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Grilled Turkey
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Grilled Turkey

The best Grilled Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner is so simple and incredibly delicious. Once you try cooking your holiday turkey on the grill, you'll never go back to oven roasted again.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Additional Time4 hours
Total Time7 hours 15 minutes
Course: Turkey
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how long to brine turkey for grilling, smoked turkey, Thanksgiving Turkey, turkey brine
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 641kcal
Author: Milisa

Ingredients

For the Brine:

  • 4 quarts of warm water
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 1 lemon cut into quarters
  • 1 tablespoons peppercorns
  • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 3 cups ice cubes

For the Turkey

  • 12 pound turkey
  • ½ cup butter
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

Instructions

  • In a large pan, combine warm water with kosher salt. Whisk until salt is dissolved.
  • Squeeze the juice into the water and add the lemon rinds.
  • Slice garlic cloves in half and place into the brine with rosemary sprigs.
  • Add ice and stir to cool down the brine.
  • Lower turkey into brine.
  • Cover and refrigerate 1- 4 hours.
  • Drain turkey and discard the brine.
  • Prepare a grill fire to about 350°. Hickory or pecan chunks will add amazing smoke flavor.
  • Pat turkey dry with paper towels, inside and out.
  • Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Melt to tablespoons of butter in a small pan. Add minced garlic and rosemary, cook 1 minute.
  • In a small bowl, add softened butter with garlic butter mixture. Use a fork to combine.
  • Carefully separate the skin from the turkey breast.
  • Rub butter all under skin and over the top of the the turkey skin.
  • Sprinkle with dry rub.
  • Use butcher twine to truss the turkey.
  • Cook turkey over indirect fire with the grill closed.
  • Check the turkey about every 30 minutes, turning if it is browning more on one side than the other.
  • Cook until turkey reaches 160° using a digital meat thermometer the check in the thick part of the thigh, near the bone. 
  • Remove from grill and rest about 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

How Long to Grill Turkey:

Figure on about 15 -20 minutes per pound for grilled turkey if the grill temperature is between 300° and 350°.  Between 3 and 4 hours total cooking time for about a 12- 15 pound turkey. Using a digital thermometer is the best way to make sure the grilled turkey is perfectly cooked.

How to Store and Reheat Grilled Turkey:

Turkey should be sliced and removed from the bone. Place in an airtight container or plastic zip top bags and refrigerate up to 3 days.
To heat leftover turkey, place in a pan with a bit of broth or water, cook over medium heat until heated through.
Turkey can be frozen in a vacuum sealed bag or freezer bag up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 641kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 86g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 350mg | Sodium: 373mg