Twelve Grilled Turkey Recipes

Thanksgiving is almost here! Before planning to sweat over an oven for hours, consider grilling your turkey. Roasting a whole turkey can be quite an undertaking. However, you can skip the hours of work and make a truly delicious turkey meal right on your tailgating grill. Whether you are cooking for your whole family or just want to bring some seasonal flavors to your tailgate, here are twelve grilled turkey recipes.

1. Basic Grilled Turkey

We figured we’d kick off the list with this great guide from Home Sweet Eats. She shows step-by-step how to dress a turkey for grilling. You can also make this recipe in your smoker. It’s a great basic recipe that is perfect to build on with your own favorite flavors. All you need is a grill with a lid and a roasting pan that will fit in your tailgating grill.

2. Dry Brined Spatchcocked Turkey On The Grill

Last year, Eddie Jackson from the Food Network shared with us he always prefers to spatchcock his turkey. Spatchcocking can save a ton of time on cooking and it can help lock in some of the juices, leaving a more flavorful turkey. This recipe from Garlic and Zest shows how to prepare a spatchcocked turkey on a tailgating grill. It also has a recipe for a tasty dry rub and a cider gravy. 

3. Cider Brined Spatchcocked Turkey

Another great recipe for spatchcocked grilled turkey comes from Eating Well. This turkey is made with a healthy dose of chili powder, giving it a southwestern flavor. The best part about this recipe is the leftovers are awesome. You can shred them and add them to tacos, burritos, and other Southwestern-inspired dishes. Yum!

4. Pellet Grilled Smoked Turkey Breast

Another great way to cut back on cooking time this Thanksgiving is to just cook the breast instead of the whole bird. For this first turkey breast recipe, we took a cue from the Texas grill masters. Pellet smoking adds an incredible flavor and texture to your turkey breast. It also keeps it from ever tasting bland. Bust out your pellet smoker to make it. Don’t worry if you don’t have one, you can use smoker wood chips in a standard tailgating grill. Here’s an easy guide.

5. Cajun Grilled Turkey Breast

For the next recipe, we pop over to Texas’ neighbor Louisiana for some cajun flavors. This recipe is definitely perfect for a tailgating grill. Covered in a cajun spice rub, you will never have to worry about serving a dry, flavorless bird. This recipe is so tasty and easy to make, we predict we may see it on people’s tailgating grills outside of the holiday season.

6. Jamaican Jerk Turkey Breast

This Jamaican Jerk Baked Turkey Breast recipe is packed with bold, spicy flavors that make it a delicious and exciting dish for any occasion. The aromatic jerk seasoning, with its perfect balance of heat and spice, infuses the turkey breast with a mouthwatering Caribbean flair. What’s even better is that you can easily adapt this recipe for the grill! Just marinate the turkey breast as instructed, then fire up the grill and cook it over indirect heat until the meat is juicy and tender, with a smoky, charred exterior. Perfect for backyard cookouts or tailgating!

7. Mango Habanero Grilled Turkey Breast 

If you love spicy food, this recipe is a great choice. Made with one of the spicier peppers available at the grocery store, this recipe will leave its mark on your taste buds. The sweetness of the mango balances perfectly with the spice and helps caramelize the turkey breast. This locks in the flavor and the juices. The result? A spicy, savory dish your Thanksgiving team will not soon forget.

8. Brazilian Style Grilled Turkey With Salsa

We love experimenting with flavors from South America. Brazilians grill a mean steak. So it only goes to follow that they can whip up a tasty grilled turkey. This turkey breast is seasoned and grilled to perfection. Then it is smothered in a fresh-made salsa verde. We recommend prepping the salsa ahead of time so the flavors can really mingle.

9. BBQ Turkey Breast With Brown Sugar Rub And Barbecue Sauce

Don’t worry, we weren’t going to feature grilled turkey recipes without a great one for BBQ’d turkey. This turkey starts with a sweet brown sugar rub and then is grilled to perfection. Right before it’s done, it’s smothered in a homemade BBQ sauce (you can also use your favorite BBQ sauce) until it’s perfectly caramelized. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it!

10. Italian Grilled Turkey Breasts With Vegetables

We love a one-pot recipe. It makes life so easy. That’s why this recipe from Blackberry Babe stood out to us. In one grilled basket, you can make the turkey and a vegetable side. Talk about efficiency! We love the blend of Italian seasoning, but you can use any seasonings that you love to flavor your turkey and vegetables. No matter what you decide, you’ll save a ton of time!

11. Grilled Turkey Tenderloins

Breast meat isn’t for everyone. Some people like a heartier texture and denser savory flavor. Turkey tenderloins are perfect for this palette. They are also ideal for serving a large crowd. Like a brisket or a big rack of ribs, you prepare it whole and then slice it up for serving. This recipe uses a range of delicious seasonings that really bring out the flavors of the tenderloin.

12. Maple Mustard Rosemary Grilled Turkey Tenderloin

If you’re looking for some classic fall flavors to go with your grilled turkey, this recipe from Nourished Not Famished is perfect. The blend of piney rosemary with the sweetness of seasonal apples is balanced exquisitely with the mustard flavor. It’s a fall festive recipe that can be made easily on your tailgating grill.

13. Grilled Turkey Burgers

There aren’t really any rules when it comes to what to serve on Thanksgiving. That’s what we love about this recipe for grilled turkey burgers. Not everyone loves turkey, but everyone does love a great burger. Seasoned perfectly and topped with everyone’s favorite fixings, this non-traditional main dish might be exactly what your Thanksgiving menu is missing. This is also a great recipe to make at any tailgate for healthy eaters.

These twelve grilled turkey recipes won’t just save you time on your Thanksgiving cooking. They will also impress all your guests. For more great recipes using your tailgating grill, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We find the tastiest recipes that are fast, easy, and taste amazing. 

Let us know your favorite grilled turkey recipe in the comments and have a great Thanksgiving!