Can You Spatchcock a Turkey on a Gas Grill?

If you are looking for the easiest way to make a turkey, try this Spatchcock Grilled Turkey. It is super-moist, requires half the cook time of a roasted turkey and it is bursting with flavor.

Turkey doesn’t always get a good reputation. It is intimidating to make for most and many times it turns out dry and not flavorful. But that is not the case with when you spatchcock and grill the turkey. It is so flavorful and juicy and I think it is much easier to do it this way too instead of cooking in oven. It cooks in half the time.

Butterflying the turkey (aka spatchcocking it) is a technique that removes the backbone for a faster roast and later an easier carving. I prefer making like this than any other way.

So if you are in charge of the turkey for Thanksgiving or you are hosting the holiday, I highly recommend you try this grilled turkey and spatchcocking it. It is so delicious, easy to make and your family or friends and you will love it.

I also prefer getting a fresh turkey over a frozen one and it’s typically 10-12 lbs or so. It’s a great size for serving a larger group and makes for an easy spatchcock. Which means butterflying the turkey by removing the backbone with kitchen shears.

I cannot wait for you guys to try making turkey like this! Let me know what you think.

Spatchcocking a turkey, also known as butterflying a turkey, is a great way to cook a turkey quickly and evenly. With this method, the backbone is removed so the bird lies flat. This allows it to cook faster than an intact turkey. Many people wonder if you can spatchcock a turkey on a gas grill. The answer is yes, absolutely! Cooking a spatchcocked turkey on a gas grill results in a juicy, flavorful bird in much less time compared to roasting.

Benefits of Spatchcocking a Turkey

There are several advantages to spatchcocking a turkey instead of cooking a whole intact bird

Cooks faster – Removing the backbone allows the turkey to lie flat so more surface area is exposed directly to the heat This decreases cooking time significantly, A 12-14 lb spatchcocked turkey takes only 60-90 minutes to reach 165°F internal temperature An intact turkey of the same size takes 3-4 hours,
Cooks more evenly – Flattening out the turkey helps it cook through more evenly since all areas are equally exposed. With an intact turkey the breast cooks faster than the thighs and legs.
Crispier skin – More of the skin is in direct contact with the grill grates rather than being tucked inside the cavity. This helps the skin get crispy and browned all over.
Easier to carve – With the backbone removed and breastbone flattened, carving the turkey after cooking is much simpler.

How to Spatchcock a Turkey

Spatchcocking a turkey is easy to do at home with just a pair of sturdy kitchen shears:

Place the turkey breast side down on a cutting board. Using shears, cut along both sides of the backbone from tail to neck.
Remove and discard the backbone or save for making stock.
Flip the turkey over and press down firmly on the breastbone to flatten. You may need to cut through the cartilage with shears to fully flatten it.
Tuck the wing tips under the shoulders. The turkey is now ready for seasoning and grilling.

Grilling a Spatchcock Turkey on a Gas Grill

Cooking a spatchcock turkey on a gas grill utilizes the indirect heat zone setup. Here are simple steps for perfectly grilled turkey:

Pat the spatchcocked turkey dry and coat all over with olive oil. Season generously with salt, pepper, and other spices as desired.
Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Prepare a grill for medium indirect heat: For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes, turn off one of the middle burners and turn the remaining burners down to medium.
Place the turkey skin side up over the unlit burner area.
Grill with the lid closed until the thickest part of the breast registers 150°F and the thighs reach 165°F, 60-90 minutes. Check temps periodically with an instant read thermometer.
Transfer to a cutting board and tent loosely with foil. Let rest 15-20 minutes before carving.

Grill Setup Tips

For a 3-burner gas grill, turn the two outer burners to medium and leave the center burner off. Place turkey over the unlit center area.
Add a disposable aluminum drip pan filled with water or stock under the turkey to help keep it moist.
Use wood chips or chunks placed over the lit burners to add smoke flavor. Soak chips in water 30 minutes first. Apple, cherry, and pecan all pair nicely with turkey.
Maintain a grill temperature between 325-375°F for optimal even cooking.

Get Perfectly Cooked Turkey Every Time

Butterflying the turkey slashes cooking time significantly while delivering juicy, flavorful results. Pairing this technique with indirect grilling on a gas grill leads to foolproof turkey with crispy skin and moist tender meat. With the right prep and grill setup, you can easily achieve competition-worthy turkey worthy of your finest holiday feast. Spatchcock that bird and get ready for your new favorite way to cook turkey!

can you spatchcock a turkey on a gas grill

What ingredients you need to spatchcock and grill a turkey:

Turkey – we usually use a 10-12 lb turkey for this. The average size turkey most stores sell
Dijon mustard – you can also use honey mustard too or a grainy mustard. Whichever you prefer
Olive oil – or you can use avocado oil if you want
Garlic powder – one of the key spices for the rub!
Smoked paprika – another key spice in this seasoning rub – SO good
Parsley – I usually use dried parsley but you can also use finely chopped fresh parsley if you prefer
Oregano – same here, I use dried oregano

How spatchcock grilled turkey:

Mix together the spices in a small bowl and set aside
Mix together the oil and mustard and set aside
Please use meat handling gloves on (I do this for safety purposes) and pat the whole turkey dry with paper towel
Using kitchen shears, cut the backbone out of the turkey. Start at the tail end, making cuts up to the neck along the spin (complete this on both sides of the spine until it is fully removed)
Make a cut with the shears by the end of the breast plate, which will help the turkey lay flat (depending on the turkey you may need to make additional cuts near the thighs to help the turkey lay flat as the goal is to ensure all parts of the turkey are laying flat to evenly cook on the grill!)
Brush the spices mixture and oil rub onto the turkey (rub into all areas of the turkey wearing the gloves)
Preheat the grill to medium/high heat and lightly brush the grates with oil and lay the turkey skin side down in the middle of the grill and cook for 5 minutes (this is to crisp the skin)
Flip over the turkey and bring the heat down to low and cook for 90 minutes (grill temp should be around 375-400 degrees – 2 middle burners were set to low and 2 outside burners were medium to obtain this temperature)
Check temperature of turkey with meat thermometer (it should be 165 degrees) then remove turkey from grill and let it rest for 20-30 minutes before carving and enjoy!

Easy Spatchcocked Turkey on a Grill: A Tutorial Twist on a Thanksgiving Classic

FAQ

Is it worth spatchcocking a turkey?

While it is a little extra butchery work, spatchcocking a turkey helps it cook more evenly and quickly. Additionally, this method exposes all the skin at the same time, so you end up with a perfectly crispy skin and juicy meat. Take your time and the results will be well-worth the effort!

Can you grill a turkey on a gas grill?

This turkey cooked on a gas grill comes out juicy with a crispy brown skin. The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you’d find in a home kitchen.

How long to grill spatchcock turkey on a gas grill?

After 1 hour and 20 minutes of total cooking time from when the breast was placed on the grill, the turkey should be close to finishing. It is done when it registers 165°F in the thickest part of the leg (not touching bone) and in the thickest part of the breast (not touching bone).

Do you need a wire rack to spatchcock a turkey?

There are two ways you can cook the turkey: in a roasting pan or on a rimmed baking sheet, with or without a wire rack. Putting the bird on the wire rack allows all the liquid to drain off the bird, which will make sure it’s extra-crispy. However, both methods work well.