Recipe: Fried Turkey Nuggets

Recipe: Fried Turkey Nuggets

FULL Recipe written below the image

Few things beat a day in the spring woods chasing gobblers—and even fewer things beat bringing that bird back to the table. Wild Turkey Nuggets are one of the best ways to turn a hard-earned harvest into a meal everyone will love. Tender pieces of turkey breast, cut into bite-sized chunks, seasoned and fried to a perfect golden crunch, make for a simple, hearty dish that celebrates the hunt. Whether you're feeding your hunting camp, the family, or a crowd of buddies these wild turkey nuggets are a great way to share the reward of the hunt!

Fried Wild Turkey Nuggets

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Marinate Time: 8 hours (or overnight)
Cook Time: 6–8 minutes per batch
Cooking Method: Deep fryer or iron skillet
Best Oil: Peanut oil

About This Recipe

This is one of our favorite ways to cook wild turkey breast. The key is cleaning the meat well, soaking it in buttermilk to tenderize it, and frying it hot and fast until golden brown. Done right, you’ll end up with crispy, juicy turkey nuggets that are hard to beat.

 

 

Ingredients

 

Turkey

  • 1 wild turkey breast (cleaned and trimmed)

  •  

Marinade

  • Full-fat buttermilk (best option)
    or half-and-half / milk if preferred

  • Garlic salt / Everglades seasoning

 

Egg Wash

  • 3 eggs

  • ½ cup milk or cream

  •  

Breading

  • Flour

  • Corn starch

  • A small amount of cornmeal (for texture)

     

Frying

  • Peanut oil

 

 

Instructions

 

1. Prepare the Turkey

 

Breast out your bird and thoroughly clean the meat. Remove any pellets, feathers, sinew, or tendons.

 

Remove the tenderloins and cut out the ligament from each one.

 

Slice the breast lengthwise into three even sections, then cut each section against the grain into ¾-inch cuts, leaving you with roughly 1 × 2 inch nuggets.

 

 

2. Marinate

 

In a bowl mix together:

  • Buttermilk

  • Garlic salt

  • Everglades seasoning

     

 

Add the turkey pieces and place in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.

 

 

3. Heat the Oil

 

You can use either:

 

Deep Fryer

  • Fill with peanut oil

  • Heat to 350°F

  •  

Iron Skillet

  • Add at least 1 inch of peanut oil

  • Heat oil to 350°F

 

4. Prepare the Breading Station

 

Egg Wash Bowl

  • 3 eggs

  • ½ cup milk or cream

 

Flour Bowl

  • Flour

  • Corn starch

  • Small amount of cornmeal for texture

5. Prep the Turkey

Remove turkey from the refrigerator.

Strain the nuggets in a colander or strainer and place them on paper towels to remove as much excess buttermilk mixture as possible.

6. Bread the Nuggets

Set up your station in this order:

Hot oil → Flour → Egg wash → Turkey

 

  1. Take a handful of turkey nuggets.

    2.Coat them completely in the egg wash.

    3.Transfer them into the flour mixture and coat thoroughly.

 

Once coated, place them carefully into the fryer basket or hot oil.

Try to keep the oil around 350°F, as the turkey will cool the oil slightly when added.

 

7. Fry

Watch the nuggets closely as they cook.

Deep Fryer

  • Fry until they begin turning golden

  • Remove for 30 seconds, toss lightly

  • Return to oil until golden brown

 

Iron Skillet

  • Fry until golden / golden light brown

  • Flip nuggets individually for even browning

8. Drain

Remove nuggets and place them on a paper-towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.

Serve

Serve hot and enjoy crispy fried wild turkey nuggets — one of our favorite ways to cook fresh wild turkey.

 

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