Grilled Turkey Breast is amazingly easy. Moist, tender, and flavorful—perfect for smaller gatherings or Thanksgiving. Add the optional Brown Sugar rub for even more flavor or seasoning of your choice.
Turkey breast with or without bones; oil: butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil; optional brine and rub; extra optional seasoning: pepper, fresh thyme, basil, or rosemary sprigs;
Fire up that backyard BBQ grill for this easy recipe. All you have to do is prep the turkey, preheat the grill, place it on the grill, and return in a few hours.
Use this recipe for any smaller gathering when you dont need a whole turkey. A great summer change of pace or for a smaller holiday feast. Use the suggested brown sugar spice, a BBQ rub, or season like a traditional holiday bird.
I started with a recipe from the Chicago Tribune with a brown sugar brine and rub. It was a good start, but I clarified, expanded, and made some adjustments and modifications to the guidelines.
Grilling a juicy, flavorful turkey breast is an excellent way to elevate your summer gatherings or avoid heating your kitchen during the holidays This guide, drawing insights from two renowned culinary sources, “Two Kooks in the Kitchen” and “The Wooden Skillet,” will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to achieve BBQ turkey breast perfection
Preparation is Key:
- Thawing: Ensure your turkey breast is completely thawed and at room temperature before grilling.
- Brining (Optional): Brining enhances flavor and juiciness. If time permits, consider brining your turkey breast for a few hours.
- Seasoning: Rub the turkey breast with a generous amount of butter or ghee, followed by a liberal sprinkle of salt and pepper. Feel free to add other seasonings like sage or rosemary to your liking.
- Stuffing (Optional): For an extra flavor boost, stuff the turkey breast cavity with ingredients like chopped onion, orange, garlic, and fresh rosemary.
Grilling Techniques:
- Preheat: Set your grill to 400°F, accounting for a temperature drop when placing the turkey inside.
- Indirect Heat: Position the turkey breast over a foil pan filled with wood chips (apple or cherry for optimal flavor) to create indirect heat.
- Basting: Baste the turkey with melted butter or pan drippings 1-2 times during cooking.
- Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature, aiming for 165°F in the thickest part of the breast.
- Resting: Once cooked, let the turkey breast rest for 30 minutes under foil to retain its juices.
Additional Tips:
- Wood Smoke: Enhance the flavor profile by adding wood chips to the foil pan.
- Temperature Control: Adjust the grill temperature as needed to maintain a consistent 325°F.
- Aluminum Tray: Use two heavy-duty aluminum trays for support and to collect pan drippings for gravy.
- Dry the Turkey: Pat the turkey dry before applying butter to promote browning.
- Open the Grill Sparingly: Minimize opening the grill to maintain consistent temperature.
Beyond the Basics:
- Marinades: Experiment with different marinades to infuse your turkey breast with unique flavors.
- Stuffing Variations: Explore various stuffing options, including traditional bread-based stuffing or healthier alternatives like quinoa or wild rice.
- Gravy: Utilize the pan drippings to create a delicious homemade gravy to complement your turkey.
Recipe Inspiration:
- Two Kooks in the Kitchen: This recipe features a simple seasoning blend and emphasizes the importance of resting the turkey for optimal juiciness.
- The Wooden Skillet: This recipe incorporates stuffing with orange, onion, and garlic, adding a delightful citrusy flavor.
By following these guidelines and incorporating your personal preferences, you can master the art of grilling turkey breast, impressing your guests with a succulent and flavorful main course Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to experiment and discover your own grilling magic!
Other turkey recipes and serving dishes
As with most recipes, your success as a cook will depend on your ability to control the cooking and finishing temperatures.
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⏲️How long to Grill a turkey breast?
Depending on weight, thickness, and type of grill, each pound of grilling will take about 15 to 20 minutes, for a total of 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours.
Check the internal temperature early due to the variables. You must have your temperatures correct and use an instant-read thermometer.
The seasoning is entirely up to you. Just some butter with salt and a dash of pepper will be good more most people.
BBQ is a favorite. Start with a dry rub of your choice. Or use one of my rubs, like Memphis Dry Rub, Chipotle BBQ Dry Rub, or BBQ Dry Rub. My suggested rub for this recipe is:
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- ½ teaspoon of oregano
- ½ teaspoon of cumin.
And serve the BBQ version with Memphis BBQ Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce.
Other optional seasoning—sprigs of fresh thyme, basil, rosemary, or other fresh herbs, pepper
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FAQ
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