This Griddle Fried Turkey Pieces recipe comes straight from my husband’s side of the family, and it’s one they’ve been making for more than 50 years. It’s a tried-and-true method that has been passed down through generations, especially during the holidays.
While we absolutely love making Smoked Turkey and Oven Roasted Turkey for Thanksgiving, we like to switch things up from time to time and make these griddle fried turkey pieces for a completely different tasting bird.
One of the things I love most about this recipe is how simple and practical it is. We often buy turkeys when they’re on sale, keep them in the freezer, and pull one out to make this dish for a hearty weekend meal during other times of the year.
The combination of griddle browning and finishing the turkey in the oven creates tender, juicy pieces with incredible flavor—making this recipe just as perfect for Thanksgiving as it is for everyday family dinners.
This recipe uses a combination cooking method—browning turkey pieces on the Blackstone Griddle, then finishing them in the oven—to create golden, crispy outsides and tender, juicy turkey on the inside.
This method is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday meal, especially when you want incredible flavor without babysitting a whole turkey all day.
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Why You’ll Love This Griddle Fried Turkey Recipe
- Uses a Blackstone Griddle for maximum flavor and easy prep work
- Combination cooking = crispy + juicy turkey
- Perfect for holiday meals or feeding a crowd
- Easier to serve than a whole turkey
- Works great with turkey breast pieces
If you’ve ever wondered how to fry a turkey without deep frying, this griddle-and-oven method is a fantastic alternative.
Griddle Fried Turkey Ingredients
- Whole turkey, cut into pieces
- Flour
- Salt
- Pepper
- Avocado oil (or your favorite cooking oil)
- Butter or margarine
- Chicken or turkey broth
How to Make Griddle Fried Turkey Pieces
Prep the Turkey: Cut the whole turkey into pieces. If you’re working with a large turkey, cut the breast meat into smaller, evenly sized pieces so everything cooks evenly. Season each piece generously with salt and pepper.
TIP: Remove the breast meat from the bones and then cut the meat into smaller pieces. Boil the bones in water to create a turkey broth for gravy or other recipes that you might make.
Flour the Turkey: Add flour to a large storage bag or Ziplock bag. Working in batches, add the turkey pieces and toss until each piece is evenly coated with flour.
How to Fry a Turkey on a Blackstone Griddle
Prepare the Griddle: Preheat your Blackstone Griddle to medium heat. Lightly oil the griddle with avocado oil or your preferred cooking oil.
Griddle Cook: Place the floured turkey pieces onto the hot, oiled griddle. As they cook, add additional oil and small dollops of butter or margarine around the turkey pieces as needed.
Brown on All Sides: Allow the turkey to cook undisturbed until the bottoms are golden brown, then flip. Brown the turkey pieces on all sides.
👉 Important: You do NOT need to cook the turkey all the way through on the griddle. The oven will finish the cooking process.
Finish in the Oven for Perfect Turkey Pieces
Why the Oven Matters: After browning the turkey on the griddle, the oven takes over to gently finish the cooking process. This step locks in moisture and ensures the turkey pieces stay tender and juicy without drying out.
Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven according to the oven bag instructions. Place an oven bag into a baking pan and arrange the browned turkey pieces inside in a single layer. Pour a small amount of chicken or turkey broth alongside the turkey to create steam while baking.
Seal and Vent: Close the oven bag with the provided tie, then use a sharp knife to poke a few small holes in the top of the bag. This allows steam to escape safely while the turkey cooks.
Bake Until Done: Bake according to the oven bag directions, making sure all turkey pieces reach an internal temperature of 165°F before removing them from the oven.
Serve and Enjoy: Remove the turkey from the oven and serve hot with your favorite holiday or comfort-food sides.
What to Serve with Griddle Fried Turkey
This dish pairs perfectly with classic holiday sides, including:
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
- Cranberry Stuffing
- Green bean casserole
- Cranberry sauce
- Griddle Butternut Squash
- Dinner rolls
It’s an ideal main dish for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas gatherings, or even Sunday family meals.
How to Store Leftover Turkey Pieces
Store leftover fried turkey pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
To reheat, warm gently in the oven covered with foil, or reheat on the griddle with a little broth or butter to keep the turkey moist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Griddle fried turkey is turkey that’s lightly floured and browned on a flat-top griddle, like a Blackstone Griddle, instead of being deep fried. This method creates a crispy, golden exterior while keeping the turkey tender and flavorful.
Instead of submerging the turkey in oil, the pieces are coated in flour and cooked on a hot, oiled griddle until browned. The turkey is then finished in the oven using an oven bag with broth, which helps lock in moisture and fully cook the meat.
Yes! Turkey breast pieces work great for griddle frying. If the breast is large, it’s best to cut it into smaller pieces so they cook evenly and stay juicy.
Finishing the turkey in the oven allows the griddle-fried pieces to cook gently and evenly. This combination cooking method ensures the turkey reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F while staying tender and juicy.
Griddle Fried Turkey
This griddle fried turkey recipe delivers tender, juicy turkey pieces with a simple griddle-to-oven method—perfect for Thanksgiving or anytime.
Ingredients
- Whole Turkey, cut into pieces 1 each
- Flour 2 cups
- Salt 1 tablespoon
- Pepper 1 teaspoon
- Avocado oil (or preferred cooking oil) 1/2 cup
- Butter or margarine ½ cup
- Chicken or turkey broth 2 cups
Instructions
- Cut the turkey into pieces. Cut large breast pieces into smaller portions if needed.
- Season turkey pieces with salt and pepper.
- Add flour to a storage bag. Toss turkey pieces in batches until evenly coated.
- Preheat Blackstone Griddle to medium heat and oil lightly.
- Place turkey pieces on the griddle. Add oil and butter as needed.
- Brown turkey on all sides until golden (do not cook through).
- Place an oven bag in a baking pan and add browned turkey in a single layer.
- Pour broth alongside turkey pieces.
- Seal bag, poke small holes in the top and bake according to oven bag directions.
- Ensure turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve hot with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Remove the breast meat from the bones and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Place the bones in a pot of water and simmer to make a flavorful turkey broth that’s perfect for gravy or other recipes.
- You do not need to fully cook the turkey on the griddle—the oven will finish the cooking process and ensure the pieces are tender and cooked through.
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