Best Deep Fried Turkey Breast Recipes

FRIED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• One hour before frying, place the turkey breast on a baking sheet, sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper, and let sit at room temperature.
• To figure out how much oil you will need for frying, put the breast in a large pot and cover with water by 3 inches; the pot should be large enough that the water comes no more than halfway up the sides. Remove the breast and check the water level -- that is how much oil you will need.
• Dry the pot and add the oil. Heat to 350 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer.
• Pat the breast dry with paper towels. Using heat-resistant gloves (to protect yourself from burns), SLOWLY and CAREFULLY lower it into the hot oil.
• Fry until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and season with a bit more salt. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

DEEP-FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• To determine how much oil you will need for frying, set your turkey (still in the plastic) in your frying pot, legs up. Measure and add enough water just to cover the turkey. (There should be at least 6 inches between the water line and the top of the pot to fry safely.) Remove the turkey and water and dry the pot very well.
• Combine the butter, broth, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, lemon zest and 1 tablespoon salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over very low heat and cook until the garlic softens, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and let cool completely. Strain; reserve the liquid and discard the solids.
• One hour before you are ready to cook, take the turkey out of the refrigerator and remove the neck and giblets. Pat the turkey very dry, inside and out. If there is a pop-up timer, remove and discard. Use an injector syringe to inject the butter mixture into the turkey, 4 or 5 places in each breast and 2 or 3 in each leg and thigh. (Inject as deep into the flesh as you can.) Pat dry if any of the mixture leaks out. Season the turkey inside and out with 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper and rub it in well.
• Add the oil to the frying pot and heat to 350˚ F (if using a propane fryer, heat over medium). It should take 45 minutes to 1 hour to heat the oil. Once the oil reaches 350˚ F, using protective gloves, slowly lower the turkey into the fryer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• The oil temperature will drop 30˚ F to 40˚ F almost immediately. Adjust the heat so the temperature stays between 300˚ F and 325˚ F the whole time you are frying. Fry 3 minutes per pound. When the turkey is done, turn off the fryer. Using the gloves and the lifting rack, carefully remove the turkey from the oil to a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; it should register 155˚ F. Let the turkey rest 20 to 30 minutes before removing from the rack and carving (the internal temperature will increase about 10˚ F). Make sure the frying oil cools completely before discarding, at least 4 hours.

TURKEY FRIED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Fill a large, deep pot halfway full with vegetable oil. Heat the oil over medium high heat to 350 degrees F.
• Season turkey breast with salt and pepper and Cajun seasoning. Dredge the turkey in flour, then in milk, and back in the flour. Carefully lower the breast into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and cooked to 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.

FRIED TURKEY BREASTS WITH CRANBERRY MAYO

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, add 1/2 cup salt, brown sugar, water, thyme, sage, bay leaves, peppercorns and lemon peel. Bring to a simmer just to dissolve the sugar and salt. Turn off the heat. Stir in the cold buttermilk and lemon juice. Add the turkey breasts. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before you're ready to cook and allow to come to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Pour enough neutral oil into a large Dutch oven to fill 1/3 of the way up the sides of the pot. Heat over medium heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, paprika, 1 tablespoon salt and poultry seasoning in a large bowl. Stir in 1/4 cup of the buttermilk brine a little at a time to make small clumps.
• When the oil is at 350 degrees F, remove the turkey breasts from the brine and dredge well in the flour mixture. Carefully add to the oil. (The oil temperature will drop initially, you want it to settle at about 330 degrees, so adjust the heat accordingly.) Cook, turning occasionally, until the coating is crisp and deeply browned and the internal temperature of the turkey is about 160 degrees F, 15 to 18 minutes depending on the size. (If you have larger size turkey breasts and they are brown before they are cooked through, you can finish for a few minutes in the oven at 350 degrees F .)
• Remove the fried turkey to a cooling rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Let the turkey cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• While still hot, sprinkle with the sumac, flaky salt and lemon zest.
• Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.
• To serve, slice the turkey into thick slices against the grain. Serve with the cranberry mayo on the side.
• In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, cranberry sauce, lemon juice and a healthy grinding of black pepper.

DEEP-FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• Place the hot water, kosher salt and brown sugar into a 5-gallon upright drink cooler and stir until the salt and sugar dissolve completely. Add the ice and stir until the mixture is cool. Gently lower the turkey into the container. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure that it is fully immersed in the brine. Cover and set in a cool dry place for 8 to 16 hours.
• Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking.
• Place the oil into a 28 to 30-quart pot and set over high heat on an outside propane burner with a sturdy structure. Bring the temperature of the oil to 250 degrees F. Once the temperature has reached 250, slowly lower the bird into the oil and bring the temperature to 350 degrees F. Once it has reached 350, lower the heat in order to maintain 350 degrees F. After 35 minutes, check the temperature of the turkey using a probe thermometer. Once the breast reaches 151 degrees F, gently remove from the oil and allow to rest for a minimum of 30 minutes prior to carving. The bird will reach an internal temperature of 161 degrees F due to carry over cooking. Carve as desired.

SIMPLE DEEP FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stockpot or turkey fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Make sure the fryer is located outdoors in a safe area, preferably on dirt or pavement, and far away from buildings, wooden decks, or other objects. Keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.
• Ensure that the turkey is completely thawed. Cut any extra skin away from the neck area and make sure neck hole is at least an inch in diameter. Pat the bird completely dry with paper towels, then rub liberally with salt and pepper on both the outside and the inside. Place the turkey into a drain basket, neck-side first.
• Working slowly and carefully, gently lower the basket into the hot oil to completely cover the turkey. Maintain the temperature of the oil at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and cook turkey for 3 1/2 minutes per pound, about 35 minutes.
• Carefully remove basket from oil, and insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; the internal temperature must be 180 degrees F (80 degrees C). Once the turkey is done, remove from the oil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.