This year, as Ive done for several years now, Ill cook our Thanksgiving turkey on the charcoal barbeque grill. This is, in my humble opinion, the best way to cook a turkey, hands down. And it frees up the oven for more important Thanksgiving fare, like pie, stuffing (and more pie).
Heres what youll need to cook up your turkey on the grill. My method is optimized for your standard 22-inch Weber charcoal grill, so your mileage may vary with other kinds. I have no idea if this will work on gas grills, so if you try it and it doesnt work dont blame me.
We started off with 12-pound a free range turkey from Diestel Turkey Ranch. Diestels birds have a great old fashioned turkey flavor, and are really worth the extra money. You can go up to about 22 pounds or so, but any bigger and you might not be able to fit the lid on your grill. This happened to me one year when I tried to cook a big 24-pound bird. Closing the lid is important, since were not really grilling so much as roasting/smoking the turkey on the grill.
This recipe works fine with either brined or plain birds. We usually dry brine the turkey ahead of time (see Serious Eats Food Lab guide to brining for all the details), but it turns out fine without it, too. You can also buy one of those pre-brined ones which means one less thing you have to do.
Dry it thoroughly inside and out, if necessary. Make sure you remove the giblets in their bag (I forgot to do this once… yuck). Rub it all over with olive oil, and liberally season with salt and pepper, or just pepper if youve brined the turkey. Stuff the cavity with the onion, lemon, and herbs—I just grabbed a handful of stuff growing in our herb garden, but rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano all work well.
Soak a cup of wood chips in water for 30 minutes. Build a medium sized charcoal fire, and when the coals are ready, divide them evenly into two piles on opposite sides of the grill. Scatter the wet wood chips on top of the coals. This will create smoke which will in turn give our turkey a subtle smokiness.
Place your foil pan between the piles of coals, and pour in your bottle of wine. (You can pour yourself a glass if you want, too.) The wine will add moisture and a little flavor to the turkey. If you dont want to use wine, you can substitute chicken broth or even water.
Put the grill grate on, making sure you position the handles over the piles of coals, as shown in the photo. Place your turkey on the grill, cover, and adjust the vents on the lid and on the bottom of the grill so they’re about half-way open—you want a pretty slow fire here so the turkey gets cooked through evenly.
Now go back in the house and watch football or something for a while. You’ll want to check on your bird every half hour or so, adding two or three charcoal briquets to each side if needed.
Cook your turkey until the temperature in the thickest part of the breast reads 161ºF. Our test bird took about 3 hours. Remove from the barbeque and let rest, tented with aluminum foil, for half an hour.
Congratulations—youve barbequed your Thanksgiving turkey! Taste it, and youll probably decide to do it this way again next year.
Cooking a juicy, flavorful turkey on a charcoal grill is a great way to shake up your holiday cooking routine. But figuring out exactly how long to grill a turkey can be tricky.
A lot of factors impact the cooking time, like the size of the bird, grill temperature, and more. Follow this complete guide to learn everything you need to know about how long it takes to cook a turkey on a charcoal grill.
Choosing the Right Size Turkey for the Grill
The most important factor determining turkey cook time on a charcoal grill is the size of the bird.
Here are some size guidelines:
-
10 to 16 pounds – Best for grilling. Cooks in 2.5 – 4 hours.
-
16 to 20 pounds – Can work but will be more difficult Needs 4 – 5 hours
-
20+ pounds – Not recommended. Will take too long and be hard to manage.
I recommend choosing a smaller hen turkey around 12 to 14 pounds for easiest grilling. A small bird will cook faster and more evenly.
Turkeys larger than 16 pounds tend to have uneven cooking and take much longer The turkey may dry out and burn before the inside is done
Setting Up Your Grill for Indirect Cooking
To grill a turkey properly, you need to use indirect heat. This means the turkey isn’t sitting directly over the hot coals.
Here’s how to set up a charcoal grill for indirect cooking:
-
Pile charcoal on two sides of the grill, leaving the middle empty.
-
Place a drip pan in the center to catch drippings.
-
Set the cooking grate in place.
-
Put the turkey on the grate over the drip pan (not directly over coals).
-
Keep the grill vents open to allow air flow and temperature control.
This 2-zone indirect heat method prevents the turkey skin from burning while the inside cooks.
Maintaining the Right Temperature
The ideal temperature for grilling turkey is 350-375°F.
It’s crucial to maintain a steady, moderate temperature because fluctuating heat will lead to uneven cooking.
To regulate the heat:
-
Start with a full chimney of hot coals.
-
Add 10-15 new briquettes to each pile every 45 minutes.
-
Check the temperature with a grill thermometer.
-
Adjust vents as needed to increase or decrease airflow.
Don’t let the temperature spike too high or your turkey will burn on the outside before the inside is cooked through.
Estimating Turkey Cook Time on a Charcoal Grill
As a general guideline, whole turkeys take about 15 minutes per pound to grill over indirect heat.
So a 12 pound turkey will need about 3 hours, and a 16 pounder will need 4-4.5 hours.
Use these time estimates based on turkey size:
- 10 pound turkey: 2.5 – 3 hours
- 12 pound turkey: 3 – 3.5 hours
- 14 pound turkey: 3.5 – 4 hours
- 16 pound turkey: 4 – 4.5 hours
However, a thermometer is better than time for determining doneness. Always rely on the meat thermometer over the clock!
Using a Thermometer for Perfect Doneness
The only way to accurately know when your grilled turkey is cooked to a safe internal temperature is to use a food thermometer.
