Grilled Turkey Breast is perfect for a smaller Thanksgiving or a healthier year-round change of pace. Use traditional seasoning or make BBQ with the recommended brown sugar dry rub.
Easy to do with the simple instructions. You can use a fresh or frozen turkey breast with or without bones, skin on or off. Just season it to your liking.
Turkey breast, with or without bones; oil, such as vegetable oil, olive oil, or butter; brine and rub; other seasonings, such as fresh thyme, basil, rosemary, or other herbs; pepper;
Fire up the backyard BBQ grill for this easy recipe. You don’t need an oven. Just get the turkey ready, set the grill to the right temperature, put it on the grill, and come back in a few hours.
This recipe is great for any smaller gathering when you dont need a whole turkey. Its also a perfect 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.
Grilling up a flavorful turkey breast is a fantastic alternative to roasting a whole bird. Perfect for smaller gatherings, turkey breast on the grill delivers tender, succulent meat infused with delicious smoky flavor.
But to turn out juicy, fully-cooked turkey breast, nailing the grill time is key. Follow these timings and temperatures for perfect grilled turkey breast every time.
Picking the Right Breast
Opt for a bone-in turkey breast half rather than boneless The bone helps conduct heat for even cooking and imparts lots of flavor,
Size wise, plan for a breast between 5-7 pounds for 4-6 people. Larger breasts take longer but yield delicious leftovers.
Prepping the Breast
Always start with a fully thawed breast. Defrost frozen breast in the fridge 1-2 days before grilling
Trim excess fat and skin from the breast while raw. Also remove the tough membrane covering the bone.
Flavor Is a Must
Plain turkey breast easily dries out on the grill. Use a wet marinade, dry rub or flavorful compound butter under and on top of the skin.
Herbs, citrus, garlic, spices and olive oil all add lots of flavor. Partially loosen the skin to rub seasoning directly on meat.
Setting Up Coals
Arrange coals for indirect heat on one side of the grill. Use a disposable drip pan in the empty zone to catch drippings.
Aim for a medium temperature of 350-375°F. Add hardwood chips like cherry or apple for smoke.
Grill Time Per Pound
Figure around 15-20 minutes per pound, depending on thickness. For a 5 pound breast, expect around 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 hours to reach 165°F.
Convection speeds cook time. Use an instant read thermometer for accuracy.
Maintain Even Heat
Keep the lid closed as much as possible to hold in heat. Monitor temperature and add fresh coals as needed.
Rotate breast if sides are cooking unevenly. Tent with foil if browning too fast.
Baste Every 20 Minutes
Basting adds moisture and encourages crispy skin. Use reserved marinade, broth or melted butter for basting liquid.
Baste every 20-30 minutes. Insert thermometer to check doneness before final basting.
Rest Before Slicing
Never miss the resting time! Resting allows juices to redistribute for a juicier carved breast.
Let rest 15-20 minutes tented in foil before slicing. Temperature will climb 5-10 degrees.
Carve Against the Grain
Slice turkey across the grain for tender bites. Cut on a slight diagonal into thin 1/4 inch slices.
Arrange slices on a platter with any rested juices spooned over the top.
Going Boneless
Boneless breasts will grill faster, in about 45 minutes to 1 hour for a 3 pound breast. Rely on a meat thermometer.
Flipping isn’t needed, but rotate to prevent burning. Baste to prevent drying out.
Add Smoky Flavor
Get creative with wood pellet flavors like hickory, maple, cherry or apple. Soak chips well before using.
Consider adding a smoky charcoal like mesquite lump charcoal for extra flavor.
Handling Leftovers
Refrigerate leftover grilled turkey breast within 2 hours of cooking. Reheat thoroughly to 165°F before serving again.
Slice or shred leftovers for sandwiches, soups, casseroles, salads and more! Portion and freeze extras.
Key Tips for Grilled Turkey Breast
For optimal grilling time, keep these tips in mind:
- Always start with a thawed breast
- Allow 15-20 minutes per pound
- Use indirect heat at 350°F
- Baste every 20-30 minutes
- Cook to 165°F internal temp
- Let rest 15 minutes before slicing
With the right grill setup and timing, you can enjoy incredibly moist and delicious grilled turkey breast perfect for smaller gatherings.
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How to brine a turkey breast
It dries out the turkey breast a lot when it’s grilled, so if you have time, try brining it before you grill it. Almost all frozen turkey breasts, like Butterball, are injected, adding moisture and flavor.
Turkey brine made of 2 quarts of water and about ¼ cup of Morton Kosher or table salt If using Diamond Crystal Kosher salt, you need about ½ cup. Then you can add ¼ cup of brown sugar (which is what is suggested) or two to three crushed garlic cloves (depending on what else you are seasoning).
You can use the brine to introduce other favors that you want. Add some apple cider, perhaps a quartered orange. Go wild. But the most important thing is the salt-to-fluid ratio stays approximately the same. It is not an exact science, so keep it close. See How to Brine a Turkey—A Basic Brine with Enhancements for more discussion.
A quick salt note. 1 teaspoon table salt = 1 ¼ teaspoon Morton kosher salt = 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Refrigerate for 3-6 hours. Be sure to rinse off any brine and pat dry carefully. Also, do not use salt in the rub if you brine.
Suggested Brown Sugar BBQ Dry Rub
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- ½ teaspoon of oregano
- ½ teaspoon of cumin.
Serve the BBQ version with Memphis BBQ Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce.
How To Grill A Turkey Breast – Ace Hardware
FAQ
How long should turkey breasts be on the grill?
How long to cook boneless turkey breast on Weber grill?
How long does it take to grill breasts?
Do you flip a turkey when grilling?
How long do you cook a turkey breast on a grill?
Grill the turkey breast over indirect medium heat, with the lid closed, until the skin is golden and the internal temperature reaches 160 to 165ºF in the thickest part of the breast (not touching the bone), about 1½ hours. Remove from the grill and let rest for 15 minutes (the internal temperature will rise a few degrees during this time).
How do you cook a turkey breast on a BBQ?
Place turkey breast on one side of grill and turn off the heat/burner under the turkey. Grill with lid closed. Adjust temperature of BBQ to achieve 350-375F (176.7-190C). After 30 minutes, turn breast 180 degrees to allow other side of turkey to be closer to the heat (for even cooking).
Can you cook a turkey breast on a gas grill?
If you’re using a gas grill, you’ll need to light the grill and let it heat up for about 15 minutes. Once the grill is hot, you can place the turkey breast on the grill. If you’re using a charcoal grill, you’ll need to build a fire and let it burn for about 30 minutes. Once the coals are covered in ash, you can place the turkey breast on the grill.
How do you cook a turkey breast on a Weber grill?
Clean the grill grates: Ensure that your grill grates are clean and free from any residue. This will prevent your turkey breast from sticking to the grates. Preheat the grill: Turn on your Weber gas grill and preheat it to medium heat (around 350°F/175°C). Preheating ensures even cooking and helps to seal in the juices.
How do you cook a turkey breast on an igrill?
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.
What temperature should a turkey breast be preheated before grilling?
It’s important to preheat the grill to the correct temperature before cooking the turkey breast. The ideal temperature for grilling a turkey breast is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. To preheat the grill, turn all of the burners to high and let them heat for 10-15 minutes.