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.
The Best Grilled Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 (15 – 18 lb) Whole Turkey
- 2 Onions, halved
- 2-3 Lemons, sliced
- 1 Bulb Garlic, top sliced off
- 1 Large Bunch Fresh Herbs, including sage, thyme, rosemary
- 8-12 TBSP Unsalted Butter, softened
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
- Dried Herbs, including sage, thyme, rosemary
- 2 Cups Chicken Stock, plus more if needed during cook time
Notes
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.
Spatchcock Grilled Turkey With Cider Gravy
Ingredients
- 10-12 LB Fresh Turkey
For Dry Brine
- 3 Tbsp Diamond Crystal Josher Salt
- 1 Tbsp Dried Thyme
- 1 Tbsp Black Pepper
- 1 Tsp Smoked Paprika
For Cider Gravy
- 3 Cups Apple Cider
- Turkey Giblets (neck, heart, liver, turkey back)
- 5 Cups Water
- 1 Small Bunch Fresh Sage (5-6 sprigs)
- 1 Small Bunch Fresh Thyme (6-8 sprigs)
- 1 Small Bunch Fresh Parsley (5-6 sprigs)
- 1 Small Bunch Fresh Rosemary (2-3 sprigs)
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 Tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 Tsp Whole Black Peppercorns
- 1 Medium Onion, roughly chopped
- 6 Tbsp Butter
- 6 Tbsp Wondra Flour
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Worcesershire Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Browning Sauce
- Turkey Drippings
For Basting Butter
- 8 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Thyme
- 2 Tsp Chopped Sage
- 1 Tsp Chopped Rosemary
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 Tsp Fresh Chopped Sage
- 2 Tsp Fresh Chopped Thyme
Notes
3. Southwestern Grilled 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!
Southwestern Grilled Spatchcock Turkey
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp Chili Powder
- 1 Tbsp Paprika
- 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Kosher Salt
- 2 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tsp Ground Pepper
- 12-13 Lb Turkey
Notes
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.
Texas Smoked Turkey Breast Pellet Grill
Ingredients
- 6 Lbs Turkey Breast, raw bonesless skin removed
- 3 Tbsp Texas Dry Rub
- 2 Tbsp Mayonnaise
Notes
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.
Cajun Grilled Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 3-4 Lb Turkey Breast Roast
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter at room temperature
- 1/4 Cup Cajun Seasoning, plus 1 tsp for butter
Notes
6. 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.
Mango Habanero Grilled Turkey Breast
Ingredients
BBQ Rub For Turkey
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
Mango Habanero Sauce (For Glaze)
- 1/2 Cup Mango Habanero Salsa
- 1/2 Cup Peach Preserves
Grilled Turkey Breast
- 2 Lb Package Honeysuckle White Skin-On Turkey Breast Roast
Notes
7. 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.
Brazilian Style Grilled Turkey Breast with Salsa Verde
Ingredients
For Turkey Breast
- 3 Lbs Skinless Boneless Canadian Turkey Breast
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
For Marinade
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Dried Ground Oregano
- 1 Tbsp Dried Ground Coriander Seeds
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Parsley
- 3 Cloves Garlic, crushed
- 2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 1/2 Cup White Wine
- 1 Tbsp Honey
For Rub
- 1 Tsp Ground Coriander Seed
- 1 Tsp Cumin
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tsp Onion Powder
- 1 Tsp Ground Pepper
For Salsa Verde
- 1/2 Cup Flat Leaf Parsley
- 1/2 Cup Cilantro
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Green Onion
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Oregano
- Zest of One Lemon
- 1 Clove Garlic, crushed
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Notes
8. 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!
BBQ Turkey Breast with a Brown Sugar Rub and BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Turkey
- 2 Lb Turkey Breast
- Your Favorite BBQ Sauce
Brown Sugar Rub
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 2-3 Tbsp Chili Powder
- Fresh Ground Pepper
Notes
9. 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!
Italian Grilled Turkey Breast and Vegetables
Ingredients
- 1.5 Lbs Honeysuckle White Turkey Breast Cutlets
- 14 Oz Italian Dressing, oil and vinegar variety
- 1 Yellow Squash, sliced into medallions
- 1/2 Lbs Asparagus, trimmed
- 10 Oz Grape Tomatoes, whole
- 1/2 Packet Italian Dressing Seasoning Mix
- Drizzle Olive Oil
Notes
10. 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.
Grilled Turkey Tenderloins
Ingredients
- 1/4 Cup Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
- 4 Tsp Vegetable Oil
- 1 Tsp Sugar
- 1 Garlic Clove, minced
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Mustard
- 32 Oz Turkey Breast Tenderloins
Notes
11. 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.
Maple Mustard Rosemary Grilled Turkey Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 Turkey Breast Tenderloins
- 2 Tbsp Avocado Oil
- 2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 2 Tsp Real Maple Syrup
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Rosemary
- Splash Of Soy Sauce
Notes
12. 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.
Grilled Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 Lbs 93% Lean Ground Turkey
- 1/2 Medium Yellow Onion, finely grated & squeezed of excess moisture
- 2 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped or grate
- 2 Tbsp Mayonnaise
- 2 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 1/2 Tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- Oil, for the grill grates
- For Serving: burger buns, cheese, choice of toppings
Notes
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 Happy a great Thanksgiving!