Turkey is safely cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and breast.
To ensure even cooking:
-
Check the temperature in both the thigh and breast.
-
Avoid hitting the bone which can give a false high reading.
-
Insert the probe deep into the meatiest area.
When the turkey hits 165°F on the thermometer, it’s ready to come off the grill!
Let it rest for 30 minutes before carving so the juices redistribute. The internal temperature will rise about 5-10 degrees during resting.
Turkey Grill Times Chart by Weight
For easy reference, here are estimated grill times based on turkey weight:
| Turkey Weight | Grill Time |
|-|-|-|
| 8 – 10 lbs | 2 – 2.5 hours |
| 10 – 12 lbs | 2.5 – 3 hours |
| 12 – 14 lbs | 3 – 3.5 hours |
| 14 – 16 lbs | 3.5 – 4.5 hours |
| 16 – 18 lbs | 4 – 5 hours |
| 18 – 20 lbs | 4.5 – 5.5 hours |
Again, these times are just general guidelines. Always rely on a meat thermometer to check for doneness instead of estimating by time.
Grilling Tips for Moist, Juicy Turkey
To ensure your charcoal grilled turkey turns out super moist and delicious, follow these pro tips:
-
Brine the turkey for added flavor and moisture.
-
Pat the skin completely dry before cooking.
-
Rub the skin with oil or butter to keep it from drying out.
-
Use a disposable foil pan for a drip pan and to catch drippings for gravy.
-
Add a water pan above the drip pan for extra moisture.
-
Spray the skin with broth every hour.
-
Shield the breast and wings if they brown too fast.
-
Let the turkey rest before carving.
With the right preparation and grill setup, your charcoal grilled turkey will turn out perfect!
Cooking times can vary based on grill temperature and other factors, but in general you can estimate 15 minutes per pound for a whole turkey on a charcoal grill using indirect heat at 350-375°F.
For the most accurate doneness, always rely on a meat thermometer over cook time estimates. Insert it deep into the breast and thigh, without hitting bone, and cook the turkey until it reaches 165°F.
Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before slicing for incredibly juicy meat.
With these tips on how long to grill turkey and maintaining proper heat, you’ll be a pro at cooking tender, delicious charcoal-grilled turkey!
Making Gravy with Your Grilled Turkey
Gravy is the glue that binds Thanksgiving dinner together, and cooking the turkey this way does complicate things a little in the gravy department. The good news is that gravy is no problem, but youll have to use a slightly different technique than youre used to.
I usually start off by making a stock by simmering the turkey neck and giblets with some low-sodium chicken broth (4 cups or one 32-ounce container will do) and a carrot, an onion, and a celery stalk. Let this simmer for a few hours while you prepare and cook the turkey.
When the turkey is done and resting, remove the foil drip pan and its contents (the wine and turkey drippings) from the grill. In a large saucepan, make a roux with 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 4 tablespoons unsalted butter. Slowly add the turkey stock you prepared earlier and some of the drip pan contents to the pan and whisk in. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until thickened and gravy-like. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
The proportions of turkey broth and drippings are up to you. The drippings will impart a smokey taste to the gravy, so use more for a stronger flavor, and less for something more subtle. Youll also want to use less of the drippings if youre cooking a brined turkey, since theyll be pretty salty.
Needless to say, you shouldnt stuff a turkey that youre cooking on the grill. Just make it in a pan in the oven and youll be set.
We get commissions for purchases made through links in this article.
Charcoal Smoked Turkey Whole Tips For Beginners
FAQ
How do I cook a turkey on a charcoal grill?
How long does it take to cook a 20 pound turkey on a Weber charcoal grill?
How long does it take to grill a turkey at 350?
|
Weight
|
Cook Time
|
|
8 to 12 lbs.
|
1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hrs.
|
|
12 to 14 lbs.
|
2-1/2 to 2-3/4 hrs.
|
|
14 to 18 lbs.
|
2-3/4 to 3-1/2 hrs.
|
|
18 to 20 lbs.
|
3-1/2 to 4 hrs.
|
When grilling a turkey do you cover it with foil?
How do you cook a Turkey on a charcoal grill?
1. Arrange the charcoal briquettes in a two-zone fire configuration, with the coals piled on one side of the grill. 2. Place a drip pan filled with water on the other side of the grill to catch the drippings and prevent flare-ups. 3. Preheat the grill to a temperature of around 325°F (163°C) before placing the turkey on the cooking grates.
How do you Grill a whole turkey?
To grill a whole turkey, you will need: Charcoal Grill – You can also use a gas grill, but the instructions in this post cater to a charcoal. Charcoal – Classic charcoal gives the best flavor. Lighter Fluid – To get the fire going. Drip Pans – Use a drip pan underneath to collect drippings for gravy.
How long does it take to cook a Turkey on a gas grill?
Add 6 to 8 briquettes to each side every 45 to 60 minutes. Using a meat thermometer, cook turkey to internal temperature of 180° F in thigh and 170° F in breast. 10 to 16 lb. turkeys will take 2 to 3 hours to grill. When done, remove and let stand for 15 minutes before carving. Gas grilling is a fun and easy way to get the taste you’re craving.
How do you cook a turkey breast on a grill?
Brush or spray entire turkey with cooking or vegetable oil. Place turkey, breast up, on cooking grate over drip pan. Cover grill, leaving vents open. Add 6 to 8 briquettes to each side every 45 to 60 minutes. Using a meat thermometer, cook turkey to internal temperature of 180° F in thigh and 170° F in breast.