Celebrate Traditional Thanksgiving with Turkey Prepared on a Rotisserie Burner

This Thanksgiving, North Americans can relive the spirit of the first feast by preparing a turkey on a rotisserie burner, much like the Pilgrims and Wampanoags did 401 years ago. The traditional day of gratitude has transformed over four centuries, but cooking a large turkey and all the fixings on a durable grill allows modern families to experience the flavors and aromas of that inaugural celebration. A 21st-century PGS Grill makes this possible when loved ones gather to share stories and perhaps indulge in a meal that's as hearty as the bird itself.

While the Pilgrims and Wampanoags rotated their turkeys by hand over an open flame, today’s advanced technology lets us sit back and relax while the main dish and sides cook to perfection. An industry-leading PGS Grill features a state-of-the-art infrared rotisserie burner that ensures your turkey comes out beautifully golden brown and reaches the perfect internal temperature. Using a stainless steel liquid propane or natural gas grill also gives you plenty of room to prepare family favorites on the side.

Thanksgiving Turkey on a Rotisserie Burner

When home chefs opt for a PGS Grill with an infrared rotisserie burner, the possibilities for outdoor cooking expand dramatically. Large cuts of beef, whole chickens, pineapples, veggie kabobs, and many other dishes can easily be added to the spit. The rotisserie burner handles everything effortlessly, turning and roasting to perfection. The turkey bastes in its own natural juices, and vegetables placed beneath it can catch those drippings to create a rich gravy. Plus, cooking on a rotisserie burner locks in the flavor while giving the skin a satisfying crispiness. Here’s how you can prepare your turkey on a rotisserie burner.

What You’ll Need

• A turkey weighing between 12-14 pounds

• 8 peeled garlic cloves

• 3 teaspoons of crushed rosemary

• 1 teaspoon of onion powder

• 2 teaspoons of crushed thyme

• 2 teaspoons of crushed sage

• 2 sticks of melted butter

• Sea salt

• Black pepper

• 4 peeled whole onions

• 8 peeled whole carrots

• 6 peeled and halved potatoes

• Optional stuffing of your choice

• Aluminum foil

• An aluminum foil baking pan

Brining Your Turkey

Brining helps tenderize the turkey by adding moisture and reducing muscle tightness. Fill a large pot halfway with warm water and add two tablespoons of sea salt, two tablespoons of black pepper, two teaspoons of rosemary, and two diced cloves of garlic. Submerge the turkey in the brine and refrigerate overnight. Once removed from the brine, pat the turkey dry thoroughly.

Preparing the Turkey

Make small incisions in the turkey’s skin and tuck four of the garlic cloves inside. Thread the spit through the bird and test that it rotates smoothly on the rotisserie burner. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure seamless rotation during cooking.

Place the turkey on the rotisserie skewer and transfer it to the preparation area. Generously slather it with melted butter. Mix the sage, rosemary, onion powder, and thyme in a bowl. Rub this mixture onto the buttered turkey. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.

If you plan to stuff the turkey, this is the ideal moment to fill the cavity with your chosen stuffing.

It’s crucial to tie the turkey securely, preferably with butcher’s twine, especially if it contains uncooked stuffing. Some cooks prefer to trim the wingtips, as they tend to dry out.

Since the bird will spin rather than sit in a pan, take care to secure the stuffing to prevent any loss during cooking.

Return the turkey to the stainless steel grill. Ensure it still rotates easily. Make any final adjustments if needed.

Pour two cups of water into the aluminum baking pan, filling it to about one-quarter of its depth. Add the remaining garlic cloves, whole onions, potatoes, and carrots to the pan. If the water level exceeds half the depth, remove some to avoid overflow. Season with salt and pepper to your preference. Slide the aluminum pan directly under the turkey to collect the drippings.

Interestingly, despite common practice, you can now set the rotisserie burner and outdoor gas grill to 350 degrees. Unlike conventional ovens, there’s no need to wait for preheating.

Periodically reapply melted butter and reseason the turkey as necessary.

Pro Tips

Keep a close eye on grill temperatures. Often, the infrared rotisserie burner can be adjusted or used for only part of the cooking time. On average, a turkey takes 12-14 minutes per pound to cook, and the internal temperature should reach at least 165 degrees. Once the turkey is fully cooked, cover it loosely with aluminum foil while it rests before carving.

PGS Grill with Infrared Rotisserie Burner

The Legacy series remains a top choice for backyard grilling enthusiasts. The PGS Grill can be ordered with an infrared rotisserie burner, which significantly enhances the menu options for busy families who appreciate the flavor locked in by grilling.

Built to last, the PGS Grill Legacy line offers 540 to 960 square inches of direct grilling space, indirect warming racks, and BTUs up to 102,000, depending on the model. It’s also popular as the centerpiece of an outdoor kitchen and can be customized with side burners, a beverage center, and more. For those looking to maintain Thanksgiving traditions in their homes, it evokes the feeling the Pilgrims and Wampanoags must have experienced.

Cooking the feast on a durable grill equipped with a rotisserie burner will earn you a heartfelt thanks from the family’s indoor chef. If the Pilgrims had to manage the modern oven and kitchen chaos, Nov. 24, 2022, might have been just another ordinary Thursday.