The Ultimate Grilled Turkey

If you’ve never grilled a turkey for Thanksgiving, this is the year to try it! Once you experience grilling, you’ll never go back to roasting again.

Why Choose Grilling for Your Turkey?

The real question is: "Why not grill a turkey?" Grilling not only gives you crisp, golden skin and that irresistible smoky flavor, but it also frees up valuable oven space on Thanksgiving day, leaving you room to cook all your favorite side dishes.

Ingredients for Grilled Turkey

Here’s what you’ll need to make the most delicious grilled turkey ever:

· Turkey: You’ll need a 12-pound whole turkey for this recipe. If your bird is larger or smaller, adjust the grilling time accordingly.
· Oil: Vegetable oil helps lock in moisture while allowing the seasonings to adhere to the turkey.
· Seasonings: A simple combination of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper adds flavor to this grilled turkey.

How to Grill a Perfect Turkey

The complete step-by-step recipe is provided below, but here’s a quick overview of the process when grilling a turkey:

1. Prepare the turkey: Remove the giblets and discard them. Fold the wings back to secure the neck skin, then tuck the legs underneath the bird.
2. Season the turkey: Coat the turkey with oil and season both the inside and outside generously with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Grill the turkey: Place the turkey, breast-side up, on a metal rack inside a large roasting pan. Set the pan over indirect heat on the preheated grill and cook until the internal temperature reaches 180°F.

How Long Should You Grill a Turkey?

This recipe will yield a perfectly grilled 12-pound turkey in approximately two to three hours. Be sure to adjust the cooking time if you’re grilling a larger or smaller turkey.

Before serving, always check the turkey’s internal temperature. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh – it should read 180°F.

What to Pair with Grilled Turkey

Grilling your turkey frees up valuable oven space, so you can prepare plenty of Thanksgiving side dishes. Looking for some tasty ideas? Check out these irresistible collections for inspiration:

· 15 Delicious and Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
· 10 Classic Thanksgiving Dishes for a Traditional Feast
· Our 15 Favorite Veggie Sides for Thanksgiving Dinner

More Turkey Tips and Answers

At Dinogo, we’re experts in creating the perfect Thanksgiving spread. We’ve compiled answers to your most pressing turkey-related questions. Dive into our top turkey tips, tricks, and guides collected over the years:

· How to Brine Your Turkey
· 3 Safe Methods for Thawing a Frozen Turkey
· How Much Turkey Should You Serve Per Person?
· How to Truss a Turkey with Ease
· How to Smoke a Perfect Turkey
· How to Carve Your Turkey Like a Pro

Browse through our full collection of Thanksgiving Tips and Expert Advice.

Dinogo Community Tips and Praise

"I'll never cook a turkey any other way again," shares a Dinogo community member. "Grilling gave my turkey an amazing flavor, and the smokey taste along with the caramelized exterior was incredible."

"Fantastic!" says BOOTS741. "I made two turkeys — one in the oven and one on the grill. The grilled one was hands down better. It cooked faster, stayed moist, and I threw in some apples and oranges for added flavor."

"This is a game changer for large holiday feasts when oven space is tight," comments MAGPIE0_1. "The flavor was amazing, and adding liquid to the roasting pan made the best gravy. The turkey came out tender and juicy."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

• 1 (12 pound) whole turkey

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or more to taste

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat your outdoor grill for indirect cooking over medium-high heat.

2. Remove giblets from the turkey, rinse it thoroughly, and pat it dry. Tuck the wings back to secure the neck skin and re-position the legs into a tucked position.

3. Coat the turkey with oil and season generously on both the inside and outside with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Set the turkey, breast-side up, on a metal rack inside a large roasting pan.

4. Place the pan over the preheated grill on indirect heat. Grill for 2 to 3 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180°F (85°C).

5. Once cooked, remove the turkey from the grill and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.

Recipe Tip

Editor's Note:

Please be aware of the variations in yield and the addition of a honey-Sriracha glaze if you're following the magazine's version of this recipe.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)