How to Grill a Turkey With a Propane Grill

Grilling a turkey on a propane grill is a tasty option for a Thanksgiving feast.

The key to grilling a turkey on any kind of outdoor grill is to make sure it is cooked by indirect heat. A propane grill is a good choice for this style of cooking because the heat can be controlled by shutting off one or more burners while keeping the turkey at a steady temperature. Because a turkey can take longer than other meats to cook, make sure your propane tank is full before beginning to grill.

Things You'll Need

• Propane grill with cover
• Turkey, unstuffed
• Foil pan
• Water
• Meat thermometer

Instructions

1. Place a foil pan with three cups of water under the grate of your propane grill. Position it to one side of the grill, over a burner that you will not be using.

2. Turn on the grill and light all the burners except the one over the pan of water. Close the cover and allow the air temperature inside the grill to come to a steady 275 degrees.

3. Rinse, dry and prepare the turkey with whatever seasonings and spices you like. Don't stuff the turkey--because you're cooking at a low temperature, getting the stuffing to the right temperature can take too long. Also, most people don't like smoked stuffing.

4. Open the grill cover and place the unstuffed turkey on the grate over the water pan, away from the direct flames. Close the cover.

5. Allow the turkey to cook, while keeping an eye on the temperature in the grill. It should remain at 275 to 350 degrees throughout the cooking time. Allow 15 to 18 minutes of cooking time per pound. That means a 10-pound turkey should cook for at least 2 1/2 hours.

6. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer. Once the interior temperature of the meat in the deepest part of the thigh reaches 180 degrees, remove the turkey from the grill. Use the pan drippings to make gravy.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the turkey is thawed before you put it on the grill.

• Resist the temptation to open the grill cover. This allows heat to escape and will extend grilling time.

References

• University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Grilling a turkey