Are you looking for something new to try on your grill? This Grilled Orange-Marinated Turkey Breast is easy to prep, fast to cook, and tastes so good!
Grilled Orange-Marinated Turkey Breast
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I’m always looking for new things to grill. When I found some turkey breast cutlets on sale in my grocery store, I knew I had to try them!
Turkey breast is very low fat. When it is sliced into cutlets and trimmed, it can dry out quickly. So it needs a little TLC before you put it on a grill. A soak overnight in this orange juice and brown sugar marinade is just what this turkey wants! The marinade is very easy to whip up – some orange juice, chicken broth, a little oil, and brown sugar is all you need. Put the turkey breast cutlets in a large Ziploc bag, and pour the marinade over the top. Seal the bag up and keep it in the refrigerator overnight.
When you’re grilling, I usually say that meat isn’t ready to be flipped until it easily releases from the grill (when it doesn’t stick to the grate). With this turkey, that isn’t true. This low-fat meat will stick to your grill. Here’s a few tricks to help with that:
- The oil in the marinade will help to keep the turkey from sticking, but it still needs a little more.
- Lightly oil the grill before you put the turkey on. First, preheat your grill. Then pour some vegetable oil or canola oil on a paper towel. Use a pair of grilling tongs, and wipe the oil on the grill grates.
- Use a flat spatula to turn the turkey. If you just try to use tongs, you won’t be able to easily lift the turkey, and it will stick. Use a flat spatula to get under the entire turkey breast cutlet to turn it over.
If the turkey breast cutlets get over cooked, they will get dry and tough. You want the internal temperature to be 165 degrees F. This meat thermometer is designed to be used on a grill. Insert the probe in the thickest part of the turkey breast, plug it into the base, and close the grill. You can watch the temperature in real-time, so there is a lot less guess work!
These sweet potatoes are so easy, and make a great side for this turkey. Peel and slice two medium sweet potatoes. In a large skillet, melt 1/4 cup butter (1/2 a stick). Dissolve 1/4 cup brown sugar in the melted butter. Then add the sweet potatoes. Cover the skillet, and cook the sweet potatoes over medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Stir them frequently, or they will burn. The butter-sugar mixture will give the outside of the sweet potatoes a beautiful caramelized color. They are done when the outside is browned and beautiful, and they are fork-tender.
Do yourself a favor and spoon some of the extra sauce out of the skillet – pour it over the sweet potatoes and the turkey!
Enjoy!
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Printable Recipe Card for Grilled Orange-Marinated Turkey Breast
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup orange juice
- 3 Tablespoons canola oil
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1-1/2 pounds turkey breast cutlets
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- In a small bowl, combine chicken broth, orange juice, oil, and 2 Tablespoons brown sugar. Whisk to combine and dissolve sugar.
- Place turkey in a large Ziploc bag. Pour marinade over turkey. Marinate in refrigerator overnight.
- Preheat grill to high.
- Lightly oil grill rack. Pour canola oil or vegetable oil on a paper towel. Holding paper towel in tongs, lightly wipe grill.
- Take turkey breast cutlets out of marinade and place on oiled grill.
- Cook over high heat for 2-3 minutes per side, until internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
- Turkey may stick to grill, use flat spatula to turn turkey.
- Melt butter in a large skillet. Dissolve brown sugar in melted butter.
- Add sliced sweet potatoes and cook over medium heat, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Stir potatoes often.
- Sweet potatoes are done when the outsides are browned, and the inside is soft.
- Pour extra sauce over sweet potatoes and turkey breast.
[…] Turkey on the grill? You bet! Turkey breast cutlets are available from the meat counter at your grocery store year round. Turkey breast cutlets are usually sliced pretty thin (about 1/2-3/4 inch thick), which means they will cook very quickly on the grill. And because turkey breast is very low fat, the cutlets can get dry and tough if they are over cooked. Marinating the turkey breast before grilling will help keep some of that moisture locked inside the meat. Of course, using a meat thermometer will help you get the cooked just right. Pick up some turkey breast cutlets the next time you’re at the grocery store, and try this Grilled Orange-Marinated Turkey Breast. […]