Bone-In Turkey Breast on a Weber Kettle Grill

When Thanksgiving starts creeping up on the calendar, most folks start thinking about cooking a giant turkey. This requires hours spent basting, checking, and hoping the whole thing doesn’t dry out. But if you’re like me, the idea of firing up the grill for the holiday turkey just feels right.

That’s why this year, I went with a bone-in turkey breast on the Weber Kettle. It’s simple, it’s juicy, and it’s perfect for smaller gatherings. It’s also nice because I didn’t need to wrestle with a full-size turkey. Plus, when I smoked it on the Weber Kettle, it brought back memories of Dad cooking on the kettle when I was a kid.

Why Choose a Bone-In Turkey Breast?

A lot of people overlook the turkey breast when it comes to Thanksgiving. But it’s one of the easiest proteins to cook for the holiday:

• The bone helps retain moisture
• It cooks faster than a whole bird
• It fits perfectly on a 22-inch Weber Kettle
• It’s ideal for families who mostly prefer white meat
• It frees up the kitchen for stuffing, rolls, and pies
• Save the carcass and use it for gravy or broth

And let’s be honest, a lot of it is about presentation and impressing the in-laws by slicing into a smoky, juicy turkey breast.

Why Choose the Weber Kettle for This Cook

There’s something timeless about the Weber Kettle. Most of us watched a parent or grandparent flip burgers on one while wearing high socks back in the day. It’s a grill that’s as iconic as watching football on Thanksgiving Day.

For turkey, the kettle does several things extremely well:

• It delivers steady indirect heat
• Allows for clean, consistent airflow
• Makes it easy to add wood chunks for that holiday smoke flavor
• Doesn’t require fancy equipment or accessories

This cook is perfect for backyard beginners and seasoned pitmasters alike.

Prep: Keeping It Simple

I am a minimalist and kept the bone-in turkey breast recipe straightforward on this one. No need to complicate things for the Thanksgiving meal.

Here’s the basic game plan:

1. I purchased a 7 lb bone-in turkey breast from my local grocery store
2. Rinse and pat the turkey breast dry
3. Season generously with your favorite BBQ rub. I used Butcher BBQ Grilling Addiction for this one.
4. Optional but recommended: a quick injection using Butcher BBQ Original Bird Booster for added moisture using our BBQ Injector.
5. Let it rest while you fire up the grill

Nothing fancy. Just honest, simple BBQ.

Setting Up the Weber Kettle

This part is covered visually in my YouTube video, but here’s the overview:

• Use indirect heat
• Set up a charcoal bank or a modified snake method. I used my Original Slow ‘N Sear paired with a Drip 'N Griddle Pan.
• Add 2 chunks of apple wood
• Stabilize the kettle around 275–300°F
• The turkey sits opposite the coals so it cooks evenly

Smoking the Turkey Breast

• Once the kettle is running steady:
• Place the breast skin-side up over the indirect zone
• Close the lid and let the Weber do the work
• Check temps occasionally with a probe thermometer

Your target internal temperature is 160°F in the thickest part of the turkey breast. It will carry over to 165°F while resting.

This results in meat that’s incredibly juicy, tender, and full of flavor for the Thanksgiving meal.

The Rest & The Slice

Let your bone-in turkey breast rest for at least 15 minutes. This step lets all those juices settle back into the meat.

Then comes the best part, slicing into that perfectly cooked breast. If you used Butcher BBQ Original Bird Booster, the breast will be full of juices and flavor! Your guests will thank you! It’s everything you want for a holiday meal. I provide step-by-step instructions on how to inject your turkey breast in the video below.

Why This Is Perfect for Thanksgiving

Cooking a bone-in turkey breast on the Weber isn’t just convenient - it’s smart:

• It frees up oven space
• It cooks predictably
• It scales easily for small gatherings
• It delivers that nostalgic, smoky flavor that reminds us of family cookouts

Plus, leftovers make unbeatable sandwiches the next day.

In Conclusion

So there you have it, you now know how to smoke a bone-in turkey breast on a Weber Kettle. If you want to see the setup, the grill temps, the color, and the final slice, be sure to watch my YouTube video.

Let us know how your Thanksgiving meal turned out if you decide to smoke a bone-in turkey breast this year!