Summer’s Best BBQ’d Turkey

I’ve partnered with Canadian Turkey to bring you this post.  All opinions are my own.

Summer is finally here!! We’ve been enjoying the relaxation having no schedule brings for us.  Spending days at the lake and night at home in the backyard with friends is a favorite summer past time.  Firing up the grill and making some delicious and healthy recipes is a great way to bring old and new friends together again, plus the house doesn’t heat up from turning the oven on.

What I love about turkey is it makes a great substitute in any recipe, especially in the summer because it is a light and lean protein option full of vitamins and minerals.  A few of our favourite recipe are Turkey, Apple and Kale Grain Salad and Cedar Plank Grilled Turkey Breast.  You’ll love putting turkey on your table for get-togethers, everyday meals and snacks, backyard BBQ’s and quick and tasty meals that feed your family every day.

Turkey and the grill are the perfect summer meal combo from searing, roasting, braising and smoking whole turkeys and a wide variety of turkey cuts easily create tasty and easy meals for family and friends.  I'm sharing a few great tips to help you get started grilling with turkey.

7 Ways To Grill Up Big Flavour With Your Turkey Cuts

1. Learn to use direct and indirect heat.  Direct heat works best to sear turkey, develop savoury crusts on your cuts, create flavourful grill marks, and cook smaller or thinner cuts of meat quickly.  Indirect heat works for larger cuts of meat that need to cook low and slow, coaxing out flavours while keeping cuts moist and tender.
2. Smoke and sizzle mean big flavour!  Use the barbeque to brown your turkey and create caramelization that adds big, bold flavour and keeps your meat juicy and tender.  Smoke adds that unique and special BBQ taste, allowing you to cut down on salt, sugar and fat.
3. Use dry and wet rubs to season your turkey cuts.  Turkey marries well with a wide variety of herbs and spices, so feel free to experiment with your favourite combinations to enhance taste and texture.
4. Cook your entire meal on the BBQ – appetizers, side dishes, vegetables and even desserts can be cooked over the grill.  Cooking entire meals on the grill will give you juicy meat and tasty vegetables. Grilling locks in moisture and adds natural smoky flavour, cutting down on the need for extra fat, salt and sugary sauces.  Visit canadianturkey.ca to explore a library of amazing grilled turkey recipes!
5. Marinate your cuts to add big flavour and help to keep your turkey moist and juicy.  Infuse flavour into your meats by marinating with healthy fats like olive oil, and adding citrus, beer, wine or vinegar and fresh herbs, spices and rubs.
6. Prep your turkey meat for the grill.  Remove from the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before cooking to allow the meat to come to room temperature.  Dry the meat off with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible.  This will promote an even sear and avoid steaming the meat.
7. Don’t crowd the meat!  When grilling your turkey, leave space between the turkey pieces to promote even heat circulation and ensure consistent cooking.

Looking for additional tips, recipes and HOW TOs?  Visit canadianturkey.ca for all your cooking inspiration.  The recipe section is filled with amazing grilling recipes for full meals, snacks, appetizers and family favourites.  Visit the HOW TOs for helpful grilling tips and techniques.  Don’t forget to download the free Summer Grilling Guide for everything you need to know to get tasty, nutritious and versatile Canadian turkey on your table this summer!

Summer’s Best BBQ’d Turkey Recipe

Summer’s Best BBQ’d Turkey

Canadian Turkey

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 3 hrs

Total Time 3 hrs 15 mins

Servings 8 -12

Ingredients

  

• 1 whole Canadian turkey 12 – 16 lbs
• 3 tbsp olive or vegetable oil
• 2 lemons quartered
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup melted butter or olive oil warmed (Thyme finishing sauce)
• 1/2 cup minced fresh thyme Thyme finishing sauce
• 1/4 cup lemon juice Thyme finishing sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste Thyme finishing sauce

Instructions

 

• Dry turkey, inside and out, with paper towels.
• Season the turkey with oil, salt and pepper, inside and out. Stuff the cavity with lemon pieces.
• Pre-heat BBQ to 350°F (175°C).
• BBQ, with indirect heat, for 15 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 180°F (82°C). Ensure you use a meat thermometer to check for doneness as cooking times can vary significantly with individual BBQ’s.
• Combine finishing sauce ingredients in a bowl.
• During the last hour of cooking, baste the turkey with the finishing sauce, every 15 minutes. Discard any sauce that may remain.
• Remove the turkey from the BBQ and let rest for at least 20 – 30 minutes.
• Discard lemon pieces from the cavity.
• Carve and serve.

Notes

TIP: If your turkey starts to char a little on the grill, cover loosely with tin foil. Remove the foil during the last hour of cooking to let the skin crisp up.

Note: Looking for some flavour inspiration? Discover a selection of Canadian Turkey finishing sauces you can use as alternates in this recipe.

Ask your grocer or butcher for 100% Canadian raised whole turkey and turkey cuts all year long.  You can also download the Everything You Need to Know About Cuts Guide to help you make an informed decision at the store. Get turkey on your table with recipes and leftover ideas that make it a simple and economical choice to create delicious meals for the whole family or a crowd.

I’ve teamed up with Canadian Turkey for this great giveaway where one lucky reader will win an Amazon.ca gift card!

Canadian Turkey #BBQTurkey Giveaway

1 Winner each will receive: $75 Amazon.ca Gift Card

Giveaway Open to: Canadian Residents, except where prohibited

Ends: July 29, 2018

The fine print: All entries must be received by 11:59 pm MST 07/29/18. The winners will be notified via email and have 48 hrs to respond. If no response with 48 hrs a new winner will be chosen. Open to Canada only, prize supplied by Canadian Turkey.

Good luck!