Can You Grill a Turkey Breast? The Ultimate Guide to Grilling Juicy, Flavorful Turkey Breast

Grilled Turkey Breast is amazingly easy. Moist, tender, and flavorful—perfect for smaller gatherings or Thanksgiving. Add the optional Brown Sugar rub for even more flavor or seasoning of your choice.

Turkey breast—bone in or bonelessOil—vegetable oil, olive oil, or butterOptional brine and rub Other optional seasoning—sprigs of fresh thyme, basil, rosemary, or other fresh herbs, pepper

Fire up that backyard BBQ grill for this easy recipe. Just prep the turkey, get the grill temperature controlled, place it on the grill, and return in a few hours.

Use this recipe for any smaller gathering when you dont need a whole turkey. A great summer change of pace or for a smaller holiday feast. Use the suggested brown sugar spice, a BBQ rub, or season like a traditional holiday bird.

I started with a recipe from the Chicago Tribune with a brown sugar brine and rub. It was a good start, but I added some modifications and options, simplified, and added more details to the instructions.

Grilling turkey breast is a fantastic alternative to roasting a whole turkey. A boneless turkey breast cooks faster than a whole bird and feeds a smaller gathering perfectly. With a few simple tricks, you can achieve a juicy, flavorful grilled turkey breast with deliciously crispy skin.

Why Grill Turkey Breast?

There are several advantages to grilling turkey breast rather than cooking a whole turkey:

Cooks faster – A turkey breast grills in 1-1.5 hours while a whole turkey takes 2.5-3 hours. Quicker cooking means less time spent waiting by the grill.
Easier to cook – Managing indirect heat for a turkey breast is less involved than maintaining even heat for a large whole turkey.
Feeds fewer people – A whole turkey feeds 8+ people. A turkey breast serving 4-6 is perfect for smaller gatherings.
More white meat – Turkey breast is 100% lean, tender white meat. No need to deal with cooking dark meat or wings/legs.
Easier to prepare – No tricky trussing or complicated roasting pans needed. Turkey breast prep is minimal.
Juicier results – Breast meat dries out easily Removing the bone and grilling indirectly helps prevent dryness
Crispy skin – Grilling creates crunchy, crackly, picture-perfect skin. No other cooking method produces skin this good.
Infuses great flavor – Grilling allows you to add smoke flavor or herbs/spices via a marinade or baste.

Grilling Tips for Turkey Breast

Follow these tips for grilling the most flavorful, juicy turkey breast with crispy skin:

Start with boneless turkey breast – Removing the bone makes it easier to cook the breast evenly. Plus, it’s easier to slice after grilling.
Brine the turkey breast – Soaking in a saltwater brine ensures a juicy, seasoned result.
Use indirect heat – Positioning the breast away from direct heat prevents burning and drying out.
Cook to 165oF – Monitor temperature using a meat thermometer for doneness. 165oF ensures safety and juiciness.
Baste while grilling – Basting adds flavor and keeps the breast moist.Melted butter or herb sauce make tasty baste options.
Let it rest – Allowing the breast to rest after grilling allows juices to redistribute for a tender, juicy result when sliced.

Step-By-Step Guide to Grilling Turkey Breast

Follow these simple steps for grilling an incredibly delicious turkey breast.

Ingredients

3-5 lb boneless, skin-on turkey breast
Brine of your choice
Olive oil
Herb butter baste
Apple wood chips

Directions

Trim excess fat and rinse turkey breast. Pat dry with paper towels.
Make brine and submerge turkey breast. Chill 1-2 hours.
Remove turkey breast from brine and pat dry. Let sit at room temperature 30 minutes.
Prepare grill for indirect cooking at 350-400°F. Add apple wood chips to coals.
Coat turkey breast with olive oil. Place skin-side up over indirect heat, over drip pan.
Grill 1-1.5 hours until 165°F, basting with herb butter every 20 minutes.
Remove turkey breast from grill and tent loosely with foil. Let rest 15 minutes.
Slice turkey breast across the grain. Serve warm.

Easy Turkey Breast Brine

This easy brine infuses turkey breast with flavor and keeps it incredibly juicy:

1 gallon water
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons peppercorns
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder

Bring all ingredients to a boil, cool, then submerge turkey breast 1-2 hours.

Best Wood Chips for Grilled Turkey Breast

For fantastic flavor, add wood chips to grill when cooking turkey breast. The best wood chips for turkey are:

Apple – mild, sweet, fruity smoke flavor
Cherry – mellow, slightly sweet smoke
Hickory – bold, smoky, bacon-like flavor
Mesquite – intense, earthy smoke

Soak chips in water 30 minutes before grilling. Add to hot coals for smoke.

