Best 5 Grilled Whole Turkey Recipes

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If you're looking for a delicious and impressive centerpiece for your next gathering, consider grilling a whole turkey. Grilled turkey is a juicy and flavorful alternative to roasted turkey, and it's sure to be a hit with your guests. Grilling a whole turkey may seem like a daunting task, but it's actually quite easy to do. With the right preparation and cooking techniques, you can achieve a perfectly cooked turkey that's moist and tender on the inside and crispy and golden brown on the outside.

Let's cook with our recipes!

GRILLED WHOLE TURKEY



Grilled Whole Turkey image

This is best done on a large gas grill fitted with a thermometer - it's more labor-intensive to keep a charcoal grill at a constant high heat. You'll need a disposable roasting pan large enough to fit the turkey on a V-rack.

Provided by Kemp Minifie

Categories     Poultry     turkey     Christmas     Thanksgiving     Backyard BBQ     Fall     Grill/Barbecue     Gourmet

Yield Makes 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (14- to 16-pound) turkey, neck and giblets (excluding liver) reserved for turkey giblet stock
2 1/2 teaspoons salt (2 teaspoons if using a kosher bird)
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1 small metal skewer
N/A kitchen string
1 flat metal rack
1 instant-read thermometer
Special Equipment
pliers (preferably needlenose); a small metal skewer (optional); kitchen string; a flat metal rack; an instant-read thermometer

Steps:

  • Remove any feathers and quills with pliers (kosher turkeys tend to require this more than others).
  • Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry. Mix salt and pepper in a small bowl and sprinkle it evenly in turkey cavities and all over skin. Fold neck skin under body and, if desired, secure with metal skewer, then tuck wing tips under breast and tie drumsticks together with kitchen string.
  • Preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then turn off 1 burner (middle one if there are 3). Put turkey on oiled rack in roasting pan and add 2 cups water to pan. Set pan over turned-off burner and close lid immediately (temperature drops quickly when lid is lifted). Grill, adjusting burner or burners to maintain 450°F and rotating pan 180 degrees halfway through grilling, until thermometer inserted in fleshy part of each thigh registers 170°F, 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 hours. Time could be longer in cold weather. Avoid opening lid often because of rapid heat loss.

APPLE-SAGE GLAZED GRILLED WHOLE TURKEY WITH GRILLED APPLES



Apple-Sage Glazed Grilled Whole Turkey with Grilled Apples image

Provided by Bobby Flay

Categories     main-dish

Time 6h5m

Yield 20 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon canola oil, plus more for brushing on the turkey
1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
1 serrano chile, coarsely chopped
3/4 cups apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped, plus 2 peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 whole (20 pound) turkey

Steps:

  • Preheat the grill to medium-high. Heat oil in a medium saucepan on the grates of the grill or on a burner. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the serrano chile and cook for 1 minute. Add the vinegar and sugar and cook until the sugar has melted. Stir in the chopped apples and cook until the apples are soft and the mixture is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Place the apple mixture in a food processor and add the sage. Pulse until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let cool to room temperature.
  • Have a large drip pan filled with a little water positioned under where the turkey will be placed on the grill. Brush the entire turkey with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the turkey on all sides until golden brown. Reduce the heat of the grill to medium to maintain a constant temperature of 350 degrees F. Cook turkey until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 170 to 175 degrees F. Begin brushing the entire turkey with the apple glaze during the last 15 minutes of cooking. Remove from the grill and brush with more of the glaze. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Grill the sliced apples for 2 to 3 minutes on each side and serve with the turkey.

