Grilled Turkey

This was my dad's idea. He wanted to grill a turkey as a test run for Thanksgiving dinner. I didn't even know that it was possible to grill a whole turkey! I am a huge fan of barbequing but the thought never crossed my mind to barbeque a Thanksgiving turkey.

The turkey has been in the refrigerator for 3 days thawing so today was the day to grill! After we trimmed and cleaned it was time to add the seasonings. I kept it pretty simple. Inside the turkey cavity I used 3 sliced lemons, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage and Salt & Pepper. I would have loved to use fresh herbs but in a pinch dried herbs worked very well. I used a generous amount of each in order to really bring out a delicious flavor.

I seasoned the outside of the turkey with Susie Q Original Santa Maria Valley Style Seasoning. This seasoning is incredible! I discovered it while I was living in San Luis Obispo and I've kept it in my cupboard ever since. It is a uniquely versatile blend of California garlic, premium salt and cracked black pepper with a whisper of parsley freshness. I've used this seasoning on almost everything and it has added amazing flavor every single time. Meat, seafood and vegetables this is by far my favorite seasoning!

My dad wanted to use the charcoal barbeque with indirect heat to really cook in as much flavor as possible. When the coals were ready we put the turkey on the grill! We added mesquite wood chips to add even more flavor. We rotated the turkey every 30 minutes. When the meat thermometer reached 165 degrees the turkey was ready! We took it off the grill and let it sit for 15 minutes. Next, it was time to carve and serve!

This grilled turkey was juicy and delicious! Weather-permitting, we will be barbequing our Thanksgiving turkey without a doubt. Every ingredient and element of this grilling adventure worked perfectly! The lemons and herbs added great flavor and the barbeque added a light smokey flavor to the skin. The meat, both white and dark, was beyond juicy. I highly recommend this cooking technique! 

Enjoy!