Herb Butter Baste for Turkey Breast

Baste turkey breast while grilling for awesome flavor and moisture:

Melt:

1 stick salted butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Baste turkey breast every 20 minutes while grilling.

Get Perfectly Crispy Turkey Breast Skin

Crispy, crackling skin is easy with these tips:

Pat turkey breast dry before grilling
Keep grill around 400°F
Start breast skin-side up
Avoid opening grill often
Baste with butter for extra crispiness
Grill over indirect heat, not direct flame

Let the skin face the hot grill grates directly to crisp up. Avoid steaming from grill lid moisture.

Gear for Grilling Turkey Breast

Having the right grilling gear makes cooking turkey breast easy:

Instant-read thermometer – monitors doneness precisely
Disposable foil pan – catches drippings under breast
Basting brush – for evenly applying butter baste
Meat claws – shred and handle breast safely
Grill tongs – grip and maneuver breast with ease

Get Grilling!

Now you’re ready to grill the most delicious, juicy turkey breast ever! Brining and indirect heat are the secrets to success. Crispy browned skin, tender and moist meat, and wood-fired flavor make grilled turkey breast extraordinary. Fire up the grill and enjoy your new go-to turkey option!

can you grill a turkey breast

‍ How to Grill a Turkey Breast

Thaw turkey breast if not fresh. If using a two-sided breast, remove any backbone, split the breast bone from the inside, and press flat to butterfly.
Brining is suggested if your turkey breast has not been brined or injected.
Preheat the grill to a grill surface temperature of 350° to 400°.
Mix the optional brown sugar rub. Bush the breast with oil or melted butter. Apply the rub or a sprinkle of kosher salt if not using the rub.
Place the turkey breast with the skin-side down for about 5 minutes over direct heat to get some browning of the skin and grill marks.
Flip to skin side up and cook until an internal temp of 165° in the thickest part in several other locations—about 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours.
Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

⏲️How long to Grill a turkey breast?

Total grill time will be about 15-20 minutes per pound—usually 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, depending on weight, thicgkness, and the grill.

Check the internal temperature early due to the variables. You must have your temperatures correct and use an instant-read thermometer.

The seasoning is entirely up to you. Just some butter with salt and a dash of pepper will be good more most people.

BBQ is a favorite. Start with a dry rub of your choice. Or use one of my rubs, like Memphis Dry Rub, Chipotle BBQ Dry Rub, or BBQ Dry Rub. My suggested rub for this recipe is:

2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1 teaspoon of chili powder
½ teaspoon of oregano
½ teaspoon of cumin.

And serve the BBQ version with Memphis BBQ Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce.

Other optional seasoning—sprigs of fresh thyme, basil, rosemary, or other fresh herbs, pepper

How To Grill A Turkey Breast – Ace Hardware

FAQ

Is it safe to grill a turkey?

Yes. Outdoor cooking of a big bird is becoming a popular cooking method. During grilling, a turkey cooks by indirect heat in an outdoor covered gas or charcoal grill and a pan of water is placed beneath the grilling surface to catch the fat and juices that drip from the turkey as it cooks.

How to grill a butterball boneless turkey breast?

Steps to Make It Salt and pepper all over. Make 8 half-inch slits in the top skin of the turkey breasts and slip butter into slits. Cook for 5 minutes at high heat, then adjust grill to medium heat. Grill until the internal temperature reaches 165 F/74 C, about 25 minutes.

Can you cook 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 to cook a boneless turkey breast on a Weber gas grill?

Brush the cooking grates clean. Place the pan with the turkey breast over indirect medium heat, close the lid, and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers (160° to 165°F), 1 to 1 1/4 hours, basting with the pan juices every 20 minutes or so.

Can boneless turkey breast be grilled?

Boneless turkey breast can be grilled on a gas grill, charcoal grill, or even in an oven. It can be grilled whole or sliced into strips or chunks. It can be marinated or seasoned with a variety of different flavors. Grilled boneless turkey breast is a great addition to any summer barbecue or cookout.

How to cook a turkey breast on a grill?

Place the turkey breast on the grill. Now it’s time to cook the turkey breast. Place the breast on the grill, directly over the heat. Cook the breast for about 5 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 6. Baste the turkey breast with butter or olive oil.

Can you cook a grilled turkey breast hot or cold?

The grilled turkey breast can be a light main dish served hot or cold. I love that you can grill vegetables on the other half of the grill while cooking the turkey.

How long do you Grill a boneless turkey breast?

A: To grill a boneless turkey breast, preheat your grill to medium heat. Brush the turkey breast with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Q: How long does it take to grill a boneless turkey breast?