Turkey Breast On Grill Recipe

Tips From The Betty Crocker Kitchens

How To Grill A Turkey Breast – Ace Hardware
  • tip 1 Whole turkey breasts grill beautifully. Because theyre available in different sizes, adjust the grilling time as needed and check the meat thermometer for doneness.
  • tip 2 This spice rub is a grilling basic youll want to keep on hand for chicken and pork, too. Make a double batch and store in a tightly sealed container.

Thanksgiving Turkey On The Grill

This is how this recipe came about Last year my oven broke the week of Thanksgiving. To say I panicked is an understatement. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention for the first time ever, I decided to try grilling a turkey.

I am here to tell you that it was the juiciest turkey I have ever made! My family loved it! I realized that not only was it incredibly easy to grill a turkey, I also saved space in the oven. This is one of our most memorable holiday recipes.

I couldnt wait to share this recipe with all of you! You too can enjoy the best Thanksgiving turkey by following my guide on how to grill turkey!

Bone In Turkey Breast

A bone in turkey breast can be a bit intimidating. Its big and bulky, heavy and funky looking, and just plain awkward to handle. Have no fear! Ive got 2 great ways to make delicious bone in turkey breast and its perfect for turkey for two!

I know a lot of you are reading this recipe in prep for your small, intimate Thanksgiving meal. And this bone in turkey breast is absolutely perfect for that! But Ive got news for you this ones not just for Thanksgiving, guys. Its great year-round!

Thats why Im showing you two different ways to get an amazingly tender, very flavorful, and flat out gorgeous bone in turkey breast. On the grill for those of you doing this year-round or in great grilling weather. And in the oven if youre looking for a more traditional approach.

And dont forget your side dishes! Try this Instant Pot Creamed Corn or this perfectly steamed broccoli. Yum!!

Its all about the brine. Do not skip this step! Whether youre firing up the grill or cranking up your oven, the key to moist and juicy turkey breast is the brine. And its super easy! Just toss some sugar, salt, and water in a gallon-sized zip top bag. Toss in that breast and let it sit for a couple of hours.

The brine permeates the turkey and in doing so, pulls moisture into the breast, ensuring youll get a super moist bone in turkey breast every time! If you want far more detail on the science of brining , then check out The Kitchns explanation on why you should brine your turkey.

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Roasted Turkey Breast With Garlic And Herbs

A flavorful garlic and herb butter coats this roasted turkey breast, which is then baked to golden brown perfection. The ideal quick and easy option for a holiday supper or a regular evening!

I make a whole roasted turkey when Im feeding a bunch for the holidays. When Im entertaining a smaller gathering, I prefer to serve roasted turkey breast. This turkey breast is the greatest Ive ever had its tender, aromatic, and moist, with no dry flesh!

Grilled Turkey Breast With Herb Seasoning

Grilled Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe

Even though thanksgiving is just around the corner, it doesnt stop our craving for Turkey. The weather has been so weird lately too.

Hot then, cold. Hot then cold.

So figured, might as well bust out the grill one last time! Who am I kidding. Its Southern California grilling season never ends!

With a smaller family, a whole turkey doesnt always make sense. So cooking just a turkey breast is such a nice alternative to having to tend to a turkey all day.

Cooking it on a grill gives it a nice smoky flavor that is really great twist on a classic!

I marinated the Grilled Turkey for about an hour with some oregano, onion and garlic powder, and a few other seasonings in olive oil. The marinade was then rubbed on and under the turkey skin to give the turkey skin a nice flavor and getting some flavor to the meat itself.

This grilled turkey breast goes great with my smashed potatoes, and some cauliflower that I also threw on a grill in a skillet with a little butter salt and pepper. Its a great Sunday night dinner that takes about an hour to put together.

Turkey as you know cant be cooked super fast, but when cooking up about a 2-3 pound breast, you can get it ready in about an hour!

The grilled turkey breast has a nice char on the edges and gives a really nice crispiness to the skin. And Im a big skin fan but only when its crispy. Chewy, soggy skin really grosses me out. Blech!

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Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Easy you basically put the turkey breast on the grill and just leave it to cook! You dont want to let a lot of heat out so you only have to baste it 1-2 times while its on the grill.
  • Holiday if you are making dinner for a small group of people at the holidays this is a perfect option!
  • Versatile you can stuff the turkey breast with anything that sounds good to you including stuffing .
  • What To Serve With Grilled Turkey

    The grilled turkey breast can be served hot or cold as a light main meal. While the turkey is cooking, you can grill vegetables on the opposite half of the grill. Charred Onions, Grilled Hasselback Sweet Potatoes, Grilled Spiced Cauliflower, Grilled Coleslaw, and Party Salad with Grilled Vegetables and Quinoa are some fantastic grilled side dishes for the turkey.