GRILLED WHOLE TURKEY



Grilled Whole Turkey image

With golden-brown skin without the hassle of basting, plus tender, juicy meat, this turkey is too good to serve only at Thanksgiving.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 4h

Yield 14

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 fresh or frozen whole turkey (10 to 12 lb), thawed
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 to 4 tablespoons oil or melted butter

Steps:

  • Heat gas or charcoal grill for indirect grilling as directed in owner's manual. Remove and discard neck and giblets from turkey. Rinse turkey with cold water. Season cavity of turkey with seasoned salt and pepper. Fasten neck skin to back with skewers. Turn wings back and tuck tips under shoulder joints. Refasten drumsticks with metal piece or tuck under band of skin at tail. Rub outside surface of turkey with oil. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of thigh and does not touch bone.
  • Place turkey, breast side up, over unheated side of grill directly over drip pan. Cover grill; cook turkey with medium heat 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours or until thermometer reads 180°F to 185°F and legs move easily when moved or twisted. Avoid lifting cover until ready to check thermometer. (There is no need to baste or turn turkey.) Let turkey stand 15 to 20 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 400, Carbohydrate 0 g, Cholesterol 145 mg, Fat 1 1/2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 44 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 230 mg, Sugar 0 g, TransFat 1/2 g

GRILLED WHOLE TURKEY



Grilled Whole Turkey image

Make and share this Grilled Whole Turkey recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Viclynn

Categories     Whole Turkey

Time 2h10m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

8 3/4 lbs whole turkey
2 cups water
3 tablespoons chicken bouillon powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon paprika

Steps:

  • Preheat grill. Rinse turkey and pat dry.
  • Place turkey breast side down, directly on grill to sear until golden brown.
  • Mix other ingredients in large roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side down, in pan, and
  • pour liquid over turkey (I sometimes pour the seasonings into the cavity between skin/meat).
  • Cover tightly with foil and grill. Cook 11-13 minutes per pound (internal temperature of
  • 180 degrees in thigh). Let stand 15 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 592.8, Fat 29.5, SaturatedFat 8.3, Cholesterol 247.2, Sodium 654, Carbohydrate 1.7, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 0.8, Protein 74.8

GRILLED WHOLE TURKEY



Grilled Whole Turkey image

This is an easy way to cook a Thanksgiving turkey and free up your oven for other dishes.

Provided by Rtarver

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Turkey     Whole Turkey Recipes

Time 4h30m

Yield 18

Number Of Ingredients 8

12 pounds whole turkey
2 cups water
3 tablespoons chicken bouillon powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
½ teaspoon chopped parsley
1 teaspoon paprika

Steps:

  • Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect medium heat, and lightly oil grate. Rinse turkey, and pat dry.
  • Place turkey breast side down on the prepared grill. Sear turkey on both sides until skin is golden to dark brown.
  • In a large roasting pan, mix together the water, bouillon powder, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, parsley, and paprika.
  • Place turkey breast side down in the roasting pan. Scoop the pan mixture over the turkey. Cover tightly with foil and place on grill.
  • Grill 3 to 4 hours, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Remove turkey from grill and let stand 15 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 460.7 calories, Carbohydrate 1 g, Cholesterol 179.3 mg, Fat 21.4 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 61.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.2 g, Sodium 508.2 mg, Sugar 0.5 g

Tips:

  • Thaw the turkey properly: Place the frozen turkey in the refrigerator for 24 hours per 5 pounds of turkey. For faster thawing, submerge the sealed turkey in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. Allow 30 minutes per pound of turkey.
  • Prepare the turkey: Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey cavity. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry. Season the turkey with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs and spices.
  • Stuff the turkey (optional): If desired, stuff the turkey with your favorite stuffing. To prevent the stuffing from becoming dry, cook it separately and add it to the turkey cavity just before serving.
  • Truss the turkey: Use kitchen twine to tie the legs and wings of the turkey together. This will help the turkey cook evenly.
  • Choose the right cooking method: You can grill the turkey on a charcoal grill, gas grill, or smoker. If using a charcoal grill, be sure to use indirect heat. For a gas grill, preheat the grill to medium-high heat and then reduce the heat to low. For a smoker, maintain a temperature of 225-250°F.
  • Cook the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F: Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey (between the breast and thigh). Once the turkey reaches the desired temperature, remove it from the grill and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.

Conclusion:

Grilling a whole turkey is a delicious and impressive way to feed a crowd. With careful preparation and cooking, you can achieve a perfectly cooked turkey that is moist, flavorful, and sure to be the star of your next gathering. Remember to thaw the turkey properly, season it well, and cook it until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. With a little practice, you'll be grilling whole turkeys like a pro in no time.

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