Turkey Barbecue

Turkey barbecue is a departure from the norm, which usually focuses on pork and beef. That said, don’t overlook this recipe! It’s just as delicious, but lighter in fat than typical barbecue. Pair it with grilled corn or another veg, depending on what’s in season. If this is your first time making a whole turkey, have no fear—just follow the recipe and remember to pay special attention to basting the bird periodically as it cooks. This prevents it from drying out.

This dish is just one of our favorite barbecue recipes so once you’ve cleaned your plate, have fun exploring others.

Ingredients for Turkey Barbecue

• Turkey: Not rich in fat but with a distinct flavor, turkey certainly stands in a league all its own. Apart from choosing a quality source, there are plenty of tips for choosing the perfect turkey.
• Butter: Because it has a low smoke point, butter is a great choice for low and slow cooking methods.
• Worcestershire sauce: This sauce is named after the town it calls home, Worcestershire, England. It’s a potent combo of anchovies, molasses and tamarind.
• Steak sauce: Sweet, sour and savory, steak sauce gives another layer of flavor to this turkey barbecue sandwich.
• Garlic powder: Unlike fresh garlic, it’s hard to overdo garlic powder. If you’d prefer, you can use roasted garlic in this marinade.
• Onion powder: Sulphur compounds are behind the pungent flavor of onions, but dehydrating them helps mellow some of its natural bite.
• Lemon-pepper seasoning: This popular seasoning is made with lemon zest, black pepper and salt. This combo helps brighten and lift the overall flavor profile of a dish.
• Pepper: You can stick with black pepper here or, experiment with a combo of different types of peppercorns.
• Cayenne: Any spicy ingredient not only adds heat but also, amplifies the flavors in a dish.
• Chicken broth: Because white meat is especially prone to becoming dry, making a basting liquid with chicken broth helps it retain moisture.

Directions

Step 1: Make and apply the marinade

Breast side up, place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan. Combine the butter, Worcestershire sauce, steak sauce and seasonings and rub 3 tablespoons over the turkey. Then, cover and refrigerate the remaining butter mixture.

Step 2: Bake the turkey

Bake the turkey, uncovered, at 325°F for about three hours, or until a meat thermometer reads 180°F. Remember to baste the turkey occasionally with the pan drippings.

Step 3: Shred the meat

Remove the turkey and pour the drippings into a saucepan. When the turkey is cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bones. Shred the turkey and return it to the roasting pan.

Step 4: Finish the sauce

Add the broth and remaining butter mixture to the drippings and bring everything to a rolling boil. Once it reaches a boil, remove it from the heat and pour over the shredded turkey.

Step 5: Warm and serve

Cover the turkey and sauce and bake at 325°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until heated through. Serve on rolls and top with lettuce and tomato, if desired, for a barbecue turkey sandwich.

Turkey Barbecue Variations

• Smoke the turkey: If you have a grill, you can convert it to a smoker by following a recipe for smoked turkey. This process will take longer, as smoking uses very low heat, but the results will be mouthwatering.
• Play up the barbecue sauce: For a twist on the traditional flavor, try different barbecue sauce recipes. For example, you can make a play on the Thanksgiving theme by serving this turkey with cranberry barbecue sauce.

How to Store Turkey Barbecue

To store turkey barbecue, first allow it to come to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, simply pop it in the microwave, oven or over medium heat on the stovetop.

Can I freeze turkey barbecue?

To freeze this recipe, allow it to cool and place it in an airtight food storage container. Keep it in the freezer for up to four months and when ready to eat, allow the turkey barbecue to thaw in the fridge overnight.

Turkey Barbecue Tips

What is the secret to good barbecue?

No matter if it’s in a pit, smoker or the oven, barbecue is meant to be cooked low and slow. This means maintaining a temperature between 250°F and 325°F so the meat can retain its moisture, yielding that melt in your mouth experience.

What are the four types of BBQ sauce?

In general, BBQ sauce breaks down to four categories: tomato, vinegar, mustard and mayonnaise-based. You can find just about any sauce throughout America, as regional barbecue sauces vary greatly. When it comes to choosing one for yourself, just know there are no hard and fast rules so go with what you like.

How to make the best turkey?

If you’re willing to take the extra time, making a turkey brine will help it to retain the maximum amount of moisture. Some people also like to gently pat butter or other fat between the meat and skin of the bird. Finally, don’t forget to let the turkey rest for about 20 minutes after it’s finished cooking because otherwise, all the juices will run right out of the meat.