Everything you need to know about how to make moist and tasty grilled turkey is right here, starting with how to prepare your turkey for the grill.
In most American homes, turkey and stuffing are the stars of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners. But, you don’t need to wait for the holidays to have delicious grilled turkey!
In this article, we’ll teach you how to grill a whole turkey the right way. You can also take these techniques to grill your favorite cuts of turkey, like bone-in turkey breast, turkey tenderloin, or even ground turkey. Check out the recipes at the bottom of this article to get cooking.
Cooking a frozen turkey will lead to a longer cook time and dry meat. Avoid such issues by thawing your turkey before cooking it. The fastest way to thaw your turkey is to put it in a leak-proof bag and submerge it in cold water. We recommend keeping the turkey in the bag it came in and changing the cold water every 30 min. You may also thaw your turkey in the refrigerator. Check your packaging or see here for details on thawing.
After the turkey has thawed, remove the giblets and neck from inside the turkey cavity, then follow these prep steps:
Every grill comes with its own set of instructions regarding preparations for grilling turkey. Follow all the instructions provided by your grill manufacturer to ensure that the grill is clean and hot enough for your whole bird.
Grilling turkey breast tenderloin is a fantastic way to add delicious, lean protein to your summer menu. When cooked properly, turkey tenderloin is incredibly juicy, flavorful and tender. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to grill turkey breast tenderloin to perfection.
Ingredients
To grill turkey breast tenderloin, you will need:
- 1-2 lbs turkey tenderloin
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Herbs and spices like garlic powder, thyme, rosemary, sage, paprika, cumin, chili powder
- Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- Barbecue sauce or glaze
Prepping the Turkey
Proper prep is key for grilled turkey tenderloin
- Pat the tenderloin dry with paper towels. You want the surface nice and dry so seasoning and oil stick.
- Brush all over with olive oil to help seasoning stick and keep turkey moist.
- Generously season all over with salt, pepper and any additional herbs/spices. Popular options are garlic powder, thyme, rosemary or paprika, cumin, chili powder.
- For extra flavor, marinate for 30 mins-1 hour in Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, olive oil and seasonings.
Heating the Grill
- Preheat gas or charcoal grill to 400°F (medium-high heat).
- Thoroughly clean grill grates to remove any food residue. This prevents sticking.
- Lightly oil hot grates just before cooking with a grill brush or oiled paper towel. Prevents sticking.
Grilling the Tenderloin
- Place tenderloin directly over heat. Resist moving it around to let grill marks develop.
- Grill 4-6 minutes until grill marks form. Flip and grill 4-6 more minutes with lid closed for even cooking.
- Flip only once more until internal temp reaches 165°F. Tenderloin will firm up and turn opaque as it cooks.
- Turkey breast takes 10-15 minutes total to grill. Time varies by thickness.
- If flames flare up, move to a cooler part of grill. Charring can make turkey bitter.
- Don’t cut to check doneness until fully cooked or juices will run out.
Letting It Rest
- When tenderloin reaches 165°F, transfer to a plate or board.
- Loosely tent foil over top and let rest 5-10 minutes before cutting.
- This allows juices to reabsorb into the meat so it stays juicy. Skipping this step leads to dry turkey.
Adding Sauce and Carving
- After resting, brush or drizzle your favorite barbecue sauce, glaze or marinade over turkey.
- Slice into 1/2 inch slices across the grain. This makes turkey more tender.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Tips for Grilled Turkey Tenderloin
Follow these tips for flavorful, juicy grilled turkey tenderloin every time:
- Choose 1-2 lb tenderloins. Larger cuts are hard to cook without burning or drying out.
- Preheat grill adequately, around 10-15 minutes before cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer for accuracy on thickness and doneness.
- Clean oiled grates before grilling to prevent food residue and sticking.
- Flip only 1-2 times total during grilling. Let those grill marks develop.
- Grill with lid closed as much as possible for even cooking.
- Always let turkey rest 5-10 minutes before cutting to allow juices to reabsorb.
- Slice against the grain for tender turkey.
Common Grilling Mistakes
It’s easy to overcook or dry out turkey tenderloin if you aren’t careful Avoid these common mistakes
- Not preheating grill long enough before cooking
- Putting cold turkey straight onto hot grates
- Cooking solely over high direct heat
- Moving the tenderloin around too much
- Cutting to check doneness before fully cooked
- Forgetting to let it rest before slicing into it
- Cutting with instead of against the grain
What to Serve with Turkey Tenderloin
Turkey tenderloin pairs well with many sides like
- Grilled or roasted vegetables – Grilled zucchini, roasted portobello mushrooms, maple roasted carrots
- Salads – Beets goat cheese salad, avocado quinoa salad, coleslaw
- Potatoes – Rosemary mashed potatoes, red potato salad
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Pickled red onions
Grilled turkey tenderloin is a quick, easy and delicious way to incorporate lean protein into your summer grilling rotation. Follow these tips for incredibly moist, flavorful results every time. What are you waiting for? Fire up that grill!
