How Long to Cook Turkey Tips on Grill?
When preparing your turkey for the holiday season, especially during Thanksgiving, you might find some great specials on tenderloin and other cuts at your local supermarket weeks ahead of time. The perfect time to start grilling your turkey is when the weather is mild—this ensures you can enjoy cooking outside without worrying about the cold.
If it’s BBQ turkey you’re aiming for, try using a ribbed grill pan on your stove top if grilling outside isn’t an option. Keep an eye out for suspect sales on frozen packages, but don’t let them discourage you from finding the best deals.
A quick tip: grilling a tenderloin can be faster, but for a whole turkey, a lower temperature over a longer period will ensure the juiciest result. Whether you use a grill or cook inside, these grilled turkey tips will help create a memorable meal for your holiday.
How to Make BBQ Turkey Tips?
To prepare Grilled BBQ Turkey Tips, start by cutting turkey tenderloin into bite-sized pieces and placing them in a zipper seal bag. Add Italian dressing, lemon juice, or your favorite homemade vinaigrette—even a bottled dressing works well.
Marinate the turkey overnight for the best flavor. Before grilling, pat the pieces dry with paper towels, lightly coat your grill pan with oil, and preheat the grill. Grill the turkey for a few minutes on each side, making sure to flip and brush with BBQ sauce as you go.
Use an instant-read probe thermometer to check the internal temperature, aiming for 165 degrees F. Once cooked, transfer the grilled pieces to a platter, cover with foil, and let them rest in the residual heat. This ensures they stay tender and juicy. Serve with extra BBQ sauce for a delicious, crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
- Turkey tenderloins – 2 pounds
- 1 ½ cups Italian dressing (can use homemade vinaigrette or store-bought dressing)
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce (use homemade BBQ sauce recipe or store-bought dressing)
- Optional: Cook Mode to keep your screen from going dark while following the recipe.
Instructions
- Cut the tenderloin into bite-sized pieces and place them in a gallon zipper seal bag.
- Add Italian dressing and lemon juice, then seal the bag and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight.
- When ready to grill, drain and discard the marinade, and pat dry the turkey pieces with paper towels.
- Heat the grill to medium-high with the cover closed and preheat a ribbed grill pan on medium-high heat if grilling inside.
- Oil the grill grates or ribbed grill pan using vegetable oil and a bunched-up paper towel with long-handled tongs.
- Place the dried turkey pieces on the oiled grill, cover, and grill for 5-6 minutes until lightly charred, then turn and repeat.
- Check the internal temperature using a probe thermometer. When each piece reaches 165 degrees F, remove it from the grill.
- For indoor cooking with the ribbed grill pan, flip the pieces frequently over medium-high heat until each piece reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove the cooked turkey and place it in a large bowl, then pour 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce over the turkey.
- Place the turkey back on the grill and continue cooking for 2-3 more minutes, turning occasionally and brushing BBQ sauce.
- Once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, immediately remove the pieces to a tray or platter, slather with more sauce, and serve with extra BBQ sauce on the side.
- Try not to let the internal temperature exceed 165 degrees F, checking each piece with a probe thermometer. Smaller pieces will be done first, while thicker ones will take longer.
- Total cooking time should be around 15-20 minutes.
TURKEY TENDERS
Grill
Before you begin, preheat the grill to high heat and clean the grates well. Brush a light coat of oil on them to prevent sticking. Place the turkey tenders on the grill, close the grill cover, and cook for about 6-7 minutes.
Turn the turkey tenders over, close the grill cover again, and cook for another 6-7 minutes until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the tender reaches 165°F. Remove the meat from the grill, cover, and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
ALWAYS COOK to an INTERNAL TEMPERATURE of 165°F, as MEASURED with a THERMOMETER.
Air Fryer
For the air fryer method, preheat the air fryer to 400ºF for 3-5 minutes. Arrange the turkey tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between the pieces.
Cook at 400ºF for 6-8 minutes, then turn the tenders over and continue cooking for another 6-8 minutes until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 165°F. Remove the meat from the air fryer basket, cover, and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Oven
To bake turkey tenders in the oven, preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat an oven-safe pan with cooking spray and place the turkey tenders in the prepared pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the tender reaches 165°F.