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    How To Grill Turkey

  • Lift up the grate of your grill and place a shallow on top of the grill bars.
  • Fill the pan with turkey or chicken stock about halfway up.
  • Place the grate back on the grill.
  • Preheat the grill to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Once preheated turn off the middle burner and turn the side burners to low.
  • Place the turkey over the aluminum pan on the grates.
  • The drippings from the turkey and the rub make the most amazing turkey au jus. You can serve it as is or make the gravy out of it using a roux.
  • When the turkey is done, turn off the grill and remove the turkey from the grill, and place it on a serving platter.
  • Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes.
  • When the grates are cool, remove the grates and retrieve the turkey au jus. If you dont want to wait until the grates are cool, you can use heavy-duty grilling gloves to remove the grates.
  • Wine Pairing For Thanksgiving Turkey

    Grilled Turkey Breast Steaks – Christmas Recipe Video

    If youre looking for wine to pair with your grilled turkey breast, or full Thanksgiving Dinner, check out our Guide to Pairing Wine with Thanksgiving .

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on the link, we may receive a small commission if you purchase through the link. We partner with brands we know and love and use and it helps keep the blog going!

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    Southwest Grilled Turkey Breast

    This Southwest Grilled Turkey Breast was one of the best turkeys we have ever had! If you know our household thats saying a lot as we love turkey!

    We are always looking for new and exciting ways to serve up dinner or appetizers be it beef, pork, or poultry. We also have cooked turkey breast in many different ways. Sometimes a whole turkey is just too much for our family so we will do a breast roll or something like this recipe!

    Grilled Roast Turkey Breast Recipe

    Grilled Roast Turkey Breast is a family favorite recipe during the summer months. Grilling a turkey breast is also a great meal for company! Making this Grilled Roast Turkey Breast is also a great alternative to cooking a whole turkey during the holidays. There are so many uses for turkey leftovers and it is a good meal anytime of year.

    This is also wonderful served with Fava Beans with Jasmine Rice. Any leftover turkey meat can be used for making your favorite Sandwiches, Enchiladas, or in casseroles.

    This delicious grilled roast turkey breast recipe, comments, and photos were shared with me by Karen Calanchini, Food Stylist and Photographer, of Redding, CA.

    More great Poultry Recipes and also learn how to Brine Poultry for a moister and tastier dish.

    • Coarse saltand freshly-ground pepper
    • 3very small redonions, with tender green stems*
    • 1lemon,cut into quarters
    • 2sprigssage,fresh
    • 1/4cupsoy sauce
    • Juiceand zest from 1 medium-size lemon
    • 4clovesgarlic,diced
  • Unwrap turkey breast, pat dry inside and out, and sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Stuff the cavity of the turkey with the onions, quartered lemon, and sage sprigs. Turn the turkey breast, cavity side down, and place into an aluminum, disposable baking pan lined with non-stick aluminum foil.

  • Preheat barbecue or gas grill. Oil grilling rack, and adjust height to between 4 to 6 inches from heat.

  • Slice and serve.

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    Q: How Long To Grill Turkey Breast

    For the juiciest, most flavorful turkey breast, plan on grilling it for about an hour. It is important to start with a cold grill and a properly thawed turkey breast. If you have time for dinner, you can slice it and place it back in the refrigerator until ready to grill.

    Any more than an hour may dry out your meat. If you are using frozen turkey breasts that were not properly thawed, be sure to allow extra time so the meat is fully defrosted when you begin grilling. The ideal temperature for grilled turkey breast is between 350 and 400 degrees.

    With a fully thawed turkey breast, you should expect to cook it for about 15 minutes per pound of meat on the grill. Use a meat thermometer so that you know when it has reached its safe internal temperature of 165 degrees.

    Instructions For Grilled Turkey Breast

    grilled turkey breast
  • Blot the turkey breast dry with a paper towel and trim off any excess skin or fat.
  • Place the turkey breast on a rimmed baking sheet and let sit out at room temperature for 1 hour.
  • Soak wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes.
  • In a medium bowl combine the softened butter, mixed herbs, lemon zest and orange zest. Use your index finger to gently loosen the skin, from the turkey breast and carefully rub half of the butter mixture all over the turkey breast.
  • Prepare the grill for indirect cooking over medium heat and place a large disposable drip pan in the middle of the charcoal grate between the char-baskets. Once the grill has reached the desired temperature, brush the cooking grate clean and place the drained wood chips on the charcoal.
  • Melt the butter and stir the lemon juice and orange juice into the remaining mixture.
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    How Long Do You Grill A Turkey Breast

  • Brush the turkey skin with the melted butter and grill the turkey breast, skin side up, positioned over the foil pan, over indirect medium heat, with the lid closed, until the skin is golden and the internal temperature reaches 165º in the thickest part of the breast , 1 to 1 ½ hours. Baste the turkey with the melted butter every 20 minutes or so.
  • 8. Remove the turkey from the grill and let rest for 15-20 minutes. Before you carve into that beautiful bird, share your pictures on social media with us! #BestTurkeyEver

    Looking for more turkey inspiration? Be sure to check out more tips here.

    How To Grill A Whole Turkey Breast

    When it comes to food, Thanksgiving is all about the turkey. Unfortunately, for as much as I love to grill a whole turkey, available time and more importantly, the number of eaters, require a different plan. Enter, the turkey breast.