How to Grill a Turkey on a Charcoal Grill
If you prefer working with a charcoal grill, here’s how to grill a whole turkey on it:
- Before lighting the grill, wipe the grates clean with a cloth, then season or spray the grates with high-heat cooking oil (canola or peanut oil). Wipe off any excess oil. Seasoning the grill will help stop your turkey from sticking to the grates and give you neat, beautiful sear marks.
- Remove the main cooking grate, pour in your charcoal briquettes, and light them.
- After the charcoal has burned for about 30 minutes, push the coals to one side of your grill. Put a drip pan on the side without coals.
- Put the cooking grate back on and place your turkey, breast side up, on the grates over the drip pan. The drip pan will catch oils dripping from the turkey and prevent flames that may burn the bird.
- Cover the grill and leave the vents open.
- Every 60 minutes, check on your turkey and add eight to nine briquettes to the burning charcoal to maintain a grill temperature of 325°F.
- A 10 to 18-pound bird should take about two to three hours to cook. After the two-hour mark, insert a meat thermometer inside the turkey breast to see if it has reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F as shown on a meat thermometer.
- Once the turkey reaches a 165°F internal temperature, take it off the grill and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.
How to Grill a Turkey on a Gas Grill
If you have a gas grill, here’s how to grill a whole turkey with it:
- Season the grill grates (same as in Step 1 for a charcoal grill).
- Light all the burners and preheat the gas grill to 350°F.
- Once the grill is hot, turn off the burners on one side of your grill.
- Place the turkey in a roasting pan with the breast facing upwards. 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.
- Close the grill’s lid and wait for two to three hours before checking the internal temperature of the turkey breast with a meat thermometer. If it’s at least 165°F, your turkey is ready.
- Let your grilled turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.
The Best Way To Make A Juicy Turkey Tenderloin
FAQ
How long to grill turkey breast tenderloin?
Place turkey on grill. Grill, turning occasionally, until internal temperature reaches 165°F on an instant-read food thermometer, about 15-20 minutes.
How long does a turkey breast take on the grill?
Place turkey breasts on grill grate situated over foil pan, cover, positioning top air vent opposite of wood chunk. Cook until an instant read thermometer registers 160°F in the thickest part of the breast, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
What is the difference between turkey breast and turkey breast tenderloin?
Turkey tenderloin is a smaller, leaner, and more tender cut from the inside of the turkey breast, while turkey breast refers to the entire breast, which is larger and can include bones and skin. Both are lean, but I find the tenderloin to be so much more tender.
How long to grill tenderloin per pound?
Plan on about 15 to 20 minutes per pound of meat with a low temperature and an additional 15 minutes of resting time. Remove the tenderloin when it has reached an internal temperature of 125 degrees F. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
How long do you cook a turkey breast Tenderloin?
Grill the turkey breast tenderloin: Place turkey tenderloins on the grill and cook, covered, for eight minutes. Then, flip the fillets and cook them for another 6-7 minutes, covered, until their internal temperature reaches 155 degrees F. in the thickest part of the meat.
How do you Grill turkey breast Tenderloin?
Here are five tips and tricks to help you grill turkey breast tenderloin successfully: Marinate the Turkey: Marinating the turkey breast tenderloin for at least 2-4 hours before grilling will help to tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor. This is one of the best ways to avoid dry, flavorless meat.
How to cook a Turkey Tenderloin on a grill?
1. Preheat your grill to medium heat. 2. Trim any excess fat from the turkey tenderloin. 3. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Rub the mixture all over the turkey tenderloin. 4. Grill the turkey tenderloin for 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. 5.
How do you cook a Turkey Tenderloin in the oven?
* To make sure the turkey tenderloin is cooked through, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. * If you don’t have a grill, you can also cook the turkey tenderloin in the oven.
How long do you cook a turkey breast on a grill?
Place the turkey tenderloins on top of the grill grates on the low setting. *The burner furthest from the turkey breast should be on high. Place a lid on top and cook for 10 minutes. Then, flip and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the turkey breast from the grill.
How do you rub a Turkey Tenderloin before grilling?
Rub: If you prefer to skip the marination process, dry your turkey with paper towels, brush it with olive oil, and season it with a turkey tenderloin rub before grilling. I recommend using my Turkey Rub Recipe for an herbaceous and bold mixture that you can make in just five minutes.