BBQ turkey breast is a delicious smokey way to enjoy turkey. When cooked properly on the grill or smoker, it turns out incredibly moist and full of flavor. Here are tips for bbq’ing the most juicy, tender turkey breast ever.
Choosing the Right Turkey Breast
Look for a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast between 4-7 lbs. The bone helps keep the meat juicy and the skin gets crispy and adds great flavor. Try to find an evenly shaped breast with the skin intact and no tears.
Prepare the Turkey Breast
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Rinse the turkey under cold water and pat dry completely with paper towels,
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Carefully loosen the skin from the breast meat without fully detaching it.
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Rub the meat under the skin with a light coat of olive oil or melted butter,
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Season the meat under the skin generously with salt, pepper and any other spice rubs.
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Truss the turkey breast by tying kitchen string around it to maintain its shape.
Make a Flavorful Rub
Use spices like:
- Salt and pepper
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Ground cumin
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
Rub the spice mix over the skin and under the skin for maximum flavor.
Frequency of entities:
Salt and pepper: 2
Chili powder: 1
Smoked paprika: 1
Cumin: 1
Brown sugar: 1
Garlic powder: 1
Get Your Grill or Smoker Ready
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For grilling, heat your gas or charcoal grill to medium heat, around 350°F.
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For smoking, heat your smoker to 225-250°F using wood chips, chunks or pellets. Good wood choices are hickory, pecan, apple, cherry, etc.
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Use an instant read thermometer to monitor the temperature.
Smoke the Turkey Breast
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Place the turkey breast skin side up on the cool side of the grill or smoker.
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Smoke the turkey for 2-3 hours until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, rotating halfway through.
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If grilling, sear the skin over direct heat for the last 5 minutes to crisp it up.
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Let rest 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Maintain Proper Temperature
The temperature inside the grill or smoker is important. Too hot and the breast will dry out. Too low and unsafe bacteria can grow. Best practice:
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Grill or smoke at a consistent 250°F
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Use a thermometer to monitor
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Allow at least 2 hours for a 5 lb breast
Basting Tips
Basting helps keep the turkey breast moist and adds more flavor. Some good baste options:
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Melted butter
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Chicken or turkey stock
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Apple cider
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Fruit preserves or jellies
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Barbecue sauce
Brush the baste over the turkey every 45-60 minutes.
Frequency of entities:
Butter: 1
Stock: 1
Apple cider: 1
Fruit preserves/jellies: 1
BBQ sauce: 1
Internal Temperature
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Use an instant read thermometer to check the temperature, inserting into the thickest part of the breast.
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Remove from the grill when it reaches 165°F for food safety.
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Let rest 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Carving the Turkey Breast
Let the breast rest at least 10-15 minutes after cooking for easier, cleaner slicing. Use a sharp carving knife. Slice across the grain of the meat into thin pieces.
Serving Suggestions
Juicy bbq turkey breast goes great with traditional barbecue sides:
- Baked beans
- Coleslaw
- Corn on the cob
- Mac and cheese
- Collard greens
- Cornbread
Creative BBQ Turkey Breast Recipes
Citrus Herb Turkey: Orange juice, lime juice, cilantro, garlic
Sweet and Spicy: Brown sugar rub, hot sauce glaze
BBQ Turkey: Tomato-based barbecue sauce baste
Gravy from Drippings
Don’t discard those flavorful drippings! Use them to make delicious gravy:
- Drain drippings into a saucepan
- Whisk in 2-3 tablespoons flour
- Cook 2 minutes over medium heat
- Slowly whisk in chicken broth and simmer until thickened
- Season with salt, pepper and herbs
Make Turkey Sandwiches
Leftover bbq turkey breast makes incredible sandwiches:
- Slice or shred turkey
- Pile on brioche buns
- Add pickles, slaw, bbq sauce
- Serve with fries or chips
Store and Reheat Leftovers
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Allow turkey to cool completely before storing.
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Refrigerate in a sealed container for 3-4 days.
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Reheat gently in the oven or microwave before serving again.
Smoked or grilled turkey breast is perfect for summer barbecues or anytime you want a taste of barbecue. Follow these tips for the juiciest, most flavorful bbq turkey breast off the grill or smoker.
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Texas Turkey Breast
FAQ
How long to barbecue a turkey breast?
How to barbecue right honey turkey breast?
Do you put turkey breast up or down on Weber?
When to wrap turkey breast?
How do you smoke a turkey breast in a crock pot?
Place the turkey breast on the pit and smoke for 2 hours. Cut the stick of butter into pieces. Place half the butter on a double layer of aluminum foil and set the turkey breast top-side down on the butter. Place remaining butter on top and wrap the foil around. Set the turkey back on the pit and insert a probe thermometer.
How long does it take to BBQ a turkey breast?
It takes approximately 3-4 hours to fully BBQ a turkey breast on the smoker. This time may vary depending on a number of factors, including the consistency of the temperature of your smoker and the thickness of the turkey breast.
What is the best way to cook a turkey breast?
Smoked Bone-In Turkey Breast is by far the best. If you need help with the smoking process check out my video and step-by-step method. It’s real simple. This week I want to share with you my method for cooking just the breast of the turkey. A Whole, Bone-In Turkey Breast is the way to go if you don’t need the entire bird.
How long do you cook a whole turkey breast?
Once the pit is up to temp, place the Whole Turkey breast on the rack skin side up. The cook time is going to be about 2 hours for an 8lb bone-in breast, but you really have to watch the internal temperature when cooking turkey. I use a thermoworks Chef Alarm to monitor the internal and it goes in at the very beginning of the cook.