    A turkey breast is literally the turkey without the wings, thighs, and legs, as found on an unbutchered turkey. At 5 to 6 pounds, its anywhere from one half to one third the size of a full-size bird. The smaller size means faster grilling, and when only looking to feast with 4 to 6 people, its the perfect portion.

    Some may argue, like uh, me, that the white breast meat is not as flavorful as the darker meat found in the thighs and legs. While this may seem like a trade-off, there is an easy process to pack more flavor into the breast meat: a brine.

    Speaking of brines, here is a fantastic recipe by Jamie Purviance. Chock full of aromatics, this brine produces exceptional flavor possibly making the turkey breast your new go-to Thanksgiving feast.

    • ¼ cupcoarsely chopped fresh ginger
    • 4 garlic cloves, crushed

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    Cook Wild Turkey Breast Recipe

    A wild turkey is a great game and a fantastic meal. Grilling may work better while cooking thawed previously frozen turkey breast but it can do best with a fresh turkey breast. Wondering about how to cook wild turkey breast on the grill? Well, it is a simple and easy grilled turkey breast recipe that can be a perfect idea to enjoy a small gathering.

    Just fire up your grill because you will certainly want to make the turkey breasts. It can also be a great option for smaller holiday gatherings or might be a delightful option for a weekend night supper.

    In this article, we will discuss how to cook wild turkey breast on the grill along with all other related concerns about it.

    Foolproof Grilled Turkey Breast With Butter And Herbs

    Honey Butter Turkey Breast | Pellet Grill | Heath Riles

    Sharing is caring!

    Years ago we started adding a whole grilled turkey breast along with a whole roasted turkey on Thanksgiving. I have a nice size group with my brother and sister in law, their family and ours, but as time went on we started to realize everyone likes to eat only the white meat. When it came to leftovers for everyone to take home there would hardly be any white meat left, and no one wanted the dark.

    So now we have it down to a science, three whole turkey breasts on the grill. For our family it works, the flavor is amazing, everyone loves it and there are plenty of leftovers for everyone, who by the way, always enter my home with to-go containers. Another big bonus to grilling turkey breast is that my oven is freed up for all the delicious sides.

    Now this concept might not work for every family. Ill be the first to admit that a traditional whole roasted turkey looks beautiful when pulled from the oven on Thanksgiving day and I know there are many dark meat lovers out there who look forward to it, but you might want to consider making an extra turkey breast just for leftovers to pass out.

    Grilling a whole turkey breast is also great for a smaller group or if you just have a taste for turkey on the grill though out the year. Its slathered with a garlic herbed butter, its so moist and juicy, never drys out and the grilled flavor takes it over the top, whats not to like?

    This is pure deliciousness and it looks pretty fanned out on your platter!

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    Grilled Herb Turkey Breast

    How to make

    Step 1

    Blend all marinade ingredients in an additional large plastic resealable food tote insert turkey breast. Tightly seal bag flip bag several times to coat turkey nicely. Put the bag into a 13×9 inch pan.

    Step 2

    Heat one side of a gas grill on a medium or charcoal grill until coals are ash white. Place coals to one side in the skillet. Make aluminum foil drip pan place opposite coals.

    Step 3

    Remove turkey breastplace marinade in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-high warmth until curry comes to a boil boil 1 minute.

    Step 4

    Place turkey breast over drip pan. Cover grill, turning, and occasionally basting with marinade, 2-2 1/2 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165°F and turkey is no longer pink. Discard the remaining marinade.

    Step 5

    Q: Best Types Of Cooked Turkey Breast Grilled Or Smoked

    Some people may wonder about the difference between grilled and smoked turkey breast. To some, smoked turkey breast can have a better flavor, but it comes with the added time for smoking it. Others prefer to grill their turkey breasts to enjoy the freshness of its taste.

    Smoked turkey breast can be difficult to slice if you want thin slices for sandwiches, but if you prefer thicker slices, it may not be an issue. Ultimately, you should choose whatever method works best for your preference as well as your schedule before your guests arrive.

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    How To Grill A Turkey Breast

    If youre hosting a smaller group for Thanksgiving this year, grilling a whole turkey might be more food than you need or want. To avoid a fridge full of leftovers – try grilling a turkey breast, which depending on the size of your groups appetite is perfect for about 4-6 people and takes much less time to cook than a traditional, whole turkey.

    I created a flavorful compound butter using citrus and fresh herbs, half of which is used to rub between the skin and the meat, and the other half is melted and basted on to the skin of the turkey to create a flavorful, crisp, golden brown skin, which in my humble opinion is the best part of the turkey anyway.

    This recipe is prepared on a charcoal grill but you can easily adapt this for a gas grill like the Genesis II, or even a Weber smoker. Start by creating a medium-hot fire with an indirect cooking zone. I like to use the Weber char-baskets to bank the charcoal to each side of the grill, and a large disposable drip pan in the middle.

    Soak apple or cherry wood chips in water for about 30 minutes, then sprinkle the drained wood chips on the charcoal. Once the wood is smoking and the temperature is set with your iGrill, place your turkey breast upright on the grill over the indirect zone, it should be able to stand up on its own but you can use a roast holder if you need. Close the lid and let the turkey breast do its thing.

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