Simple deep fried turkey can be intimidating sometimes. How to handle such a large bird? Which recipes work best? Learn it all here in this article!
Why You’ll Love This Simple Deep Fried Turkey
So simple yet so yummy deep-fried turkey. Credit: @Alison Marras / Unsplash
Simple deep fried turkey is hands down one of the most awesome options for holidays and big celebrations. Forget about roasted turkey; try the deep-frying method because there’s a high chance it’s going to blow your mind. You may completely change the way you cook turkeys from now on.
Homemade deep fried turkey is so crispy on the skin, yet the moisture is well kept on the inside. The meat is juicier and more flavorful as well. If you master the skill, your big bird won’t even be greasy or soggy for a long time after you cook it.
Another plus for this fried turkey recipe is that it’s quicker to make than the roasted one.
Simple Deep Fried Turkey: Preparation
It’s a bit trickier when it comes to deep frying turkey compared to chicken, mostly because of the size. A turkey can be from 2-4 times bigger than a regular chicken. You gotta be extra careful in every step to make sure your homemade deep fried turkey turns out great.
Now, when you choose the turkey for this homemade deep fried recipe, you want to pick up the smaller one. Do not get anything bigger than 12 lbs because you are going to spend way longer cooking.
A big and heavy bird is also harder for you to work with. I am sure you are strong men and women, but trust me, handling a giant piece of poultry is not a joke.
Besides, it’s harder to ensure that the inside is fully cooked through while the outside maintains a nice golden brown color without being burned.
I do not want to scare you guys off with how difficult it is to deep fry a turkey. Therefore, the list of herbs and seasonings will be so simple.
Depending on what flavor or style of fried turkey you would like, you can buy the spices accordingly. Do not overcomplicate this step. Leave the heavy part for later. We can have fun with the marination, right?
A small tip on the oil you should use for deep frying turkey: use a neutral oil like vegetable oil or canola oil. It has a higher smoke point, so it helps shorten the total cooking time.
The Right Equipment for Simple Deep Fried Turkey Recipe
Let’s talk about equipment. You are going to need a little preparation for this deep fried turkey recipe.
Make sure you have at least 1 large pot or fryer with the capacity of no less than 32 quarts if you want to deep fry a whole turkey. Even when you make turkey wings or legs, this is still a necessary kitchen tool.
The pot or the fryer should have a lid on it to avoid splashing everywhere and to keep the temperature consistent.
Another thing you must have on hand is a meat thermometer to measure the inside temperature. You know your turkey is cooked when it reaches about 170°F in the breast or 180°F in the thigh.
The third tool is a frying basket to hold the meat while frying hot oil and to strain excess oil after you’re done.
Total Time to Make Fried Turkey
For the preparation, I suggest you marinade the turkey and leave it overnight for the best flavor. If you are in a rush, you should at least leave it for 4-6 hours.
While cooking at the right oil temperature of about 350°F, the estimated time to make a simple deep fried turkey dish can be from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. It’s approximately 4-5 minutes per pound. You do the math.
Alright, it seems like we’ve covered every important part. Without further adue, let’s jump right into the cooking process, shall we?
Simple Whole Fried Turkey Recipe
Are you ready to make homemade deep fried turkey now? With all the information I’ve given you, I believe you are confident to conquer this dish.
Time to prep | 4-8 hours | Servings | 6-8 |
Time to cook | 40 minutes – 1 hour | Skill Level | Easy |
This first simple deep fried turkey recipe is for a whole turkey, so it’s for about at least 6-8 servings.
The ingredients can’t be any simpler. You only need 3 things for your turkey. How easy is it?
Simple Deep Fried Turkey Recipe with 3 Ingredients:
- 12-14 lb Turkey
- Steak Shake (or another All Purpose seasoning)
- Cajun rub
- Vegetable oil
How to Cook Deep Fried Turkey:
- Defrost the turkey, let it be at room temperature. Clean and pat it completely dry.
- Spray the turkey with a neutral-flavored cooking oil as a binder.
- Season liberally with Steak Shake and Cajun rub. Let it marinate for 6 hours or overnight.
- Set the oil level correctly by putting the turkey in an empty fryer pot. Fill with water until it’s 2-3 inches below the top of the turkey. Remove the turkey. Mark the water level. Empty the pot and fill it with oil to the line. Heat up to 350°F.
- Slowly drop the turkey into hot boiling oil and deep fry for about 4 minutes per pound. Begin checking internal temperature after 30 minutes.
- Take the turkey out of the pot when it’s at 165°F in the white meat.
- Let it rest and cool down for 5-10 minutes, and enjoy!
How to Serve Fried Turkey
This deep fried turkey pairs perfectly with some side dishes, such as:
- Salad: A fresh green salad with a variety of veggies, such as mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a tangy dressing, can provide a light and refreshing counterpart to the fried turkey. Try out the Summer Fruit Salad Recipe in 3 ways.
- Corn on the Cob: Grilled or boiled corn on the cob adds a touch of summer to the meal and offers a sweet and juicy side dish option.
