BBQ Turkey Rotisserie recipe

With this BBQ Turkey recipe there's no need to wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas to enjoy your favorite bird.

But it's certainly a great time to impress your family and friends with your grilling expertise!

Depending on the size of your BBQ and the rotisserie you may be restricted to smaller birds, 8 - 12 lbs.
bbq turkey rotisserie
The secret to keeping this bbq turkey so juicy and moist is definitely the overnight salt brine it's soaked in before cooking.

To guarantee the juiciest grilled turkey ever you'll want to use this overnight turkey brine from Alton Brown, the results are amazing.

See below for step-by-step instructions for how to brine a turkey.

The turkey is "stuffed" with lemon, garlic and sage just before it's skewered on the BBQ rotisserie spit.

You'll also want to serve the best turkey stuffing ever (or so my family says!) and show-off with this stuffing recipe cooked in a pumpkin.

You can even use the pumpkin with stuffing as your centerpiece.

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› BBQ Turkey Rotisserie




Serves: 6 - 8 (depending on on the size)

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 2.5 hours depending on the size

Indirect Heat:
500F for 30 minutes
350F for remainder of cooking time

For best results soak in the turkey brine overnight.

What you'll need:

  • 1 thawed 8 - 12 pound turkey (check on what size your BBQ can accomodate)

  • 1 lemon quartered
  • 6 cloves peeled garlic, left whole
  • 6 leaves fresh sage

    For the Brine:
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 gallon vegetable stock (see tip below)
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries (try a health food store)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger

  • 1 gallon heavily iced water

    knorr vegetable stock mix
    Tip: I use 1 container (150g size) Knorr Vegetable stock mix to make the 1 gallon of vegetable stock (16 cups water plus 150g vegetable stock mix in the gallon)


    how to brine a turkey

    Step 1:
    In a large stock pot combine the first 6 ingredients of the turkey brine and bring to a boil over medium high heat to dissolve the solids.

    Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until cold.

    When ready to use the brine (usually the day before the BBQ) place the turkey breast side down in the brine and cover with 1 gallon (16 cups) of heavily iced water.

    Make sure the bird is completely immersed in the brine (weigh it down if necessary).

    Refrigerate 8 - 16 hours turning the bird over once in the brine during that time.


    turkey stuffed with lemons

    Step 2:
    On the day of cooking remove the turkey from the brine and wash the bird inside and out.

    Discard the brine.

    Place the lemon pieces inside the cavity of the turkey.

    turkey stuffed with garlic

    Stuff the garlic cloves inside the cavity with the lemons.

    sage stuffed turkey

    Finally, stuff the bird with the fresh sage leaves.


    how to rotisserie a turkey

    Step 3:
    Insert the BBQ rotisserie skewer (spit) through the turkey, insert the stabilizer prongs into the turkey at both ends and fasten to the spit.

    Here is more information on how to use a BBQ rotisserie.

    Truss the bird by pinning the wings and legs tight to the body so they don't flop about while turning on the rotisserie.

    Rub the entire surface of the skin with canola oil.


    how to cook turkey on the grill

    Step 4:
    Set up the BBQ for indirect cooking and place a disposable aluminum pan (or pans) filled with water under the spot where the turkey will be spinning.

    Preheat the BBQ to 500F.

    When the grill reaches this temperature install the spit and turkey on the BBQ rotisserie unit and begin rotating the bird.

    Close the lid. After 30 minutes check on the bird and reduce heat to 350F.

    Continue cooking until the internal temperature of the bird in the meatiest piece of the thigh is 170F.

    If you have a rear burner try it out during the last hour of cooking to brown the skin even more.

    When the bbq turkey is cooked remove it from the grill and let it rest covered in foil for 10 minutes before carving.

    Enjoy!

    best bbq turkey



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    Rotisserie Chicken recipe Sirloin Rotisserie cooking Beer Can Chicken


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