When Thanksgiving rolls around each year, I skip the oven roasted bird and instead use other cooking techniques for my Thanksgiving recipes such as Instant Pot ham, crock pot sweet potato casserole, deep fried turkey, Instant Pot turkey breast and this juicy and flavorful grilled turkey breast. Every year when I’m planning my holiday menu I have to choose my recipes carefully to make sure I have enough oven space available to get everything on the table in a timely manner. I often to other cooking appliances such as the slow cooker, Instant Pot and grill to make life easier. This grilled turkey breast comes out perfectly every time, and also happens to be quite simple to make.
Ingredients For Grilled Turkey Breast
Turkey Brine: I use a homemade brine to infuse plenty of flavor into the meat. The brine also helps to ensure that the turkey will not dry out on the grill. Making turkey brine is actually quite simple, you’ll just want to make sure you give the turkey breast 8-12 hours to soak in the brine before it goes on the grill. Never brined a turkey before? Check out my guide on how to brine a turkey. Turkey Breast: This recipe is written for a full bone-in turkey breast, which is typically about 5-6 pounds. You can also make the recipe with a half breast, but you will want to cut the ingredients in half and it will take less time to cook. Butter: Adding a little bit of butter under and on the skin will add flavor and also keep everything juicy! Seasonings: Season your turkey when it comes out of the brine with a little salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried Italian seasoning. Chicken Broth: Use chicken broth (or turkey broth!) in the bottom of the pan to help keep the turkey moist as it cooks. Aromatics: Stuff your BBQ turkey breast with onion, lemon and fresh herbs such as fresh rosemary for even more flavor.
How To Make Grilled Turkey Breast
Start by preparing the brine, which is a blend of kosher salt, brown sugar, apple cider and seasonings. Place the turkey in the brine and refrigerate it over night. Remove the turkey from the brine and pat it dry. Transfer the turkey to a disposable aluminum pan. Stuff the cavity of the bird with onions, lemon and herbs. Place softened butter and seasonings in a bowl, then stir to combine. Rub the butter mixture under the skin and on top of the turkey. Pour the chicken broth into the pan. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to 375 degrees F. Place the pan on the grill, and close the grill lid. Cook for about 1 1/2-2 hours, basting with the pan juices every 30 minutes. The turkey is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Let the cooked turkey rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Tips For The Perfect Grilled Turkey Breast
It is absolutely critical to have a thermometer to use when making this recipe. You will need to check the temperature of the grill, as well as the temperature of the turkey to make sure it is cooked through. If you are using a charcoal grill, you will want to check periodically to make sure the charcoal is still burning nicely throughout the entire cooking process. It is possible that you may need to add more briquettes during the cooking process. You can use any drippings from the drip pan to make gravy. Check out my recipe for the perfect turkey gravy. If you don’t have enough drippings, simply use additional broth. This grilling technique will also work with a whole turkey, but it will require a longer cook time. Got leftovers? Save some turkey to make turkey noodle soup, turkey casserole, or check out my comprehensive list of leftover turkey recipes. Serve your turkey with some amazing side dishes such as sour cream mashed potatoes, delicata squash, roasted pumpkin, sweet potato casserole with pecans, cornbread casserole or cranberry orange sauce.
Flavor Variations
Seasonings: Feel free to add other seasonings to the brine or butter mixture. Some good options include sage, lemon or fresh thyme leaves. Smoked Turkey: If you’d like to infuse a smoky flavor into your turkey, soak 2 cups of apple, cherry or hickory wood chips in water for 30 minutes. Drain the water from the chips, then place 1 cup of chips onto each of two sheets of foil. Fold the foil around the chips, then use a fork to poke multiple holes in the packets. Place the packets of wood chips in the coals of the grill. Marinated Turkey: If you are unable to brine your turkey or simply prefer not to, try using my delicious turkey marinade recipe instead.
Once you see how delicious grilled turkey breast is, you’ll find yourself adding it to your holiday meal each and every year!
