Marinating Turkey for Grilling: A Comprehensive Guide

Let’s be honest: Cooking a turkey can be super stressful. Because there isn’t much room in the oven or on the stovetop, it can be challenging to worry about the turkey being thoroughly cooked and moist. It’s time for a change: Put the turkey on the grill!.

This turkey grills up juicy and tender, and you can prepare your favorite side dishes because our incredible marinade clears the oven. When using a charcoal grill, the heat from the grill adds an additional smoky flavor to the meat.

Grilling a turkey can be a delicious and impressive way to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a summer meal. But to achieve juicy flavorful results, marinating the turkey is key. This guide will walk you through the process of marinating turkey for grilling, from choosing the right ingredients to achieving the perfect level of flavor.

The Benefits of Marinating Turkey

Marinating turkey offers several benefits:

Tenderizes the meat: Marinades contain acids, such as citrus juice or vinegar, which help break down the tough muscle fibers in turkey, making it more tender and juicy.
Enhances flavor: Marinades infuse the turkey with a variety of flavors, depending on the ingredients used. This can add depth and complexity to the taste of the grilled turkey.
Protects the meat: Marinades can help protect the turkey from drying out during the grilling process. The oil in the marinade helps to create a barrier that locks in moisture.
Adds a beautiful color: Some marinades can add a beautiful color to the turkey, making it even more visually appealing.

Choosing the Right Marinade Ingredients

The ingredients in your marinade will determine the flavor profile of your grilled turkey, Here are some key considerations:

Acidity: As mentioned earlier, acids are essential for tenderizing the meat. Common acidic ingredients include citrus juices (lemon, lime, orange), vinegar, and yogurt.
Flavorings: The flavorings you choose will depend on your personal preferences. Popular options include herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano), spices (garlic powder, onion powder, paprika), and sweeteners (honey, brown sugar).
Oil: Oil helps to create a barrier that locks in moisture and prevents the turkey from drying out during grilling. Olive oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil are all good choices.
Salt and pepper: Salt and pepper are essential for seasoning the marinade and enhancing the flavor of the turkey.

Marinating Time

The amount of time you marinate the turkey will depend on the thickness of the meat and the strength of the marinade. For a thin turkey breast, 2-4 hours of marinating may be sufficient. For a thicker turkey breast or a whole turkey, you may want to marinate for 8-12 hours or even overnight.

The Marinating Process

Here’s a step-by-step guide to marinating turkey for grilling:

Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the oil, acidic ingredient, flavorings, salt, and pepper.
Place the turkey in a non-reactive container: A glass or ceramic dish is ideal.
Pour the marinade over the turkey: Make sure the turkey is completely coated.
Cover and refrigerate: Marinate the turkey in the refrigerator for the desired amount of time.
Remove the turkey from the marinade: Discard the marinade after use.
Grill the turkey as desired: Follow your favorite grilling recipe for turkey.

Tips for Marinating Turkey

Use a non-reactive container: Avoid using metal containers for marinating, as they can react with the acids in the marinade and alter the flavor of the turkey.
Don’t over-marinate: Over-marinating can make the turkey mushy.
Discard the marinade: Do not reuse the marinade after it has been in contact with raw turkey.
Pat the turkey dry before grilling: This will help the turkey to brown evenly.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey is cooked through: The internal temperature of the turkey should reach 165°F (74°C).

One easy but effective way to improve the flavor, tenderness, and juiciness of turkey meat is to marinate it before grilling. You can make sure that your grilled turkey is a culinary masterpiece that will wow your guests and leave them wanting more by using the advice and procedures provided in this guide.

Step 1: Mix up the marinade

mixing marinade for turkey in a clear glass bowl, top view Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

Simply combine the water, chicken broth, soy sauce, lemon juice, ground ginger, minced garlic, and black pepper in a large bowl. Set one cup aside for basting. This is one of our favorite turkey marinades because you don’t have to heat any of the ingredients. That also means you don’t have to wait around for them to cool!.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t forget to clean your grill thoroughly before you begin. Built-up crud gives your turkey an off-flavor, and it’s also the number-one culprit of stuck food.

How long do you grill a turkey?

a digital meat thermometer in the grilled turkey showing 160 degrees Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

The amount of time your turkey takes to cook on a grill varies depending on its weight and size. When in doubt, always trust your instant-read thermometer to judge a turkey’s doneness. When resting, turkey breasts should reach an internal temp of 165°; thighs should get to 175°.

Type	Weight	Cook Time
Whole	8 to 12 lbs.	1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hrs.
12 to 14 lbs.	2-1/2 to 2-3/4 hrs.
14 to 18 lbs.	2-3/4 to 3-1/2 hrs.
18 to 20 lbs.	3-1/2 to 4 hrs.
20 to 24 lbs.	4 to 4-3/4 hrs.
Breast, Bone-In	4 to 6 lbs.	3/4 to 1-1/4 hrs.
6 to 8 lbs.	1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hrs.
8 to 10 lbs.	1-3/4 to 2 hrs.

Editor’s Tip: The cooking durations for a turkey on a 325° to 375° grill are based on a fully thawed bird and moderate outdoor weather. Keep in mind that your cook times may need to be slightly extended if your turkey is not fully thawed or if the outside air temperature is below 50°.

NO MARINADE GRILLED TURKEY FOR BEGINNERS | GRILLED TURKEY RECIPE | DIARYOFAKITCHENLOVER

FAQ

Should I marinate my turkey the night before?

For best results let fully thawed turkey soak in brine or marinade for at least 24 hours.

What is turkey marinade made of?

In the clean stockpot, make the marinade by stirring together together sliced oranges, sliced lemons, onion, green bell pepper, parsley, cloves, garlic powder, cinnamon sticks, paprika, olive oil, and pepper. Place the turkey into the stockpot and rub the marinade into the turkey. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Should I rub butter or oil on my turkey?

Rub the skin with fat Fat is going to help the skin get brown and crisp, and contrary to what most might think, butter isn’t better. Butter does an okay job, but because it contains a lot of water, oil is a better fat to rub on the skin to ensure it gets extra crispy.

How long can you leave a turkey marinated?

Most recipes for marinating meat and poultry recommend six hours up to 24 hours. It is safe to keep the food in the marinade longer, but after two days it is possible that the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy.

How long should you marinate a Turkey before cooking?

Here are some time-tested tips for marinating: If the marinade recipe requires you to heat the ingredients, be sure to let the heated marinade cool to room temperature before pouring it over your turkey. For recipes that call for a short marinating time, make the marinade several hours in advance so it can develop its full flavor.

Can I use a whole turkey Tenderloin in a marinade?

You could use a turkey breast, turkey tenderloin or a whole turkey – either way this marinade is going to bring that bird to the next level. It has so many great flavors and the oil & juices really keep the meat juicy no matter how you cook it (we love our smoked turkey and smoked turkey breast SO much)!

What is a good marinade for a 16 pound turkey?

This basic turkey marinade is perfect for turkey because it doesn’t overpower the flavor of the bird, but adds flavor and a protective layer for the grill. Enough to marinate a 16-pound bird, this blend of spices uses Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice to provide a tangy and salty base.

How do you keep a Turkey moist while grilling?

Baste: Basting is a good way to keep a turkey moist while grilling. Since the drippings of a turkey may be difficult to access or salvage on a grill, make an extra 1 to 2 cups of marinade and use it to baste your bird, every 30 minutes or so, while it cooks.