Deep-Fried Turkey doesn’t have to be intimidating. This is the easiest, quickest, most delicious deep fried recipe ever with no brine needed!
If you have been on the fence about frying a Turkey, but want a change from a traditional Roast Turkey, this is the recipe for you and I have tips and tricks to keep you safe while making fried turkey your family will rave about. Check out Cajun Roasted Turkey for another way to spice up your Thanksgiving!
Why You’ll Love This Turkey?
- Delicious turkey for the holidays made in less than 2 hours!
- Your friends and family will rave about this juicy turkey with crispy skin!
Sabrina’s Deep Fried Turkey Recipe
Guys seem to enjoy hanging out while frying a turkey in the backyard or on the driveway. I guess there’s something challenging about slowly lowering a 14-16 pound turkey on a hook into hot peanut oil bubbling on a propane burner to fry a turkey. Even though working with hot oil may seem daunting, the 30-40 short minutes it will take for your turkey to cook and the rave reviews you will receive from family and friends is well worth the effort.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 14 pound turkey , thawed, room temperature, with giblets removed
- 4 gallons peanut oil
Instructions
- Place 30 quart turkey frying pot over a propane burner outside.
- Place turkey onto the hook.
- Measure the amount of oil needed: Lower the turkey into the pot and add water until the turkey is just covered (this should be at least 4 inches below the top of the pot).
- Measure the water to know the amount of oil needed.
- Dry your metal pot well and allow the turkey to dry.
- Add the measured amount of oil to your pot.
- Heat oil to 250 degrees F before lowering the turkey back into the pot.
- Bring the oil temperature to 350 degrees F.
- Fry for 30 to 40 minutes (Internal temperature needs to reach 155 degrees before removing).
- Let the turkey rest, covered, for 30 minutes before carving. (Turkey will reach 165 degrees during rest.)
Nutrition
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Note from Sabrina
Deep Fried Turkeys get a bad rap and can be very intimidating (and potentially dangerous) if you don’t know what you are doing. If you follow my tips and tricks below you will be able to safely fry your turkey and enjoy every delicious bite without a call to the Fire Department.
Table of contents
About this Recipe
Did you know that you can deep fry two turkeys in the time it would take to bake one turkey? Deep Fried turkey dark meat is flavorful and white meat is remarkably juicy. The skin may not have the same crispy taste from baked turkey recipes but you won’t be disappointed. While it’s not necessary with a deep fried turkey, you could always try using my Turkey Brine before deep frying for a different flavor profile too! Plus, deep frying your turkey frees up your oven to create other Thanksgiving favorites!
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Fryer base with a hose and regulator to hook up to a propane tank.
- Heavy 30 quart pot for fryer.
- Deep-fry thermometer (instant read meat thermometer, long-pronged).
- Turkey fryer gloves for protection.
- Paper towels to wipe down your heavy pot and pat turkey dry.
- Either a basket or turkey stand and hook to get it out of the fryer.
- Fire extinguisher nearby just to be safe.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this ahead of time. However, the skin will lose some of it’s crispiness. If you choose to deep fry it a day or two before serving, you will want to carve before storing rather than storing the entire bird. You can reheat your turkey in the oven. Place turkey pieces in a baking dish and cover with tin foil. Cook in the oven for an hour at 350 degrees. You may want to add some broth in with your turkey pieces to keep it moist.
Cooking Tips & Tricks
- Never deep fry a frozen turkey (seems obvious, right?) in hot oil. This is the most important tip. Do not skip fully thawing your turkey.
- Place the propane burner on a flat surface as far away from the burner as the connections will allow for frying turkey.
- Remove the pop-up timers and other plastic paraphernalia before frying your turkey. Bonus is this saves on the hassle of dealing with them!
- Select a safe distance from the house, garage, or anything that could easily catch fire to place your deep fry equipment for frying turkey.
- Measure the amount of oil needed: Lower the turkey into the pot and add water until the turkey is just covered (this should be at least 4 inches below the top of the pot). Measure the water to know the amount of oil needed.
- Dry your metal pot well and allow the turkey to dry.
- Heat oil to 250 degrees F before lowering the turkey back into the pot.
- Bring the oil temperature to 350 degrees F.
- Fry for 30 to 40 minutes (internal temperature needs to reach 155 degrees before removing).
- Let the turkey rest, covered, for 30 minutes before carving (turkey will reach 165 degrees during rest).
How to Dispose of Leftover Oil
- Let hot oil cool for about two hours.
- Liquid soap works best for cleaning utensils and pot. Let them soak a little bit before washing.
- Pour the cooled oil into a large tin can or coffee can.
- Place a lid or foil on the can. Dispose of it in the trash or recycle it.
Pairing Suggestions
The turkey is a popular way to cook your turkey for a Thanksgiving feast! Make your favorite classic side like Green Bean Casserole, Candied Yams, Easy Mashed Potatoes and of course Sausage and Herb Stuffing. Slather your meal with Turkey Gravy and Cranberry Sauce. Don’t forget about Dinner Rolls to dip into your graving or make a turkey sandwich. Finish the meal with everyone’s favorite Pumpkin Pie! Check out Holiday Recipe Favorites for the perfect holiday dinner!
How to Store
- Serve: Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes when done, covered to keep warm. Do not leave out for more than 2 hours before storing.
- Store: Deep-fried turkey is so delicious, you may not have leftovers but if you do, turkey can be stored in air tight containers for up to 3 or 4 days.
- Freeze: Remove the bones and freeze turkey up to 3 months.
Ideas to Serve
Turkey Leftovers
- Craving comfort food, try my Leftover Turkey Casserole. With just a few ingredients that you already have on hand from Thanksgiving, this casserole comes together easily.
- It’s cold outside so you’ll love my Turkey Chili. Swap out the ground turkey for some fresh Deep Fried Turkey, adding the cooked turkey in step 2.
- If you are looking for a lighter way to use up your leftovers, Cranberry Harvest Turkey Salad is a fresh, healthy lunch the day after a big holiday meal.
- Turkey Pot Pie is another comfort food meal for your left over turkey. It’s creamy, hearty, and baked to golden perfection with a flakey pie crust.
Frequent Questions
Dry rub seasoning with spices like black pepper, garlic and brown sugar or marinades are commonly recommended; however, you won’t be disappointed when you use my tasty Turkey Brine recipe instead prior to frying your turkey.
Although peanut oil is pricier, it has the highest flash point of any oil, stays clearer than any other oil in your fryer, and is healthier for you.
Use a food thermometer to check that your Deep Fried Turkey has reached 165 degrees F. Check out the USDA Food Safety Site to determine recommended thawing times for turkey.
Related Recipes
More Delicious Thanksgiving Turkeys
Photos used in previous version of this post
Love the golden color!! This turkey is still so juicy & tender! Love the option to deep fry it!
Thanks, Natalie!
Yummy!! Deep-fried turkey is the best! So moist! Thanks for sharing!
It’s so good, right?!
SOOOOO good! This is delicious!
Thanks for coming back to let me know how much you enjoyed it!