This recipe has been forged in fire and hot oil from years of experience. Please dont take advice on frying a turkey from some weekend warrior whos only done it once. Let me take you through the process so your fried turkey comes out perfect year after year.
You won’t have to call the fire department because you tried to fry a frozen turkey; we’ll tell you how to make a juicy fried turkey and give you safety tips.
You could bake or smoke the turkey, and I do have great recipes for those too, but if you really want to elevate your holiday meal, fried turkey is the only way to go!!
Fried turkey is a delicious, mess-free alternative to oven roasting a whole bird. When properly cooked, fried turkey breast results in crispy, juicy meat with incredible flavor.
Peanut oil is the top choice for frying turkey breasts. It has a high smoke point, clean taste, and allows the coating to crisp up perfectly.
Follow this simple step-by-step guide to learn how to deep fry a turkey breast in peanut oil for finger-licking good results.
Benefits of Frying Turkey Breast
Frying is one of the quickest and tastiest ways to prepare turkey breast. Here are some of the benefits:
- Juicy, tender meat – The hot oil quickly sears the surface, sealing in moisture
- Ultra crispy skin – The hot oil fries the skin to perfectly crispy perfection
- Infused with flavor – The oil permeates the meat, infusing it with delicious flavor
- Cooks quickly – Small turkey breasts take only 20-30 minutes to fry
- Easy to control size – Fry just what you need rather than a huge whole turkey
- Minimal mess – Contained in a pot, no oven splatters or greasy roasting pan to clean
When done safely, deep fried turkey breast ticks all the boxes for convenience and amazing taste.
Tips for Selecting Turkey Breasts to Fry
The best turkey breasts for frying are:
- Boneless, skin-on – The skin gets deliciously crispy
- Evenly sized – For even cooking
- Skin intact – Prevents meat from drying out
- Smaller pieces – Fry more quickly and evenly than large
- Fresh or thoroughly thawed – For safety and even frying
Avoid large frozen breasts that may not thaw or cook through properly. Stick to smaller fresh or thawed turkey breasts.
What You Need to Deep Fry Turkey Breast
Frying turkey breast requires some special equipment
- A deep pot, dutch oven, or electric fryer
- A frying basket that fits inside pot
- A propane burner or other heat source
- Peanut oil – Enough to fill pot about halfway
- A deep fry thermometer
- Long cooking tongs and thick oven mitts
Having the right equipment helps ensure proper oil temperature control and safety,
Ingredients for the Coating
A simple flour and buttermilk coating mixture allows the turkey breast to fry up deliciously crispy
- All-purpose flour – Seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika
- Buttermilk – Helps the coating adhere
- Peanut oil – For frying (other vegetable oils can work too)
This basic combination of seasoned flour and buttermilk is all you need for extra crispy fried turkey breast.
Step-by-Step Fried Turkey Breast Recipe
Follow these steps for perfectly cooked fried turkey breast:
1. Heat Oil to 350°F
Fill a large heavy pot about halfway with peanut oil. Heat to 350°F monitoring with a deep fry thermometer.
2. Cut Turkey Breasts in Half
For even frying, cut boneless, skin-on turkey breasts in half crosswise. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
3. Prepare the Coating
Mix flour and seasoning in a shallow dish. Pour buttermilk in a separate bowl.
4. Coat the Turkey Pieces
Dip each turkey piece in buttermilk, allow excess to drip off, then coat completely in the seasoned flour.
5. Fry in Batches
Fry turkey pieces in batches. Gently lower into hot oil using tongs. Fry for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
6. Drain on a Wire Rack
When finished frying, remove turkey from oil and drain on a wire rack. Enjoy hot and crispy!
Be sure to monitor oil temperature carefully between batches. Frying more than one piece at once can lower the heat drastically.
Serving Suggestions for Fried Turkey Breast
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving fried turkey breast:
- On sandwiches with crunchy slaw
- Chopped over salads or wraps
- Dipped in gravy, ranch or honey mustard
- In waffles or biscuits for breakfast
- Cut up over nachos or taco salad
- Sliced into strips for appetizers
However you serve it up, crispy fried turkey breast is sure to be a hit!
Safety Tips for Turkey Fryers
Turkey fryers allow hot oil to heat to very high temperatures, so special safety precautions are a must:
- Use propane burners outdoors only
- Place fryers away from buildings on flat ground
- Don’t overfill with oil or allow it to spill over
- Carefully monitor oil temperature
- Turn off heat before lowering turkey in
- Use long cooking tongs and mitts
- Keep children and pets away
By following basic safety guidelines, you can deep fry turkey breast worry-free for incredibly juicy, crispy results.
Common Turkey Frying Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about deep frying turkey breast:
How much peanut oil do you need?
Figure about 3-4 quarts of peanut oil per turkey breast.
What temperature should you fry turkey at?
Heat oil to 350°F and maintain it between 325°-375°F.
How long does it take to fry turkey breast?
Around 20-25 minutes for smaller 2 pound pieces. Larger take a bit longer.
Is peanut oil best for frying turkey?
Yes, it has a high smoke point and neutral flavor perfect for frying.
Can you bake fried turkey instead?
Baking won’t be as crispy but can work. Brush with oil and bake 40 mins at 400°F.
In just 20 minutes, you can enjoy the crispiest, juiciest fried turkey breast by following this simple peanut oil frying method. Stay safe and dig in!
How to Deep Fry a Turkey
- STEP 1: Lower the turkey into the hot oil. When the oil gets to 325 degrees F, turn off the heat so you can safely lower the whole turkey into the peanut oil. Slowly lower the turkey into the oil with the turkey-lowering attachment. When you put the turkey in the oil, the bottom will start to sizzle and pop. Keep cutting the turkey down by about an inch at a time. Don’t rush through this step; it should only take 30 seconds.
- STEP 2: Raise the heat and cook. The heat can be turned back up to medium-high once the turkey is fully submerged. This should be done until the oil temperature reaches 275 to 300 degrees F. Let the turkey cook for about 30 minutes before checking the temperature inside. If you notice that the oil temperature has dropped, don’t worry. It can drop as much as 70 degrees. Slowly heat the oil back up to the right temperature for cooking.
- STEP 3: Check the internal temperature. Check the temperature in the leg and the thickest part of the breast. When the breast reaches 160 degrees F, the turkey is done. The leg will be much hotter, between 175 and 190 degrees F. This is a good thing, though, since dark meat has more fat.
- STEP 4: Remove the turkey from the oil. When the turkey is done, carefully take it out of the oil and let the extra oil drip back into the pot. Then, put the turkey on a piece of cardboard to drain. Let the turkey rest for about 15 minutes. The turkey will keep cooking until it reaches 165 degrees F or a little higher.
- STEP 5: Remove the twine. Take off the butcher’s twine and carefully slide the turkey off the metal base.
IMPORTANT Deep Fried Turkey Recipe Tips
Before you fry, make sure to read this 2-3 times. I promise these tips to make a huge difference when frying a turkey.
- Do not heat the oil over 325 degrees F.
- Fully thaw and dry off the turkey before frying.
- SLOWLY lower the turkey into the oil.
- For every pound of turkey, fry it for three to five minutes. After about thirty minutes, check the temperature inside the turkey.
- Turn off the flame while you check the turkey’s internal temperature and take it out.
The Best Way To Deep Fry A Turkey In Peanut Oil For Any Holiday.
FAQ
How long does it take to fry a turkey in peanut oil?
How long should I deep fry a turkey breast?
Do you fry a turkey at 325 or 350?
Do you season turkey before deep frying?