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Your Thanksgiving plans are about to change forever! Our Easy Grilled Turkey Recipe has the crispiest skin ever and is so juicy.
Save space in your oven and enjoy an incredible meal for the holidays by following our guide on how to grill turkey!
Grilling Turkey
If you’re like me, then you’re probably always short on oven space when it gets to be holiday season. Between the side dishes, the main course, and dessert, my oven never gets a break!
I’m always looking for new ways to cook turkey so I can save myself some space.
I’ll always love my Garlic Butter Turkey in the oven, and Roasted Turkey Breast for a smaller crowd. But, dishes like my Instant Pot Turkey Breast and Potatoes are life-changing. The only issue is that sometimes, you need the whole turkey!
Then it hit me: why not put it on the grill?
Grilling a turkey is a great way to save space in your oven, but it’s more than that, too. It is delicious. I was blown away by how flavorful and juicy it turned out, and the crispy skin! Oh, that skin!
Buttery, herby, and citrusy, this recipe will take your regular Thanksgiving turkey and make it the best holiday meal you have ever had. Trust me, you will want to make it this way every year… even outside of the holidays!
🧂 Turkey Seasoning
Knowing how to season turkey is key to cooking the best bird every year.
- Coat your bird with turkey spices.
- Using your hands, pat down the seasoning and rub it into the skin and meat of the bird.
- Lift the skin and season underneath for even more flavor.
I love picking out my turkey seasoning and trying out new flavors from year to year, but I have two favorite rubs I know I can count on to give me the most flavorful meat ever! You can use any seasoning of your choice, but these are my favorite two.
For this grilled turkey recipe, I use my Garlic Rosemary Salt Recipe. Rosemary and garlic powder complement the smoky flavor of grilled turkey perfectly.
You can also use my Turkey Rub Recipe. I love the flavors of this rub! It’s my favorite for Boneless Turkey Roast and is delicious on the grill, too.
⭐ How to Grill a Turkey
This recipe is so easy – no brine required!
- 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.
- Make sure to place a 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.
- If the legs aren’t tucked already tucked under the skin, you will need to tie the legs together. This will ensure a very moist turkey.
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.
👪 How much turkey do I need?
I used a 20 lb. turkey for this recipe, which is enough to feed around 13 people. I always like to have enough turkey leftovers to last the week so I can make Turkey Tetrazzini!
If you have more or less people to feed, aim for 1½ pounds per person so there are plenty of leftovers.
🥗 What to Serve with Turkey
Our essential side dishes for turkey that we serve every year are:
- Baked Creamed Corn Casserole
- Fresh Green Bean Casserole
- Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
- Portuguese Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing
- Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
And, of course, Creamy Mashed Potatoes!
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📋 Recipe
Easy Grilled Turkey Recipe
🍳 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.
- 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!
- Grill at 450°F with the middle burner off and side burners set to low for 2½ hours. 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.
- Make sure to place a 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.
- If the legs aren’t tucked already tucked under the skin, you will need to tie the legs together. This will ensure a very moist turkey.
- 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.
Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe!