When it comes to home-cooked meals there are debates on what should be done, how it should be done, and when, especially for things like meat.

In this case, making grilled turkey or turkey breast at home can be simple or a little complex, depending on the recipe and instructions you follow.

Some things are considered mandatory included in several recipes, like cleaning, and others you can adjust to your specific desires, like adding salt or any other ingredient.

In this article, we’ll walk through the steps of making grilled turkey breast at home, hopefully giving you precise details and instructions that you can follow for your next gathering or event.

The first thing you need to acquire is, of course, the turkey. It’s important to find out if the turkey in your possession has been injected or previously brined upon purchase before deciding to do so yourself.

Brining is the process of cleaning your meat in a strong saline solution.

Other ingredients can be added to the brine to be absorbed by the meat for added flavor before actually seasoning the meat in preparation for cooking.

Nutritional Information

Calories	371 kcal
Protein	44 g
Fiber	3 g
Carbohydrates	11 g
Fat	19 g
Cholesterol	135 mg
Sugar	2 g
Sodium	2251 mg
Potassium	694 mg
Calcium	113 mg
Iron	3 mg
Vitamin A	547 IU
Vitamin C	30 mg

What You Will Need

There are a few things that you will need to gather to grill your turkey breast at home.

1.A grill

To specifically grill a turkey, you would need either an indoor or outdoor grill to achieve the texture and taste that grilled turkey is usually acquainted with.

2.Meat thermometer

This is needed to measure the internal temperature of the turkey, which is a crucial step for ensuring that the turkey is not only ready but safe to eat.

Accurate measurement is taken by removing the turkey from the grill and sticking the thermometer into the thickest or meatiest part of the turkey.

3.Carving set

Using a professional carving set that consists of a sharp carving knife and fork, makes trimming and carving the turkey much easier, whether it is done before cooking or after.

4.Large cutting board

Having a big enough cutting board provides a secure surface for cutting the turkey, as well as a large area for placing the pieces after grilling.

5.Basin or Zip-locked bag

You will need a large basin or zip-locked bag for brining your uninjected turkey. Having it in something secure makes it easier to store in the refrigerator for marinating.

How Long Will It Take To Make Grilled Turkey Breast?

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Resting Time	Total Time
15 Minutes	2 Hours 40 Minutes	20 Minutes	3 Hours 15 Minutes

Ingredients Needed To Make Grilled Turkey Breast

Turkey breast – It’s the main ingredient for making grilled turkey breast.
Garlic powder – Add One to two teaspoon of garlic powder to your spice rub mix to give it a nice seasoning flavor.
Onion powder – Add two to three teaspoons in the spice rub mix to add a mild sweet onion flavor to your dish.
Oregano – Use fine minced oregano for your spice rub mix to add nice earthy and aromatic flavor.
Basil – Add two tablespoons of fresh minced basil to your spice rub mix to give it a fresh herbal aroma.
Tarragon – Use a tablespoon of minced tarragon in your spice rub mix to give your turkey a bittersweet flavor with good herbal mix.
Common Salt – Its the second most important ingredient for the grilled turkey breast that enhance the overall flavor. You can use common or sea salt based on your taste/ preference.
Pepper – Add half a teaspoon of pepper to your spice rub mix to add a milder spicy flavor with a fresh taste.
Lemon Juice – Squeeze and use two to three lemons for the lemon juice to add citrus twist to your recipe.
Melted Butter – Adding butter to your spice rub mixture gives your turkey breast a rich flavor, adds moisture and provide nice crisp creamy texture. Use four to five teaspoon of melted butter for the same.
Olive Oil – It will stew and helps impart rich flavors of the spice rub into the meat.

Cooking Steps

1.Prepare

If your turkey is kept frozen, it is recommended to remove it from the freezer the day before cooking and allow it to defrost either on the counter, safely covered in a sanitized area, or the refrigerator.

Make sure your turkey is completely defrosted before brining. Doing this the previous day saves you time on the overall process of making your grilled turkey breast. If you get your turkey fresh and not frozen, it most likely hasn’t been injected but always check at your time of purchase.

2.Brine

Place your thawed turkey in a basin that is big enough to hold 3 to 5 pounds of its weight, along with added water.

Add 2 quartz of water to the basin, 1/4 cup of table or sea salt, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 2 to 3 cloves of crushed garlic, and 2 to 3 bay leaves.

The sugar, garlic, and bay leaves are all optional ingredients for absorbed added flavor. If you simply want to focus on cleaning the turkey alone, then only add salt or even some lemon juice to the water.

According to how you chose to make your brine, trim your turkey breast into pieces of the desired amount and add them to the brine. Refrigerate it for about 3 to 6 hours, allowing enough time for marination.

3.Grilling Rub

While the turkey is marinating in the fridge, preheat your grill at a surface temperature of 350 to 400 degrees, then begin making the rub that you will paste onto your turkey pieces for grilling.

The ingredients for the rub are relative to personal taste but what is mainly used includes 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of both oregano and cumin.

Other ingredients that can be added to ensure an exquisite tasting grilled turkey include, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, adobo seasoning, and garlic or sea salt.

It’s important to remember to only add salt if you did not previously brine your turkey and if your turkey has not been injected.

Most frozen turkeys are injected with a sodium solution that helps them to freezer better. Adding more salt to an injected turkey can result in the meat becoming unsafe and unedible.

4.Dress

After a few hours have passed, remove the trimmed turkey from the refrigerator and brine, and thoroughly rinse it with water.

Make sure that the turkey is properly rinsed and patted dry before brushing it with oil, followed by the seasoned rub that was previously made.

Dress the turkey pieces in the rub as much as you desire and place the pieces on the grill to be cooked. You can always add more rub while the turkey is cooking.

5.Grill

When grilling your meat, be sure to remember to flip each piece for it to be cooked fully.

Start by placing the turkey pieces on the grill on the skinned side first, leave it to cook for about 10 minutes, and then flip it over, lowering the heat to 350 to 375 degrees.

Keep the grill’s lid closed as much as possible for the turkey to take its time becoming brown and cooked. Cook each piece of turkey until it has an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Use a food thermometer to check the meat occasionally and a surface thermometer to check the surface of the grill so you don’t accidentally burn the meat.

Another way to ensure that the meat is fully cooked is by using a knife or fork to make a small tear on the thickest part of the meat. If the meat is white and tears easily it can be considered ready to be served.

How brown or dark the meat appears depends on how long you prefer it to be cooked. The time of this entire process should take between 1 to 2 hours.

When you remove the turkey from the grill, checking its internal temperature, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes before serving to your guests or family.

How To Make Grilled Turkey Breast At Home

Nutritional Information