Turkey Breast on the Grill

Turkey Breast on the Grill is enjoyed by everyone so, now see the easiest and best way of grilling a turkey breast. Keep reading to learn a food expert’s full tips on correct temps, times, seasonings, turning it over, keeping it moist, and much more. Also, this is in our Main Dishes, Grilling, Holidays, Thanksgiving, & Christmas categories.

How To Prepare Turkey Breasts For Grill

Let’s start on how to prepare turkey breasts for the grill. But first, remove the top grill grate and set it aside. Then, fire up the grill to start it heating up.

While the coals or grill is getting hot, prep the turkey. Here are those easy meat prep tasks to do before grilling a turkey breast.

How To Cook Turkey Breast On The Grill

So, the first step of how to cook turkey breast on the grill, is to get the hot coals in position and a drip pan of water ready. Just follow these easy steps to do that.

1. Place a drip pan in any open grill area, not on top of any coals.
2. Move the drip pan and coals into position to be able to later add more charcoal. Or, just ensure you have loaded plenty for a 2 hour session.
3. Place the top grill grate back onto the grill.
4. Pour in about 2 cups of water into the drip pan.
5. Add the turkey, breast side up, onto the grill area so it’s directly over the grill pan.

Next, change the bottom vent to be about 1/3 open. Cover the grill, ensure the lid vent is still fully open. There are no more vent changes to be made.

1. After 40 minutes, turn the turkey over (breast side down or on its side), and cover the grill with its lid again.
2. Then, in another 40 minutes, after turning the turkey over (breast side up or to its other side), check the internal temp of the meat. For me, it takes about another 20 minutes to reach the correct temp.
3. When it’s done, let it rest for about 10-15 minutes and then you can carve it up and serve.

Here is another alternate recipe and method of “How To Grill A Turkey Breast” by Weber grills. It’s a bit more involved but it looks like it would be really tasty too.

Grilled Turkey Breast Temperature

The minimum grilled turkey breast temperature is 165 °F (74°C). And that’s the internal temp. So, if it’s cooking too fast, you can slow it down by partially closing the lid’s vent.

Seasonings for Grilling a Turkey Breast

The minimum seasonings for grilling a turkey breast are salt and pepper. However, here are some of the best turkey rubs recipes out there that you might like to try.

Grilled Turkey Breast Nutrition

Grilled turkey breast nutritional values will differ per pound between bone-in and boneless but, 1.25 pounds of turkey meat are about 576 calories. The recipe’s values are referencing a “per serving” measurement of just meat.

So, if using a 5 pound bone-in turkey, your single serving might be about 3/4 pounds of meat. But, when you buy turkey with bone-in, you’ll be compensating to buy more to allow for bone weight.

So, for clarity, here’s a great page on grilled turkey breast nutrition. You can even enter in your own amount of a single serving.

FAQ About Grilling A Turkey Breast

How do I choose Turkey BONE-IN or Turkey BONELESS for grilling?

Bottom line is that bone-in turkeys (aka “turkey breast with ribs, …”) will taste better when grilling a turkey breast. I estimate about 20% better flavor on my Tasty-Meter. Also, the cost per pound is less; however, you have to buy more weight to compensate for the bone which is not served.

However, getting boneless turkeys are a lot easier to cook, carve, serve, and store. I’ve done both for all of these reasons just mentioned.

To get the right size, here’s a “What Size Turkey Chart” to guide you into servings per person for both boneless and bone-in birds.

Do I need to brine it before grilling a turkey breast?

Absolutely not. Most people don’t. However, if you’re interested in looking into it, here’s an excellent article on “How to Brine a Turkey” by another food expert.

How do I cook turkey breasts on a GAS GRILL

Fortunately, I’ve included the temps to utilize on the charcoal grill so you can follow along easily on a gas grill. Also, it’s much easier to grill turkey breasts on a gas grill. The only issue you might have is the drip pan as you don’t want to cover any gas burner ports.

Do I grill turkey breast side up or down?

Since you’ll be turning the turkey breast over, the answer is “Yes”. In the recipe, it starts with breast side up, turned once for down, and then finishes with breast side up.

Can I use wood chips for smoking turkey breasts?

