees with the side burners on low and the middle burner off.
Hi Stu! So sorry for the confusion. Turn off the middle burner and cook the turkey on low with indirect heat. All you have to do is preheat the grill to 450, then turn off the middle burner and cook the turkey over indirect heat at low heat. The way it was written was a little confusing. Thank you!
This explanation helped a lot. Thank you.
I’m glad to hear it, Amey! Thank you!