Easy Grilled Whole Turkey Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many hours does it take to grill a turkey? ›

Using meat thermometer, cook turkey to internal temperature of 180° F in thigh and 170° F in breast. 10 to 16 lb. turkeys will take 2 to 3 hours to grill. When done, remove and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.

Place turkey on rotisserie and cook over medium heat until instant read thermometer registers 155°F in thickest part of the breast, 2 to 3 hours. Remove turkey from rotisserie and let rest for 20 minutes, carve and serve.

We've found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out cooking time. Some people swear that roasting a turkey breast-side down and flipping it halfway through achieves the same results as a foil covered breast.

Cook your turkey with indirect heat by putting the roasting pan on the unlit side of the grill. Half way through the cooking process you may flip the turkey over.

You can cook as low as 225F degrees, which will take about 30 minutes per pound. I prefer cooking the bird at 300-350F degrees, which takes about 15 minutes per pound.

To smoke your turkey faster, increase the smoker's temperature to 250°F to 275°F. At 250°F, it can take about 25 minutes to cook one pound of turkey, meaning you will need about five hours to smoke a 12-pound turkey.

Approximate cooking times for turkey on a rotisserie: 6 to 8 pounds: 3 to 3 1/2 hours; 8 to 10 pounds: 3 1/2 to 4 hours; 10 to 12 pounds: 4 to 5 hours.

Turn on the rotisserie and ensure the food is spinning evenly and smoothly. Close the lid, periodically checking the internal temperature until the food is completely cooked through. Consider using a pan or tray under the food to catch drippings for gravy and to keep your BBQ clean.

To Cover Or Not To Cover

So, yes, you do want to cover the turkey with foil to give it a chance to roast without getting dry. But then, towards the end of the cook time, remove the foil so the skin—the best part in this writer's opinion—gets a chance to crisp up.

"Often, consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey."

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. We've done the math for you — check out the chart below to determine both turkey cook times and estimated servings (with leftovers!).

When grilling a turkey on a gas grill you will want to use wood chips. I like to use 2 handfuls of cherry and 1 handful of hickory. Soak the wood chips in water or beer before you use them for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

It's faster, tastier and frankly just plain better to cook a bird over charcoal. So why wouldn't you?! Here's your guide on how to grill a turkey.

The United States Department of Agriculture advises to cook a whole turkey breast side up during the entire cooking time. Turning over a large, hot bird can be dangerous and it's very easy to tear the skin, making the finished product less attractive.

Preheat your Traeger to 300 degrees Fahrenheit with the lid closed for 15 minutes, place your turkey on the grill, and let that bird roast for 3 to 4 hours.

You're aiming for a grill temp of 325 to 400 degrees F, but that could mean you have to kick the outside dials up to 600 degrees F. Check the grill thermometer periodically, whenever you check on the bird, to ensure you're grill temp is right on track.