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    Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving » Grilled Turkey

    Grilled Turkey

    Published: Nov 22, 2022 Modified: Sep 20, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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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.

    Whole grilled turkey on a platter with citrus, stuffed with citrus and herbs
    Jump to:
    • Turkey on the Grill
    • Grilled Turkey Recipe
    • Turkey on the Grill Ingredients
    • How to Grill Turkey
    • Grilled Turkey Recipe Tips
    • Turkey Temperature
    • Best Turkey Seasoning
    • Grilling a Turkey FAQs
    • Leftover Turkey Recipes
    • Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    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.

    Sliced Instant Pot Turkey Breast next to sprigs of rosemary and cranberries on a cutting board

    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

    1. It took less than 3 hours to make this deliciously juicy turkey!
    2. The prep time on this turkey is minimal! Literally, rub the turkey and dab it with butter, and you are done.
    3. No need to brine this turkey or tie the legs!
    4. It has so much flavor. The combination of the rub and the grill is out of this world!
    5. The crispy skin is next level! So delicious and crispy.
    6. And best of all… it frees your oven to make all those delicious side dishes!
    Uncooked seasoned turkey rubbed with butter and stuffed with citrus and herbs on a platter

    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
    ingredients for grilled turkey labeled on a white table

    How to Grill Turkey

    1. Lift up the grate of your grill and place a shallow (approximately 1″ aluminum pan) on top of the grill bars.
    2. Fill the pan with turkey or chicken stock about halfway up.
    3. Place the grate back on the grill.
    4. Preheat the grill to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
    5. Once preheated turn off the middle burner and turn the side burners to low.
    6. Place the turkey over the aluminum pan on the grates.
    7. 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.
    8. When the turkey is done, turn off the grill and remove the turkey from the grill, and place it on a serving platter.
    9. Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes.
    10. 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.

    chart showing cook times and serving size for different turkeys by pound

    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.

    1. Coat your bird with the homemade Rosemary Salt Seasoning. Trust me, this seasoning is amazing!
    2. Using your hands, pat down the seasoning and rub it into the skin and meat of the bird.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.

    Close up of a grilled turkey on a platter stuffed with citrus and herbs

    Grilling a Turkey FAQs

    Do I need to tie the turkey legs?

    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.

    How much turkey per person?

    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.

    Slices of grilled turkey up close

    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 Leftover Turkey Recipes, like 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.

    Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below to let us know what you think! We love to hear from you!

    Close up of grilled turkey on a platter with citrus, herbs, and cranberries

    📋 Recipe

    Grilled turkey recipe up close stuffed with citrus and herbs

    Juicy Grilled Turkey

    Isabel Laessig
    Your Thanksgiving plans are about to change forever! Our Juicy Grilled Turkey Recipe has the crispiest skin ever and is so juicy.
    4.84 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15
    Calories 896 kcal

    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
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Season turkey with rosemary salt seasoning. Pat the rub all over the bird and rub it into the meat and under the skin.
      Uncooked turkey with seasoning spread on top
    • 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.
      Seasoned turkey rubbed with butter and stuffed with citrus on a platter
    • 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!
      Chicken broth in a pan on a white surface next to lemons and clementines
    • 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.
      Lifting a cooked turkey off the grill using two serving forks

    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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 896kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 132gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 444mgSodium: 2322mgPotassium: 1428mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 468IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 88mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword grilled turkey, grilling a turkey, how to grill a turkey, turkey on the grill
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stu says

      November 11, 2021 at 12:06 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        November 17, 2021 at 1:32 pm

        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!

        Reply
        • Amey Ballard says

          November 25, 2022 at 12:38 am

          5 stars
          This explanation helped a lot. Thank you.

          Reply
          • Em Beitel says

            November 25, 2022 at 4:45 pm

            I’m glad to hear it, Amey! Thank you!

            Reply

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