Deep-Fried Turkey

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Show: Food Network SpecialsEpisode: Paula's Southern Thanksgiving

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (14)

Cook Time:
40 min
Level:
Difficult
Yield:
12 to 16 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: 30 min
Cook: 40 min
Total:: 1 hr 20 min

Recipe Tools:

Select a Card Size

Add To My Recipe Box

Success

This recipe was added to your Folder_Name folder.

Do not show this message again

Add To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to add this recipe to your Recipe Box.

Ingredients

5 gallons peanut oil*
10 to 15-pound unstuffed turkey
1 stick butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons House Seasoning, recipe follows

Directions

*Cooks Note: To measure the amount of oil needed to fry the turkey, place turkey in fryer, add water to top of turkey, remove the turkey and the water line will indicate how much oil will be needed to fry your turkey. Having too much oil can cause a fire. The pot should not be more than 3/4 full or the oil could overflow when the turkey is added.

Pour peanut oil into a 10-gallon pot. Put pot on propane cooker and heat oil to 400 degrees F.

Have turkey completely thawed and dry turkey thoroughly. Tie 2 cotton strings around carcass so bird can be easily lifted out of oil. Carefully submerge turkey in oil.

Deep-fry for 3 to 4 minutes per pound and cook until turkey floats to the top. Remove bird from oil and place on a platter or cutting board.

In a small pan, melt the butter. Add the garlic powder, cayenne and House Seasoning. Brush turkey with butter mixture. Pour any remaining butter mixture inside the turkey. Allow to cool 20 to 30 minutes before carving.

Please be extremely careful when deep-frying the turkey. Do it outdoors on a level and non-flammable surface.

House Seasoning:

1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Next Recipe

More recipes? Try these recommendations:

Similar Recipe

Deep Fried Cajun Turkey

Photo: Deep-Fried Turkey

Similar Recipes

Recipes in This Menu

Paula Deen's Thanksgiving Menu

Paula Deen's Thanksgiving Menu (12)

Recipes Like This

All About…

Recipe Collections

Showing 1-7 of 7

View all 7 Turkey Collections

Comments & Reviews

recipe Deep-Fried Turkey
Casie DeRidder, LA 11-22-2009
Flag

1st Time Fryer
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Last Thanksgiving was our first time to Fry a Turkey. Glad we came across Paula's recipe, the turkey was EXCELLENT. We got... asked to do Thanksgiving Dinner at our house this year. We will definately be frying a Turkey. Nice & crispy on outside & juicy on the inside. Not hard to cook at all and frees up the oven. Read more
recipe Deep-Fried Turkey
JamieLee Clermont, FL 11-19-2009
Flag

Paula knows turkey!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Frying the turkey also frees up oven space for all your other Thanksgiving dishes. And you KNOW it will be moist and it... takes less than half the time to cook! :~D We like to fry one turkey, smoke another turkey, and also bake a ham for thanksgiving...it's only once a year, so do-it-up right!Read more
recipe Deep-Fried Turkey
Marea Massena, NY 11-12-2009
Flag

Great Holiday Treat
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have been frying turkeys for the holidays years. Even my ever so health conscious/carb watching adult kids beg for fired... turkey every Thankksgiving & Christmas. Read more
recipe Deep-Fried Turkey
Courtney Pearland, TX 11-11-2009
Flag

Here's a little tip.....
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My dad has been frying turkeys for us for years and there is one thing he does that I would reccomend. There are "injectors"... that you can buy to inject the turkey. He mixes the liquid "I can't believe it's not butter" with his own cajun spice blend and injects the turkey ALL over the place before frying. When it's done, not only is it moist, but you also get the cajun spice throughout! It is wonderful!!!! Happy Turkey Day Everyone!Read more
recipe Deep-Fried Turkey
Cheryl Canton, GA 10-27-2009
Flag

Freeze that oil!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

We've been deep-frying Thanksgiving turkeys for 25 years now and always strain the peanut oil through cheese cloth when it... has cooled, put it back in the original plastic containers and then freeze it. So little is used in the actual frying of the turkey that we have only had to add a cup or so the next time. This saves a lot of money, as peanut oil in quantity is expensive! As for the turkey, it is just fantastic and deep-frying frees up the oven for the other dishes. Frankly, the men get such a kick out of doing the deep-frying that it's worth watching their faces while they're outside "cooking." Whatever rocks their boat!Read more
recipe Deep-Fried Turkey
DAWN THOUSAND OAKS, CA 11-26-2007
Flag

I will never roast again
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The turkey looked beautiful and tasted incredible. We will never cook a turkey any other way.