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Turkey flattened cooked on a metal rack with aluminum foil underneath.
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4.78 from 9 votes

How to Grill a Spatchcocked (Butterflied) Turkey

This method of cooking a flattened turkey on the grill is absolutely a shortcut! Spatchcocking means to flatten the bird by removing the backbone. It allows both the dark and white meat to cook evenly with the extra flavor that grilling adds. 10
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 50 minutes
Dry brining overnight1 day
Total Time1 day 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 136kcal
Cost: 9

Equipment

  • Grill, sheet pan with wire rack, kitchen shears

Ingredients

  • 11 to 13 pound fresh or frozen whole turkey (thawed if frozen-see Notes)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons table salt or 2 1/2 tablespoons Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

  • You can choose to not print pictures along with recipe after choosing to PRINT.

Spatchcocking

  • If the turkey is frozen, be sure to completely thaw it. Remove the neck and giblets package from inside and save for gravy or broth, if you like.
  • Place the turkey on a large cutting board or clean work surface. With a pair of good quality poultry or kitchen shears, cut alongside the backbone, starting at the bottom all the way to the neck of the bird. Then, cut very close to the backbone on the other side to remove the backbone.
    Gloved hands cutting backbone out of raw turkey with kitchen shears.
  • Pull the turkey apart where the backbone used to be to reveal the breastbone. At the triangle where the breast bone starts, use shears or a sharp knife to snip into either side of the triangle of cartilage. This will allow the breast bone to open up.
    Process shot of cutting right side of turkey neck
  • Turn the turkey over and press down on the lower part of the breast to flatten the breast bone. Fold the wings up under the top of the breast.
    Process shot of a hand pressing down on a raw turkey.
  • Pat the bird completely dry with paper towels. Rub the outside skin with olive oil or melted butter.
  • Combine salt, garlic powder and onion powder; sprinkle over both top and bottom of turkey.
  • Place a large cooling rack on a foil-lined, rimmed half sheet pan (NOT NONSTICK if going on the grill).
  • Place the turkey breast side up, on the rack. Flatten the drumsticks by rotating the thighs to be in the center and the drumstick bones on the outside.
  • Place the turkey, uncovered, in the refrigerator 24 hours and up to 48 hours.

Grilling with Wood Pellet Grill

  • Heat the grill to 375F. Place the turkey (still on the rack from the fridge) over the drip pan, legs facing the front of the grill.
  • Close the lid and cook for about 1 hour. Using grill spatulas, grill tongs and silicone mitts, turn the rack (the one with the turkey on it, not the grill rack) around, with breast facing the front of the grill.
  • Close the lid and cook an additional 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the size of the turkey, or until an instant read meat thermometer registers 165F in the thickest part of the thigh but not touching the bone. The breast should register 155F.

Grilling with Propane Gas Grill

  • Light the left 3 burners on medium-high heat400F and placed the turkey (still on the rack) on the right side of the grill. (You may have more or less burners.) Place the turkey with the legs and thighs facing the lit burners so they will cook a little faster than the breast meat. Place a drip pan or aluminum foil below the turkey
  • Close the lid and cook for 40 to 50 minutes. Using grill spatulas, grill tongs and silicone mitts, turn the rack (the one with the turkey on it, not the grill rack) around so the breast is now facing the lit burners.

Grilling with a Charcoal Grill

  • Place about 6 quarts of ashy white charcoal (from a chimney or wait til they are white-hot coals) on one side of the grill. If desired, place a couple of pieces of apple or cherry chunks on the coals.
  • Close the lid and cook at at 375F to 400F for 1 hour to 70 minutes. Using large metal grill spatulas, grill tongs or silicone mitts, turn the grill grate or the turkey rack (the one with the turkey on it) so the breast is now facing the hot coals. Check to make sure the coals are hot enough to maintain temperature. If not add more white ashy coals from a chimney, being careful not to allow ashes to float up to the turkey.
  • Close the lid and cook an additional 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the turkey and the heat consistency of the coals.Check the internal temperature with an instant read meat thermometer registers165F in the thickest part of the thigh but not touching the bone. The breast should register 155F.

Transferring turkey to a cutting board to rest

  • Carefully remove the rack the turkey is on with potholders and transfer to a cutting board or rimmed baking sheet. Cover tightly immediately with aluminum foil for 20 to 30 minutes to rest.
    The breast meat temperature will rise to 160F and the thigh meat will rise to 170F.
  • Carve and serve the turkey.
    Cooked turkey cut up into pieces on a white platter on black table.

Notes

Pro Tips: To thaw an 11 to 13 pound turkey in the refrigerator, allow 2 to 3 days. To thaw it in cold water, allow 5 to 6 hours. (Be sure to check and make sure water remains cold the entire time.)
Be sure your metal rack is NOT nonstick. It needs to be able to withstand the high heat of the grill.
Spatchcocking: If you are short like me, try standing on a step stool to get more leverage to press down on the breast bone. You can also put one hand over the other like performing CPR.
If you have only 3 burners, light the left 2 and place turkey on the unlit burner facing the lit burners. If you turkey is extra large, try lighting just one of the 3 burners, but you may have to turn the turkey (still on the rack) halfway through cooking. Watch internal temp and over cooking of the legs. Maybe wrap the ends of the legs in foil.
Shortcuts:
  • Flattening the turkey saves cooking time.
  • If you use a wood pellet grill, the circulating air cooks it even faster than indirect grilling. It's like a convection oven/grill.
  • Takes up less space in the refrigerator while brining which saves time trying to figure out where to store everything.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 3oz white meat | Calories: 136kcal