Turkey Tips are tender bite-sized pieces of turkey breast marinated in a homemade honey BBQ sauce, then grilled until juicy and caramelized. The sweet and tangy sauce doubles as a marinade and glaze, giving the turkey plenty of smoky BBQ flavor.
Turkey breast is perfect for this recipe because cutting it into smaller pieces lets it cook quickly without a lot of fuss. The homemade BBQ marinade gives every bite plenty of flavor, and I can cook the turkey tips outside on the grill or use a grill pan when I want to make them indoors.
Why I Love This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
- Ketchup: Creates the tomato base for the homemade BBQ sauce and helps give it that classic BBQ flavor.
- Honey: Adds sweetness and helps the turkey develop a caramelized glaze as it cooks.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds tanginess that balances the sweetness of the honey, brown sugar, and molasses.
- Brown Sugar: Adds another layer of sweetness and helps create a sticky BBQ sauce.
- Molasses: Gives the sauce a deeper, richer flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savory flavor and balances the sweeter ingredients in the marinade.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds smoky flavor even when the turkey tips are cooked indoors.
- Garlic & Onion Powder: Easy seasonings that add plenty of flavor throughout the sauce.
- Cayenne Pepper: Optional, but adds a little heat. Use more or less depending on how spicy you like your BBQ sauce.
- Salt & Pepper: A small amount brings all the flavors together.
- Water: Thins the BBQ sauce enough to work well as a marinade.
- Turkey Breast: Cut fresh turkey breast into similar bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly and quickly.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How To Make Turkey Tips
- Combine ketchup, honey, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper in a medium saucepan. Add 1/4 cup water. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to simmer. Cook for 8-10 minutes, then remove from heat and cool completely.
- Add the turkey chunks to a large resealable bag or a shallow container. Pour 3/4 of the cooled BBQ sauce over the turkey, reserving the remaining 1/4 for grilling and finishing. Seal the bag or cover the dish and ensure the turkey is fully coated. Marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight for the best flavor.
- Preheat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the pan to prevent the turkey from sticking.
- Remove the turkey from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. Discard the used marinade.
- Place the turkey pieces on the hot grill pan, leaving space between each piece. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side until you see grill marks and the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- During the last minute of grilling, brush some of the reserved BBQ sauce over the turkey to create a sticky glaze.
- Transfer the turkey to a large bowl and toss with the remaining reserved BBQ sauce for extra flavor.
- Serve hot with additional sauce on the side for dipping. Pair with rice roasted vegetables, coleslaw, cornbread, or a biscuit. Enjoy!
- Grilling Outdoors (Charcoal or Propane):
- Preheat a charcoal or propane grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F). For charcoal, wait until the coals are ashy and evenly hot. For propane, ensure the grates are clean and oiled.
- Place the marinated turkey pieces directly on the preheated, oiled grates. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side, flipping once, until the turkey has nice grill marks and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. You can baste with the reserved sauce at the last minute for added flavor.
- Avoid overcooking by checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
Tips I Found Helpful
- Cut the turkey evenly: Keep the turkey pieces about the same size so they finish cooking at the same time.
- Give it time to marinate: I recommend at least 4 hours, but overnight gives the turkey even more BBQ flavor.
- Save sauce before marinating: If you want extra BBQ sauce for brushing or serving, set some aside before adding the raw turkey.
- Don’t overcrowd the grill: Leave a little space between the turkey pieces so they grill instead of steam.
- Watch the honey: The sugars in the honey, brown sugar, and molasses can burn over very high heat, so keep an eye on the turkey as it caramelizes.
- Turn the pieces as they cook: This helps create those flavorful grilled edges on several sides.
- Check the temperature: Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest pieces.
- Let it rest: Give the turkey tips a few minutes to rest before serving so they stay juicy. 🦃🔥
FAQs
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Yield: 4
Turkey Tips
4.5 Stars (2 Reviews)
Turkey Tips are tender, bite-sized pieces of turkey breast marinated in a homemade honey BBQ sauce and grilled until juicy and caramelized.
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Additional Time
4 hours
Total Time
4 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the Honey BBQ Sauce/Marinade
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup water
For the Turkey
- 2 pounds fresh turkey breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine ketchup, honey, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Add 1/4 cup water. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to simmer. Cook for 8-10 minutes, then remove from heat and cool completely.
- Add the turkey chunks to a large resealable bag or a shallow container. Pour 3/4 of the cooled BBQ sauce over the turkey, reserving the remaining 1/4 for grilling and finishing. Seal the bag or cover the dish and ensure the turkey is fully coated. Marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight for the best flavor.
- Preheat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the pan to prevent the turkey from sticking.
- Remove the turkey from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. Discard the used marinade.
- Place the turkey pieces on the hot grill pan, leaving space between each piece. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side until you see grill marks and the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- During the last minute of grilling, brush some of the reserved BBQ sauce over the turkey to create a sticky glaze.
- Transfer the turkey to a large bowl and toss with the remaining reserved BBQ sauce for extra flavor.
- Serve hot with additional sauce on the side for dipping. Pair with rice-roasted vegetables, coleslaw, cornbread, or a biscuit. Enjoy!
- Preheat a charcoal or propane grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F). For charcoal, wait until the coals are ashy and evenly hot. For propane, ensure the grates are clean and oiled.
- Place the marinated turkey pieces directly on the preheated, oiled grates. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side, flipping once, until the turkey has nice grill marks and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. You can baste with the reserved sauce at the last minute for added flavor.
- Avoid overcooking by checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
Notes
Cut the turkey into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly. Marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight for more flavor. If you want extra BBQ sauce for brushing or serving, set it aside before adding the raw turkey. Avoid very high heat since the honey and sugars in the marinade can burn quickly. Cook the turkey until the thickest pieces reach an internal temperature of 165°F, then let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 596Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 181mgSodium: 839mgCarbohydrates: 69gFiber: 1gSugar: 64gProtein: 69g