- Green Bean Casserole: The combination of tender green beans, creamy mushroom sauce, and crispy fried onions adds a delicious contrast to the turkey.
- Cornbread: Moist and crumbly cornbread is a Southern favorite that goes well with deep-fried turkey. It adds a nice texture and complements the flavors of the meal.
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Tips and Praise
Gerard Reed, “Great tutorial. A safe and delicious way to prepare a deep fried turkey. That’s exactly how I do mine. Good stuff.”
Lonnie Stetzler, “I’ve done many many many turkeys main thing keep the temperature right! most important part use one injection hole per breast. you should just move the injector in all angles through the same hole. so there’s not as many penetrations for The juices to leave”
R. TIZZLE, “When you water marking the line , do not open the turkey to measure your line , leave it in the wrapper submerged it in water so you know exactly where the line is and you can do a pre game for this.”
AALegalFocus, “Yum! I’ve been using & enjoying Tony’s cajun seasoning after you recommended it.”
Damalgam, “If you put them in the fridge for 15-20 ms after you batter them, they come out so crispy”
The perfect dish for the holiday season! Photo by form PxHere
Well, if you find deep frying a whole turkey is too troublesome or time-consuming, how about making homemade deep fried turkey wings instead? You get the best juicy part and do not need to worry about the rest of the boring white meat. Sounds cool, right? Let’s get started.
Easy Deep Fried Turkey Wing Recipe
Time to prep | 15 minutes | Servings | 2-4 |
Time to cook | 30 minutes | Skill Level | Easy |
Ingredients for Deep Fried Turkey Wing Southern Style:
- 4 lb turkey wings, bones in
- 1 tsp chicken bullion
- 1 tsp complete seasoning
- 1/3 black pepper
- 1 tsp creole seasoning
- 1 onion, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Cajun seasoning
How to Make Fried Turkey Wing Southern Style:
- Cut each turkey wing into 3 parts. Put the wings in a big pot. Make sure the turkey is at room temperature.
- Add chicken bouillon, complete seasoning, creole seasoning salt, pepper, onion, garlic, and herbs in the pot. Toss them up with the wings and let them sit for a while.
- Fill the pot with 1.5 cups of water and steam the turkey for 20 minutes. Flip the wings to avoid burning.
- Remove the wings and place them in a bowl and let them cool down and get dry.
- Boil a pot of oil at medium heat. Add the turkey wings into the pot and deep fry for 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Remove the wings. Sprinkles Cajun Seasoning on top. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Best Homemade Deep Fried Turkey Legs
Simple deep fried turkey legs must be the winner. They are incredibly juicy and tender. They are my favorite parts of turkey or chicken. I prefer dark meat. I don’t care if it’s less healthy than white meat. Let’s indulge ourselves once in a while, my friends.
The final product is gonna be so crispy and perfect. You would think that it’s from KFC… if only it changed the name to QFC. LOL!
Time to prep | 4-8 hours | Servings | 2-4 |
Time to cook | 20-22 minutes | Skill Level | Easy |
Deep Fried Turkey Legs Ingredients
*Marinate: (5 Hours)
- 2 Legs Turkey
- 1/2 Cup Louisiana Hot Sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp Seasoning Salt
- 1 Tbsp Hot Chili Powder
*Coating flour:
- 1 cup flour
*Wet Batter:
- 1 Cup Flour
- 1 Tbsp Seasoning Salt
- 1 Can Club Soda
- 3 Eggs
*Seasoning Flour:
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1/2 Tbsp Salt
- 1/2 Tbsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 Tbsp Hot Chili Powder
- 1/2 Tbsp Onion Salt
- 1/2 Tbsp Parika
- 1/4 Tsp White Pepper
- 1/4 Tsp Dry Basil
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 Tsp Oregano
- 1/4 Tsp Dry Thyme
How to Make Deep Fried Turkey Legs
- Marinate 2 big turkey legs with half a cup of Louisiana Hot Sauce, seasoning salt, and hot chili powder. Let this marinate for about 5 hours.
- Make the wet batter by adding plain white flour, seasoning salt, club soda, and 3 eggs in another big bowl. Beat well until nice and smooth
- Make seasoning flour by mixing plain white flour, salt, black pepper, hot chili powder, onion salt, paprika, dried basil, garlic powder, oregano, and dried thyme in a different bowl. Stir well until combined.
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat.
- Put the legs in the coating flour, then shake off any excess. Next, put the legs in the wet batter, and shake off the excess. Then put them in the seasoning flour and pack the flour on the outside.
- Add the legs to boiling oil and turn down the heat to medium-low. Deep fry for 20-22 minutes until golden brown. Flip occasionally.
- Remove the legs from the pot and let it rest for 10 minutes. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!
Editor’s Notes
Please serve the amazing homemade deep fried turkey with some other side dishes such as salad, mashed potatoes, or some dinner rolls. The leftover turkey can be made into sandwiches or soup for the next meals. Sometimes people love these dishes even more than the actual turkey dish. Anyway, do not let anything go to waste.