How Long to Boil a Turkey: A Cajun-Inspired Thanksgiving Feast

Spice up your Thanksgiving feast with a Cajun twist by boiling your turkey! This unique and flavorful method is not only incredibly easy but also yields incredibly moist and tender meat in a fraction of the time compared to traditional roasting or smoking

How Long to Boil a Turkey?

The boiling time for your turkey will depend on its size. As a general rule of thumb, plan for approximately 20 minutes of boiling time per pound of turkey. This means a 12-pound turkey will take around 4 hours to boil, while a 15-pound turkey will take closer to 5 hours.

Here’s a handy table to help you estimate the boiling time for your turkey:

Remember, these are just estimates. The actual boiling time may vary depending on factors such as the size and shape of your turkey, the intensity of your heat source, and the altitude at which you’re cooking.

Cajun Boiled Turkey Recipe: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to embark on a culinary adventure with this Cajun-inspired boiled turkey recipe? Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

• 1 turkey (13-18 pounds)
• 2 (3-ounce) packages of dry crab/seafood boil
• 1 small bottle of liquid crab/seafood boil
• 24 “short” ears of corn
• 3 full heads of garlic (tops cut off)
• 6 pounds of new red potatoes
• 3 pounds of onions (peeled)
• Propane seafood boiling pot and burner (30-quart capacity recommended)

Instructions:

1. Thaw the turkey completely. There’s no need to inject it with anything beforehand; the flavors will infuse the meat during the boiling process.
2. Fill your boiling pot with enough water to cover the entire turkey. Look for markings on your pot that indicate the proper water level. You can always add more water if needed during the cooking process.
3. Bring the water to a full boil. Add the dry and liquid crab/seafood boil, garlic heads, and onions. Stir the ingredients thoroughly.
4. Carefully lower the turkey into the pot. Ensure it’s completely submerged in the water. This process resembles deep-frying a turkey in oil.
5. Allow the turkey to cook. Cooking times range from 45-55 minutes for a 12-13 pound bird to 1 hour-1 hour and 15 minutes for a 15-18 pound turkey.
6. For this recipe, we boiled the turkey for 1 hour and 10 minutes, resulting in perfect doneness. The internal temperature when we pulled it out was 188 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Let the turkey soak in the flavorful broth for at least 20 minutes. This allows the meat to absorb even more flavor.
8. Adding the veggies: If you’d like to include corn and potatoes with your turkey, add them about 20-25 minutes before the end of the cooking time. This ensures the potatoes don’t become too soft and fall apart.
9. Once the cooking and soaking are complete, carefully remove the vegetables from the pot and set them aside.
10. Slowly and carefully remove the turkey from the pot and allow it to cool. This cooking method doesn’t produce the most aesthetically pleasing final product, but the taste more than makes up for it!
11. Remove the skin and debone the turkey. Slice the breast and some parts of the thighs. Pull the rest of the meat.
12. Arrange the sliced pieces in the center of a large platter and the pulled pieces around the edges. Drizzle some of the flavorful broth over the meat just before serving.
13. The potatoes and corn can be placed on the platter with the meat for added color or served in separate bowls.

Tips and Tricks:

• Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spices and seasonings to create your own unique Cajun flavor profile.
• If you don’t have a propane seafood boiling pot, you can use a large stockpot on your stovetop. Just make sure it’s big enough to accommodate the turkey and all the other ingredients.
• Be careful when handling the boiling water and the hot turkey. Use tongs and oven mitts to protect yourself from burns.
• Leftover boiled turkey can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for longer storage.

This Cajun-inspired boiled turkey recipe is a fantastic way to add a unique and flavorful twist to your Thanksgiving feast. It’s a relatively easy and quick method that yields incredibly moist and tender meat. So, ditch the traditional roasting or smoking and give this Cajun-style boiled turkey a try! You won’t be disappointed.