Cajun Fried Turkey

FriedHardPrep 40 minCook 50 minServes 12

The fastest whole turkey there is: shatteringly crisp skin and juicy meat in under an hour — done outdoors, with strict safety rules.

Ingredients

1 whole turkey (12–14 lb), fully thawed and very dry
3 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
3 gallons peanut oil (measure first, see note)

Steps

SAFETY FIRST: fry outdoors only, away from the house and trees, on flat ground, with a fire extinguisher nearby. The turkey must be fully thawed and patted bone-dry.
Measure the oil: put the turkey in the empty pot, fill with water until covered, remove the bird and mark the water line. Dry the pot completely and fill oil only to that line.
Heat the oil to 350°F. Rub the turkey with the seasonings.
Lower the turkey into the oil very slowly using the hook and stand. Fry 3–4 minutes per pound (about 45–55 minutes).
Lift, drain and check: thigh 175°F, breast 165°F. Rest 20 minutes.

Serve with: dirty rice, collard greens and hot sauce on the side.

Never fry a frozen or partially frozen turkey, never fry indoors or in a garage, and never leave the pot unattended. If the oil smokes, turn the burner off.

Find this recipe in the Holidays section on the RecipeDelish home page, where you can scale it, print a clean PDF, download the shopping list and use cook mode.

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