Cooking a delicious Popeyes Cajun-style turkey for the holidays can seem daunting if you’ve never done it before. The cajun seasoning gives the turkey incredible flavor but you need to cook it properly to get the perfect texture. Follow this simple guide to learn exactly how long to cook your Popeyes turkey.
Getting Started
First, ensure you have a high quality frozen Popeyes turkey Inspect the packaging to confirm it’s undamaged and double check the expiration date For Thanksgiving, choose a 10-12 lb turkey which will feed 8-10 people.
Once you have your turkey, there are a couple methods to safely thaw it
-
Refrigerator Thawing: Place the wrapped turkey on a tray in the fridge. Allow 24 hours thawing time per 4-5 lbs.
-
Cold Water Thawing: Submerge wrapped turkey in cold water under 70°F. Change water every 30 minutes, allowing 30 minutes thawing time per pound.
Never thaw at room temperature!
Seasoning and Prepping
When turkey is fully thawed, get it ready for the oven:
-
Remove packaging and discard giblets/neck from cavity. Rinse and pat dry.
-
Place on a roasting rack in a shallow pan. Pour any juices from packaging into bottom of pan.
-
No need to season, it’s already infused with Popeyes cajun spice mix!
-
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Baking Time
The key to perfectly cooked Popeyes turkey is managing your oven time and temperature.
-
Tightly cover turkey and pan with foil. This helps keep moisture in.
-
Roast at 325°F for approximately 8-10 minutes per pound. A 12 lb turkey will take 1 hr 40 mins to 2 hrs.
-
After this initial roasting, remove foil and increase heat to 375°F. Roast uncovered for 30-60 more minutes until skin is nicely browned.
-
Turkey is done when thigh meat reaches 175°F and breast 165°F. Juices should run clear when piercing thigh.
-
Let rest 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to absorb back into meat.
Making Delicious Cajun Gravy
Your Popeyes turkey comes with 1+ cups of flavorful drippings perfect for making gravy. Here’s how:
-
In a saucepan, whisk 3 tbsp flour into 3 tbsp drippings over medium-high heat.
-
Slowly whisk in 1 cup turkey juices from roasting pan and 1/2 cup chicken broth.
-
Simmer gravy 5 mins until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
-
For extra flavor, stir in a dash of cayenne pepper.
Cooking Tips
Follow these tips for moist, flavorful Popeyes turkey:
-
Inject With Broth: Inject turkey with chicken broth before roasting for incredible moisture.
-
Tent With Foil: Tent turkey with foil if skin browns too quickly while roasting.
-
Use A Meat Thermometer: Cook to proper internal temp, not by time alone.
-
Let It Rest: Never skip the resting time, it locks in juices.
-
Make Ahead Gravy: Prepare gravy up to 2 days in advance and reheat to serve.
Fixing Common Issues
Undercooked turkey? Pop back in oven until fully cooked. Overcooked dry turkey? Shred and use for sandwiches, casseroles or soup.
How Long to Cook a Popeyes Turkey
To summarize, here is exactly how long you should cook your Popeyes Cajun-style turkey:
-
8-10 minutes per lb at 325°F covered in foil
-
30-60 more minutes uncovered at 375°F to crisp skin
-
Cook until 175°F thigh/165°F breast internal temperature
-
Rest 20 minutes before carving
So for a 12 lb turkey:
-
Foil covered at 325°F: 1 hr 40 mins to 2 hrs
-
Uncovered at 375°F: 30-60 mins
-
Total Time: 2 to 2 1/2 hours
Now that you know exactly how long to cook your cajun spiced Popeyes turkey, you can relax and enjoy cooking this holiday centerpiece. With incredible juicy meat and crispy seasoned skin, your turkey is sure to be a big hit on the dinner table!
Popeyes: 14
turkey: 35
cook/cooking: 21
cajun: 7
gravy: 4
season/seasoned/seasoning: 5
thaw/thawing: 3
foil: 6
oven: 5
pan: 4
juicy: 3
flavors/flavorful: 2
aromatic: 0
cavity: 1
roast/roasting: 4
prep: 1
drippings: 3
crispy/crispier: 3
skin: 5
tasty: 0
moist: 2
internal temperature: 4
meal/feast: 0
How to Cook POPEYES Cajun TURKEY! A Step-by-Step Guide to REHEAT, Serve and Enjoy!
FAQ
Is Popeyes Cajun turkey fully cooked?
How long to cook a Popeyes turkey in the oven?
Do you have to thaw Popeyes turkey?
How long to deep fry Popeyes turkey?
How long do you cook a Popeyes Turkey?
Bake for another 30 to 45 minutes, and before taking the Popeyes turkey out, make sure the turkey’s internal temperature is 175 °F or 70 °C. Leave it on the counter for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, and you are all set for your holiday feast. How to Make Popeyes Turkey Gravy?
Is the turkey at Popeyes already cooked?
The answer to the question of whether the turkey at Popeyes is already cooked is yes. This means that the turkey is fully cooked and does not need to be cooked any further. This can be a good thing for some people, as it means they do not have to cook the turkey themselves.
How do you make Popeyes Turkey Gravy?
To make Popeyes turkey gravy, you need four ingredients: water, flour, black pepper, and turkey juice. In a saucepan, add one cup of water, 1/8 of a tablespoon of black pepper, and two tablespoons of flour. Bring the stove top temperature to medium and start cooking the ingredients. Stir gently at all times.
How do you cook a Popeyes Turkey with white wine?
Baste it with white wine and turkey juice. While your Popeyes turkey cooks, in the last half an hour, baste the bird with the turkey juice that drips into the baking pan and add some white wine inside the turkey baster. The white wine will make your Popeyes turkey more aromatic, augmenting the flavors already existing.
How is Popeyes Chicken cooked?
Popeyes chicken is kept over an ice bath until it is used during the day. The bone in chicken is then coated evenly in batter and tossed in flour 20+ times before being cooked in the fryer for 15 minutes at around 360 degrees. Popeyes chicken is not cooked over an ice bath for the question asked.
Can Popeyes cook a frozen turkey?
According to the article, Popeyes can help you cook a frozen turkey, but it needs to be thawed in the fridge for at least two days before cooking.