Yes, You Can Grill a Turkey – Here’s How

Grilling turkey may not be the traditional way to prepare it, but it can produce an incredibly moist flavorful bird that will wow your guests. With the right technique putting a turkey on the grill can free up your oven for all those delicious side dishes. It’s easier than you think!

Why Grill Your Turkey?

There are a few key reasons why grilling your turkey can be superior to roasting it in the oven:

• More flavor – The smoky taste imparted from the grill is hard to replicate in the oven. Rubbing the skin with herbs and oil helps the skin get beautifully crispy.

• Frees up oven space – Without that big bird taking up room, you can roast vegetables, cook casseroles, and bake pies simultaneously.

• Moist and tender meat – The indirect heat allows the turkey to cook gently while absorbing smoke Basting keeps it from drying out

• Fun change of pace – Doing something just a little different can liven up your holiday traditions. Guests will be impressed!

How to Grill a Whole Turkey

Grilling an entire turkey is easier than you’d think. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Prep the turkey – Remove giblets, rinse, and pat dry. Truss legs together. Coat with oil or butter and season well.

• ** Preheat grill** – Get grill to 450°F. Use indirect heat by turning off burner under where turkey will sit.

• Set up – Place turkey in disposable roasting pans and put directly on grill grates. Add aromatics like onion and herbs to pan.

• Monitor temperature – Keep grill around 325°F. Rotate turkey periodically. Check temperature after about 2.5 hours.

• Finish and rest – Turkey is done at 165°F in thigh. Let rest 30 minutes before carving.

• Make gravy – Use drippings from roasting pan to make a delicious gravy.

Grilled Turkey Tips

Follow these tips for grilling success:

• Brine if desired – Soaking in a salt solution makes the meat super juicy. Try citrus or herb brines.

• Truss legs – Tying legs together makes it easier to maneuver.

• Use a meat thermometer – This avoids undercooking. Check in a few spots.

• Baste frequently – Every 30 minutes, baste with pan drippings or melted butter.

• Use indirect heat – No direct heat under the turkey keeps it from burning.

• Allow plenty of time – Figure about 15 minutes per pound, so a 15 lb turkey will take 3-4 hours.

Delicious Seasonings and Flavorings

One bonus of grilled turkey is that the smoke provides built-in flavor. You can enhance that with rubs, stuffings, and basting:

• Herb butter – Rub skin with butter blended with rosemary, thyme, sage.

• Spice rub – Coat with smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic.

• Citrus and aromatics – Stuff cavity with orange, onion, lemon.

• Savory baste – Melt butter with garlic, rosemary, mustard for basting.

• Favorite stuffing – Fill the cavity with your favorite stuffing recipe.

Make Carving Easier

Carving a whole turkey can look daunting. Here are some tips:

• Use a sharp knife – A thin, sharp carving knife cuts cleanly through meat.

• Cut straight down – Slice vertical cuts down along both sides of the breastbone.

• Remove leg quarters – Pull each leg away from carcass and separate thigh and drumstick.

• Slice breast meat – Cut crosswise slices from each breast half.

• Cut up wings and carcass meat – Scrape remaining meat from back and wings.

Now that you know grilling turkey is doable, you can wow your Thanksgiving guests with this fun twist on tradition. Just remember to leave room for all those delicious sides!