Active Time
20 min
Total Time
3 hr
This is best done on a large gas grill fitted with a thermometer — it's more labor-intensive to keep a charcoal grill at a constant high heat. You'll need a disposable roasting pan large enough to fit the turkey on a V-rack.
Ingredients
Makes 8 to 10 servings
Special Equipment
Preparation
Step 1
Remove any feathers and quills with pliers (kosher turkeys tend to require this more than others).
Step 2
Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry. Mix salt and pepper in a small bowl and sprinkle it evenly in turkey cavities and all over skin. Fold neck skin under body and, if desired, secure with metal skewer, then tuck wing tips under breast and tie drumsticks together with kitchen string.
Step 3
Preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then turn off 1 burner (middle one if there are 3). Put turkey on oiled rack in roasting pan and add 2 cups water to pan. Set pan over turned-off burner and close lid immediately (temperature drops quickly when lid is lifted). Grill, adjusting burner or burners to maintain 450°F and rotating pan 180 degrees halfway through grilling, until thermometer inserted in fleshy part of each thigh registers 170°F, 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 hours. Time could be longer in cold weather. Avoid opening lid often because of rapid heat loss.
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Reviews (9)
Back to TopWe made it this year. It worked out great and freed up the oven. Also much simpler than our other turkey recipe. I put salt and pepper on it the day before but next time I'll do two days before and I stuffed the cavity with the things we had left over from other dishes (thyme, sage, lemon, celery).
Liz
Seattle
11/25/2022
Sorry, but we've done 20+ lb turkeys on a 22 inch weber kettle for 35 years. Max was 30 lbs, one time. Usually have to add chunk charcoal once, _maybe_ twice, in the 3.5-4 hrs cooking. Put a disposable drip pan down with liquid in it, coals on sides, it's pretty easy. PLUS: opens up the oven for all the other things. Makes lots of brownie points with wife & M.I.L., trust me. If you have a big enough gas grill, use a rotisserie, even better.
Anonymous
Ann Arbor suburbs
11/9/2019
While this recipse is tasty, I like to do it a different (and easier) way. I've been grilling our turkeys for 7 years on a charcoal grill, and it is supereasy, fast, juicy, and delicious. Check out my blog post for detailed instructions. http://socialmediabar.com/grillingaturkey
jake7
Wayne, PA
11/19/2012
I've also been grilling whole turkeys for a number of years. The butter, salt and pepper rub are enough to flavour the bird, along with your preferred stuffing. I prefer one heavy on sage. But the key to a good gravy is to let those pan drippings nearly dry up and brown every once in a while during the grilling, then add hot water or stock to the pan again. And the turkey cooks more evenly at a lower temperature, ideally between 325 and 350.
Anonymous
Kelowna, BC
10/11/2010
This is a great way to free up the oven for other dishes on Thanksgiving. We have done it for a few years now, and the turkey always ends up a deep golden brown with tender meat. I do add carrots and onions to the bottom of the pan to flavor the drippings for gravy. Also, a little poultry seasoning mix along with the salt and pepper is good.
Anonymous
texas
12/6/2009
I haven't tried this exact recipe, but I've been grilling my turkeys for 15-20 years, almost all of that time over Mesquite charcoal. We got a gas grill 2 years ago, so since then I've been using that. It's definitely easier to control the temperature with gas, charcoal is more an art than a science, but it's really not that hard. I'd usually baste every half hour or so, and I'd add a few more briquettes on each side, as necessary. My old Weber grill had the baskets for starting the charcoal, and instead of spreading them out once they were lit and burned down properly, like I would for quick cooking over direct heat, I'd spread the baskets to the sides and cook the turkey between them. Rather than using water in the drip pan I use a mixture of chicken broth and dry white wine, and I rub the bird with butter seasoned with salt & pepper, ground sage, and paprika. It makes wonderful gravy!
Anonymous
Castro Valley, CA
11/25/2009
I grilled a turkey breast for a few hours on charcoal over an odd 'beer can' roaster that I had been given for Christmas (without the beer), and had amazing smoked turkey for sandwiches and snacks for the rest of the week. This is a definate 'must taste to believe'food adventure. I would suggest parting the coals to the side, and cooking the turkey in the middle.
melspev
Stamford, CT
12/27/2005
Yes, you can actually grill a turkey with charcoal. I used to demo for a widely recognized charcoal kettle manufacturer. I sold more of those black kettles while doing demos of 20+ pound turkeys in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas than during the Summer. The method is as straightforward as setting a kitchen timer and adding a specific number of unlit briquettes. Google the manufacturer + grill + turkey. I've never had anything but a perfectly cooked bird (and I've cooked birds with this method in sub-freezing temps).
YGBSM
San Antonio, TX
12/24/2005
This was a very simple way to cook a turkey, and it worked beautifully! A gas grill with a temperature gauge is definitely the way to go, I can't imagine trying this on a charcoal grill. I actually brined the turkey for 20 hours, then rubbed it with salt and pepper. I had a 9lb turkey and it took exactly 2 hours for it to reach 165. I did have to add more water in the roasting pan about halfway through grilling. The result was a nice golden brown, moist and flavorful bird.
ireland2
Durango, CO
11/25/2005
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