By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 28, 2023
My Grilled Turkey recipe has a simple but delicious flavor, and comes off the grill perfectly juicy with crispy skin! I was initially intimidated to grill a whole turkey, but I quickly found out how easy and totally delicious it can be. Don’t miss out on this succulent flavor. I stuff a whole turkey with lemon, onions, and herbs, coat it in butter, then throw it on the grill and let it cook slowly so that the meat gets nice and tender.
What’s in This Grilled Turkey Recipe?
In the mood for something a little different this Thanksgiving? Then it’s time you try grilling the turkey! My family recipe is simple, flavorful, and sure to be a hit. Every time I take a bite, I can’t believe just how juicy this turkey recipe can be.
- Whole Turkey: Plan for about 1–1½ pounds of turkey per person. Be sure to thaw your turkey if it’s frozen.
- Onion : Yellow onion infuses the turkey with a sweet and earthy flavor as it cooks.
- Lemon: Infuses the turkey with fresh citrus flavor.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs infuse the turkey with a fresh herbal flavor. We like thyme, rosemary, and sage, but use any fresh herbs you love.
- Butter: Unsalted butter adds moisture to the turkey and helps the seasonings stick to the skin.
- Broth: Chicken broth keeps the turkey moist as it cooks on the grill.
Variations on Turkey on the Grill
I love this simply seasoned turkey, but for even more flavor, try dry brining the turkey first. It’ll infuse it with tons of flavor and help the skin get extra crispy on the grill!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover grilled turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or covered with foil in a 300°F oven for 20-30 minutes.
How to Freeze
Freeze turkey in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. I do not recommend freezing a turkey whole; always cut it into portions first.
Once you’re done grilling the turkey, let it rest for 30 minutes before slicing, then serve it with Thanksgiving sides and some turkey gravy . Or keep the grill on, and make grilled ranch potatoes , grilled asparagus , or grilled corn on the cob . Whatever you choose to serve it with, this turkey is sure to be a hit!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
Feel free to season your turkey with additional spices . I love to use my favorite turkey rub !
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 12-20 pound whole turkey thawed if frozen
- ▢ 1 yellow onion quartered
- ▢ 1 lemon quartered
- ▢ 1 bunch fresh herbs we like a mix of thyme, rosemary, and sage
- ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter melted (1 stick)
- ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ▢ 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or stock
Video
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium, about 350-400°F.
- Pat the turkey dry and remove giblets and the neck. 12-20 pound whole turkey
- Stuff the cavity with half of the onion and lemon quarters and herbs. Tie the legs together with twine. 1 yellow onion, 1 lemon, 1 bunch fresh herbs
- Place the turkey in a double stack aluminum pan (two pans stacked on top of each other creates a sturdier vessel for your turkey).
- Brush the melted butter all over the turkey. Sprinkle the turkey generously with salt and pepper all over the skin. ½ cup unsalted butter, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Scatter the remaining onion and lemon quarters around the turkey. Pour the chicken stock in the pan. Do not pour it on top of the seasoned turkey. 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Place the pan on the grill. Close the lid and cook, monitoring the temperature, for 2⅓-3 hours, or until the turkey registers 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh. Check the turkey every 30 minutes. Baste with the juices in the pan. Let rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Equipment
- Grill
Becky’s Tips
- If some of the skin is browning too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
- Feel free to season your turkey with additional spices.
- Let the turkey rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing to lock in the juices
- Nutritional information is based on a 12-pound turkey.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Grill a Turkey Step by Step
Prep the Turkey: Preheat your grill to medium, about 350-400°F. Pat a 12-20 pound whole turkey dry and remove the giblets and the neck.
Stuff the Turkey: Stuff the cavity with half of a quartered yellow onion, half of a quartered lemon, and a full bunch of fresh herbs. Tie the legs together with twine. Place the turkey in a double-stack aluminum pan (two pans stacked on top of each other creates a sturdier vessel for your turkey).
Season the Turkey: Brush ½ cup of melted unsalted butter all over the turkey. Sprinkle the turkey generously with salt and pepper all over the skin.
Grill the Turkey Scatter the remaining onion and lemon quarters around the turkey. Pour the 1 cup of low-sodium chicken stock into the pan. Do not pour it on top of the seasoned turkey. Place the pan on the grill. Close the lid and cook, monitoring the temperature, for 2⅓-3 hours, or until the turkey registers 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh. Check the turkey every 30 minutes. Baste with the juices in the pan. Let rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
It takes about 11-12 minutes per pound to grill a turkey. For a 12-pound bird, plan on about 2⅓ hours. Get more info about turkey cooking times .
It certainly can if you’re not careful! That’s why we place our bird in a roasting pan filled with chicken broth. This helps create steam that keeps the bird moist as it cooks.
We don’t place the turkey directly on the grates because it has a tendency to stick (and this would also likely lead to a dry turkey). Place it into an aluminum pan instead!
There’s no need to cover the turkey with foil. Just keep the lid of the grill closed any time you’re not basting the bird.
There’s no need to flip your turkey when grilling, but you certainly can if you like. I prefer not to, since this can lead to rubbery skin.
Indirect heat is best for cooking the meat slowly and evenly. This helps prevent it from drying out.
Baste your turkey every 30 minutes!
More Whole Turkey Recipes We Love
- Thanksgiving Turkey
- Dry Brined Turkey
- Deep Fried Turkey
Grilled Turkey Recipe
Equipment
- Grill
Ingredients
- 12-20 pound whole turkey thawed if frozen
- 1 yellow onion quartered
- 1 lemon quartered
- 1 bunch fresh herbs we like a mix of thyme, rosemary, and sage
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted (1 stick)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or stock
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium, about 350-400°F.
- Pat the turkey dry and remove giblets and the neck. 12-20 pound whole turkey
- Stuff the cavity with half of the onion and lemon quarters and herbs. Tie the legs together with twine. 1 yellow onion, 1 lemon, 1 bunch fresh herbs
- Place the turkey in a double stack aluminum pan (two pans stacked on top of each other creates a sturdier vessel for your turkey).
- Brush the melted butter all over the turkey. Sprinkle the turkey generously with salt and pepper all over the skin. ½ cup unsalted butter, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Scatter the remaining onion and lemon quarters around the turkey. Pour the chicken stock in the pan. Do not pour it on top of the seasoned turkey. 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Place the pan on the grill. Close the lid and cook, monitoring the temperature, for 2⅓-3 hours, or until the turkey registers 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh. Check the turkey every 30 minutes. Baste with the juices in the pan. Let rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
- If some of the skin is browning too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
- Feel free to season your turkey with additional spices.
- Let the turkey rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing to lock in the juices
- Nutritional information is based on a 12-pound turkey.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
