How Long to Grill Turkey Breast: The Complete Guide

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.

Grilled turkey breast is a delicious alternative to roasting a whole turkey that’s perfect for smaller gatherings. With juicy meat and crispy browned skin it makes for a tasty entree without all the hassle of dealing with a 15-pound bird. But knowing exactly how long to grill turkey breast can be tricky since cook times vary based on a few factors. This complete guide will walk you through everything you need to know for grilling tender juicy turkey breast every time.

Key Factors That Impact Turkey Breast Grill Times

There are three main things that determine how long it will take to grill turkey breast

  • Weight/Thickness of the Breast
  • Bone-in vs Boneless
  • Grill Temperature

Weight and Thickness

The heavier and thicker the turkey breast, the longer it will need to grill. A small 2-3 pound boneless breast may only take 45 minutes to an hour. A heavy 7-8 pound bone-in breast could need up to 2 hours or more.

General guidelines:

  • 2-3 pounds: 45 min – 1 hr
  • 4-5 pounds: 1 – 1 1/2 hrs
  • 6-8 pounds: 1 1/2 – 2+ hrs

Be sure to check temperature early, as actual times may vary.

Bone-In vs Boneless

Bone-in turkey breast will take longer than an equal weight boneless breast. The bone acts as insulation, slowing the cooking process. Add approx. 30 minutes to the cook time for bone-in.

Grill Temperature

Higher grill temperatures will decrease cook time, while lower temps will increase it. Ideally you want a medium-high heat around 350-400°F for grilling turkey breast.

Maintaining an even, consistent temperature is key for proper cook times. Use a grill thermometer to monitor the temp.

Step-By-Step Guide for Grilling Turkey Breast

Follow these simple steps for perfect grilled turkey breast every time:

1. Prepare the Breast

  • Thaw completely if frozen
  • Trim excess fat/skin
  • Pat dry
  • Loosen skin gently without detaching

2. Brine (optional)

  • Brining keeps the meat juicy and seasoned
  • Dissolve 1/4 cup salt + 1/4 cup brown sugar per 2 quarts water
  • Submerge breast for 1-2 hrs
  • Rinse and pat dry after brining

3. Apply Rub

  • Coat with oil or melted butter
  • Apply dry rub under and on top of skin
  • Try brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, salt

4. Preheat Grill to 350-400°F

  • Use a grill thermometer to monitor

5. Sear Skin-Side Down

  • Helps crisp the skin
  • Grill for 5 minutes skin-side down over direct heat

6. Finish Over Indirect Heat

  • Move to indirect zone, skin-side up
  • Insert probe thermometer in thickest part
  • Close lid and grill until 165°F internal temp

7. Rest and Serve

  • Let rest 10 minutes before slicing
  • Slice across the grain for tender meat
  • Enjoy your juicy grilled turkey!

How to Tell When Turkey Breast is Done

The only way to accurately determine doneness is to use an instant read thermometer. Check in multiple spots. Turkey breast is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F throughout.

If overcooked, it will be dry and stringy. Undercooked and it could be unsafe to eat. So monitor with a thermometer for best results.

Tips for Moist, Juicy Turkey Breast

  • Brine before grilling
  • Cook at 350-400°F – higher temps dry it out
  • Use indirect heat except when searing
  • Baste frequently with oil/melted butter
  • Avoid peeking – opening the grill drops the temp
  • Let rest before slicing

Delicious Seasonings and Sauces

Grilled turkey breast pairs well with all kinds of flavors. Consider rubbing with:

  • Brown sugar
  • Chili powder
  • Lime juice
  • Garlic
  • Rosemary
  • Smoked paprika

Delicious sauces for serving include:

  • BBQ sauce
  • Chimichurri
  • Teriyaki
  • Pesto
  • Garlic aioli

So spice it up and sauce it up! Grilled turkey breast accepts a world of seasoning options.

Get Grilling Juicy Turkey Breast!

Now that you know exactly how long to grill turkey breast based on the weight, thickness, and other factors, you can grill up the most tender and mouthwatering turkey yet. Monitor the temperature, keep the grill around 350-400°F, and cook to 165°F internal. Focus on these keys and you’ll become a grilled turkey pro in no time.

Frequency of Entities:
https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/grilled-brown-sugar-rubbed-turkey/: 5
https://www.weber.com/US/en/blog/grilling-inspiration/how-to-grill-a-turkey-breast/weber-30294.html: 3
https://thewoodenskillet.com/grilled-turkey-breast/: 2

how long to grill turkey breast

⏲️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 brine a turkey breast

Grilling is very drying, so if your turkey breast is not injected or previously brined, try to brine if you have time.

A standard turkey brine of 2 quarts of water and about ¼ cup of table or Morton Kosher salt. If using Diamond Crystal Kosher salt, you need about ½ cup. I have added a few other flavors with garlic, brown sugar, and bay leaf, but those are not required.

You can use the brine to introduce other favors that you want. Add some apple cider, perhaps a quartered orange. Go wild. But the most important thing is the salt-to-fluid ratio stays approximately the same. It is not an exact science, so keep it close. See How to Brine a Turkey—A Basic Brine with Enhancements for more discussion.

A quick salt note. 1 teaspoon table salt = 1 ¼ teaspoon Morton kosher salt = 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

Refrigerate for 3-6 hours. Be sure to rinse off the brine and pat dry. Also, do not use salt in the rub if you brine.

How To Grill A Turkey Breast – Ace Hardware

FAQ

How long does a turkey breast take on the grill?

Grill the turkey breast over indirect medium heat, with the lid closed, until the skin is golden and the internal temperature reaches 160 to 165ºF in the thickest part of the breast (not touching the bone), about 1½ hours.

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.

How many minutes per pound to grill a turkey?

Arrange turkey breast side up, in center of cooking grate. Place lid on grill. Cook 11 to 13 minutes per pound or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh not touching bone registers 180 degrees and the juices run clear.

How long to grill turkey at 300?

Preheat your Traeger to 300 degrees Fahrenheit with the lid closed for 15 minutes, place your turkey on the grill, and let that bird roast for 3 to 4 hours.

How do you cook a turkey breast on a grill?

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.

How long do you cook a turkey breast on a BBQ?

Grill with lid closed. Adjust temperature of BBQ to achieve 350-375F (176.7-190C). After 30 minutes, turn breast 180 degrees to allow other side of turkey to be closer to the heat (for even cooking). Grill for a total of 45-60 minutes (depending on size of turkey).

How do you cook a smoked turkey breast?

Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub the spice mixture all over the turkey breast. Grill the turkey breast for 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Let the turkey breast rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

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.

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