Grilled turkey is a great way to enjoy the flavor of turkey without all the added fat and calories that come with traditional fried or roasted recipes. Not only does grilling give you juicy, tender meat, it also helps seal in the natural flavors for a delicious meal.

Grilled turkey can be enjoyed as part of your main course or used as an ingredient in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. With just a few simple steps and some basic ingredients you can create a flavorful grilled turkey that will delight your taste buds. So don’t wait any longer and let’s get started on making this delicious grilled turkey!

Grill a turkey this holiday season, your family will love you for it.

Grilled Turkey – Easy Recipe

Here is how to grill a turkey in 9 easy steps.

Ingredients

• 1 medium turkey – 16 to 20 lbs will work on a standard weber kettle grill
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon pepper – coarse black
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 2 cups chicken stock
• Optional – four small chunks of hickory, applewood or cherry. Or wood chips. Soak them in water for 30 minutes prior to using.  

Directions

1. Start with a completely thawed turkey. You should brine the turkey as well. Here is a chicken brine recipe that can also be used for Turkey. Make sure you rinse the turkey off and clean out all the giblets, etc before grilling.

2. Prepare your Grill. If using a charcoal grill, we recommend a chimney starter. Fill it all the way up. Spread the charcoal evenly on the bottom of the grill. If using a gas grill you want high heat, all burners to start. You’ll turn it down later.

3. Rub and Oil the Turkey. Season the turkey with the pepper. Then oil the bird with a coating of extra virgin olive oil. The oil will help the turkey brown and prevent your grilled turkey from sticking the to grill grate. No need to oil the grate since the turkey is oiled.

4. Brown the Turkey. Grill the turkey 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Make sure you rotate the bird to brown each side. When is your turkey ready to turn? Roll the turkey… if the skin releases without sticking, it’s time to rotate.

5. Create an oven with your grill. After you have browed your grilled turkey on all sides, move all the coals to the outside and bank them around the edge of the grill (you are a weber kettle, aren’t you?) This creates a nice, even indirect heat.

Put a disposable aluminum roaster pan in the middle of the grill and put your turkey in that pan. This helps prevent over-browning, and it captures the juices. If using a gas grill, turn off the burners directly under the bird and keep the other burners lit to give you that indirect heat.

6. Add wood chips for extra flavor. Hickory is a good choice for grilled turkey. Apple or cherry is also good.Put the wood directly on the coals. Make sure it’s been soaked in water for at least 30 minutes prior to doing this. If using a gas grill you can make a foil packet like this.

7. Cook the bird. Keep both top and bottom vents fully open (again…if you are using a weber). Add more coals every 45 – 60 minutes. If it’s below 50 degrees you may need to add coals more frequently. Check your grill after about 30 mins to be sure.

Add unlit coals about 10 mins before you actually need them so they have time to light. If you see the smoke subside then add more wood chips. Keep plenty of soaked chips on hand.

8. Baste the bird. You don’t want your grilled turkey to dry out! Add about 1 cup of water or chicken stock to the pan about 30 minutes in. Also add a little to the cavity. You can also remove the trussing and spread the wings of the turkey a little bit to help it brown more evenly. Baste every 30 mins there after.

9. Check for doneness. Always use a meat thermometer to tell if your grilled turkey is done cooking. Check every hour. A rule of thumb is about an hour for every 5 lbs in 50 – 55 degree weather. Your turkey is done when it hits 160 degrees. Push the probe of the thermometer deep in to the turkey breast to be sure you get a good reading.

Final

Grilling turkey is a great way to enjoy the flavor of this lean and healthy protein. This grilled turkey recipe has been designed to keep your meal juicy, flavorful, and easy-to-prepare. You can’t go wrong with its simple ingredients: olive oil, herbs, garlic powder, salt & pepper. By following our step by step instructions you will be able to create an amazing dish in no time!

Serve it up with some roasted vegetables or salad for a complete meal that everyone will love. Enjoy your delicious grilled turkey today!

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