How to Grill a Turkey on a Charcoal Grill

Can't you just taste it now? There is nothing like the flavor of a rich golden turkey grilled over the coals. You can achieve this with an ordinary charcoal grill and a drip pan to catch the juices. Not only will you provide your family with a tasty meal, but cooking the turkey on the grill also frees up your kitchen for other cooking activities. During hot summer days, you can still have roasted turkey without the inconvenience of heating up your home.

Things You'll Need

• Charcoal grill Disposable aluminum pan Charcoal briquettes Meat thermometer Turkey

Instructions

1. Remove the grill rack in your charcoal grill and set aside. Fill the bottom with 50 charcoal briquettes and light the grill following the directions on the bag. Allow the coals to burn until they turn ashy gray.

2. Use tongs to arrange the briquettes in a circle around the outer perimeter of the grill. Place a disposable pie pan in the center of the circle. This will work as your drip pan and will catch juices from the turkey. Replace the grate in the grill.

3. Prepare the turkey for grilling. Rinse the inside and outside of the turkey with cool water and pat dry with paper towels. Add a dash of salt and pepper or other seasoning, if preferred.

4. Place the turkey in the center of the grill over the drip pan. Close the grill and allow the turkey to roast. Add six to eight briquettes every hour to keep the heat even.

5. Roast until a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees when inserted into the meatiest portion of the breast and 180 degrees in the dark meat. Allow for approximately 12 minutes per pound for cooking time.

6. Remove from the grill and allow to rest for 15 minutes before carving. This allows juices to settle and makes carving easier.