Remove the meat from the pan, cover, and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. As an alternative, you can preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 25-30 minutes while ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165°F. ALWAYS COOK to an INTERNAL TEMPERATURE of 165°F, as MEASURED with a THERMOMETER.
Stove Top
For the stovetop method, lightly coat the bottom of a large skillet with cooking oil and set it over medium-high heat until the oil starts to simmer.
Add the turkey tenders to the skillet, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes on one side, then turn and cook for another 4-5 minutes until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 165°F. Remove the meat from the pan, cover, and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
ALWAYS COOK to an INTERNAL TEMPERATURE of 165°F, as MEASURED with a THERMOMETER.
How to Cook Turkey Tenderloin
- Preheat the grill to high heat on all gas burners.
- While the grill preheats, mix the rub in a bowl. Combine 1 teaspoon each of smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil over the turkey tenderloins.
- Sprinkle and massage the seasoning rub on all sides of the turkey tenderloins.
- Spray the grill with non-stick grill spray.
- Lower the burners to low heat.
- Place the turkey tenderloins on the grill grates over the low setting burner, with the burner furthest from the turkey breast set to high.
- Place the lid on top and cook for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the turkey breast from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Brush with barbecue sauce, cut into slices, and enjoy immediately. Serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side.
What kind of BBQ Sauce should I use on Turkey Tips?
Recipe, Store-bought, Homemade BBQ Sauces
When grilling turkey tips, the choice between store-bought and homemade BBQ sauces can greatly influence the flavor and enjoyment of your meal. For a rich and uniquely tailored taste, a homemade BBQ sauce is unbeatable.
Consider crafting a Bourbon Barbecue Sauce for a smoky kick, or a Guinness Barbecue Sauce for a deeper, malt-infused profile. If you’re in the mood for something tangy and slightly sweet, a Cranberry Barbecue Sauce works wonders, especially during the festive seasons.
For those who appreciate a classic, Mozelle’s Barbecue Sauce is a must-try. These homemade options allow for customization in terms of spice levels and sweetness, ensuring your turkey tips are nothing short of spectacular.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 6 oz.
- Servings Per Bag: Varied
- Amount Per Serving:
- Calories: 250
- Calories from Fat: 110
- Total Fat: 12g (18% Daily Value)
- Sat Fat: 3g (15% Daily Value)
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 90mg (30% Daily Value)
- Sodium: 870mg (36% Daily Value)
- Total Carbohydrates: 8g (3% Daily Value)
- Sugars: 7g
- Protein: 22g (significant source)
- Dietary Fiber: Not significant
- Vitamin A: Good percent daily values
- Vitamin C: Good percent daily values
- Calcium: Good percent daily values
- Based on a 2000 Calorie Diet
People also ask
How long does it take to grill turkey tips?
To achieve perfectly grilled turkey tips, start by heating your grill to medium-high heat. Place the turkey strips on a greased part of the grill. Grill them for about 10 minutes, making sure to turn them once or twice.
They are done when they are no longer pink inside. It’s best to enjoy these succulent pieces right away, or you can let them cool, cover, and refrigerate for a few days for later enjoyment.
What is the internal temperature of a turkey tip?
For safety and the best culinary results, ensure that the turkey tips reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) as measured by a food thermometer. This internal temperature ensures that the poultry is cooked thoroughly and safe to eat.
At what temperature is turkey grilled?
Properly grilling turkey involves monitoring its internal temperature closely. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches 165°F in the thigh and 160°F in the breast. The cooking time can vary, especially for larger turkeys, which may take several hours on the grill.
After grilling, remove the turkey from heat and let it stand for about 10 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute.
What part of the turkey is turkey tips?
Turkey tips are flavorful chunks of white-meat from the turkey breast, often marinated and treated much like steak tips. They are typically grilled to a point of charring on the outside, which enhances their flavor.
Popular in bars, lounges, and pubs, turkey tips offer a delectable option that pairs well with various side dishes and sauces.