Yes, if your grill allows it. Just follow the wood chips directions as some will call for them to be soaked in water for about 30 minutes first.

Should I use a drip pan when grilling turkey breasts?

You don’t have to but I definitely do. Also, some will just use a drip pan with no water. In my recommendation, a drip pan (with water) helps keep the turkey breasts moist and it helps on a more even cooking. However, if you can’t use one, some people have just reduced the cooking temp and cooked it slower. Also, covering the top in foil will help as another alternate fix.

Do I let the turkey breast rest after grilling or smoking?

Absolutely, you want the turkey breast to rest after coming off the grill or smoker. Typically, it continues to cook a little more and the internal temp continues to rise. Mostly this is when it’s inner juices will lock in the meat’s juiciness and tenderness. If you carve right away, the meat will be tougher and dryer.

Read what Ginny, an expert, has to say about “How Long To Let Turkey Rest“. She covers whole turkeys as well as smaller ones such as breasts.

What To Serve With Grilled Turkey Breasts

Here are a lot of classic sides and things that pair well with turkey breasts.

What Salads go with Grilling a Turkey Breast

Many will choose a light, simple lettuce salad with few or no additions. Fruit salads, cranberry sauce, or jello are also excellent.

• Simple Lettuce Salad
• Tomato, Cucumber, Onion Salad
• Cranberry Sauce
• Lime Jello Salad
• Sliced Tomatoes with Cheese

You’ll want to avoid heavy sides like pasta salads or those with lots of ingredients like a chef’s salad.

Best Side Dishes that go with Grilled Turkey Breasts

There are a ton of side dishes that go with grilled turkey breasts. Here are some very popular ones.

• Mashed Potatoes and Turkey Gravy
• Potato Salad
• Bread Stuffing
• Simple Oven Baked Potatoes or Simple Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Green Bean Casserole
• Mac n Cheese Casserole
• Southern: Turnip Greens or Southern Cooked Cabbage

Best Breads that Pair With Turkey Breast from Grill

There are a good amount of types of breads that pair with turkey breast from the grill. Look over these.

• Dinner Rolls or Homemade Yeast Dinner Rolls
• Simple slices of homemade bread with butter
• Southern: Biscuits n Honey
• Southern: Sweet Cornbread Muffins

Leftover Grilled Turkey Breast

You can do a lot with leftover grilled turkey breasts. Keep reading to see proper storage methods as well as ideas for future meal or sandwich ideas.

Storing Leftover Grilled Turkey Breasts

You can store leftover turkey breasts just like regular meat, in food bags or storage containers. However, for a longer storage life, use something with the least air, like plastic food baggies. They’ll last about 3 to 5 days in the fridge.

You can also double-bag them for storing in the freezer. I find it’s still good for up to 3-5 months. For food safety, it’s a better practice to freeze what you want within the first day after it was cooked. That way you can let it thaw out in the fridge, which adds another day. Then, you only have about 1-2 days to consume it.

Ideas for using Leftover Grilled Turkey Breasts

First off, your immediate leftover meat can be served again with the leftover sides. But, if you’re looking for a change, here are some great ideas.

• Turkey sandwich on a homemade sub roll
• Turkey Club Sandwich: Turkey added to a BLT
• Open-faced broiled turkey subs with melted provolone or Swiss cheese on top
• Cutup turkey heated in a skillet with BBQ sauce for a turkey BBQ sandwich
• Cutup turkey cubes heated in a skillet with BBQ sauce on top of egg noodles
• Homemade Turkey Pizza! Just replace the chicken in a Chicken Pizza recipe
• Turkey Nachos! Again, just replace the chicken in a Chicken Nachos recipe

Conclusion of Turkey Breast on the Grill

So, now you’ve read through the easy to follow steps of how to cook turkey breast on the grill. Also, you’ve seen all the added tips such as cooking on indirect heat, optional use of a drip pan for added juiciness, resting it before carving, and many more. So, get ready for grilling a turkey breast now and tell me in the comments how your experience went. Also, don’t forget to tell me what you did different and your own tips you’d like to share! Also, consider our “How To Oven Roast A Turkey” recipe and article.