Canadian Thanksgiving is just around the corner so there’s no better time to look at wild turkey recipes! Catching your very own turkey makes creating a meal for friends and family all the more special. These mouthwatering recipes are sure to be hit during Thanksgiving and beyond! Let’s cut to the chase and take a look at the 5 best wild turkey recipes.

1. Roasted Wild Turkey

First up on the docket is your typical turkey dinner with a twist! This roasted wild turkey dinner is simple but the array of flavours are something else.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 pound fatback, salted pork, or bacon, 1/2 pound minced, 1/4 pound sliced
  • 1 wild turkey, 11–13 pounds
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 yellow onion, minced
  • 3 ribs celery, minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups of toasted diced bread
  • 1 cup of chicken stock
  • 6 sprigs sage, minced
  • 2 sprigs rosemary, minced
  • 8 sprigs Italian parsley, minced

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Render half of the minced fatback slowly in a heavy-bottom sauté pan. Reserve and keep warm.

Step 2: Dry the turkey very well with paper towels. Using a brush, coat the exterior with some of the warm minced fatback and season well with salt and pepper inside and out.

Step 3: Heat up the remaining minced fatback on medium. Add the onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the celery and cook for 5 minutes more. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the toasted bread. Moisten with stock and add the minced herbs. Taste the bread cubes and add more broth and herbs as needed—they should be moist and tasty. Gently fill the cavity of the turkey with this mixture, and cover the breast with the remaining slices of fatback.
Step 4: Place the turkey, breast side up, in a heavy roasting pan and put it in the oven. Roast for 1 hour. Remove the fatback, raise the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C), and continue roasting for 1 hour to brown the breast. Remove the turkey as soon as it registers 160°F (71°C) on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, away from the bone.
Step 5: Let the turkey rest for at least 20–30 minutes before carving it across the grain with a sharp knife.

Courtesy of: The Wild Chef 

2. Wild Turkey Nuggets

This is definitely one of the best wild turkey recipes you’ll find for kids but adults will be reaching for them as well! This recipe isn’t precise with its measurements, which makes it easier to involve the kids in the cooking.

Ingredients:

  • Wild turkey
  • Flour Batter (optional 2 cups milk, 2 eggs, 2 cups flour)
  • Buttermilk
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Add your favourite dry seasoning (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut up the turkey into small nuggets and soak overnight in buttermilk in the refrigerator.

Step 2: In another bowl add the flour, and your favorite seasoning, if you’d like. I’d suggest garlic salt, onion powder and cajun seasoning.

Step 3: Take the nuggets out of the buttermilk and cover them with the flour mixture. (optional* dipping in milk/egg batter before then cover with flour).

Step 4: Grab your favorite fryer and deep fry on 350 until golden brown. Let the excess oil and juices drain.

Step 5: After frying, mix with buffalo sauce (or something similar), or add more seasoning of your choice.

Courtesy of: Bone Collector 

3. Turkey Pie

It wouldn’t be in true Thanksgiving style if we forgot about the pie! This turkey pie is a showstopper and tastes just about as good as it looks.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of turkey, cooked and chopped
  • 6 diced potatoes
  • 6 diced carrots
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 1 1/2 cups of flour
  • 2 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1/2 cup of milk
  • 1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 1/4 cup of chopped green pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 2 tablespoons of butter

Instructions:

Step 1: In a saucepan, cover the potatoes and carrots with water, and cook until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 2: Drain, reserving 1 cup of the liquid. In a skillet sauté the onion and green pepper in 2 tablespoons of butter until tender.

Step 3: Blend the soup and reserve liquid in a bowl. Then place the soup mixture, turkey and cooked vegetables in a 2-quart casserole, and bake at 425°F for 15 minutes.

Step 3: For the biscuits – Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl, cut in the butter until crumbly, add the milk, and mix well.

Step 4: Knead lightly on a floured surface. Roll and cut with a 2″ biscuit cutter and arrange over turkey mixture. Brush biscuits with additional milk, and bake for 15 minutes longer.

Courtesy of: Wild Turkey Zone

4. Wild Turkey Soup

Soups are great for cool fall weather and can really add a lot of depth to your Thanksgiving dinner! This recipe is also a hit if you’re looking to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Ingredients:

  • Wild turkey breast or leg quarters
  • 3 celery ribs, sliced
  • 3 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
  • ¾ tsp. garlic powder
  • ¾ tsp. onion powder
  • ¼ cup fresh onion, grated
  • 1 tbsp. dried parsley
  • 1 tbsp. Better than Boullion chicken or turkey base
  • 5-6 cups of stuffing
  • 4 egg whites

Instructions:

Step 1: Combine chicken, celery, carrots, garlic powder, onion powder, grated onion, parsley, Better Than Bouillon base, salt and pepper in a dutch oven; fill almost to the top with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until turkey is done and can easily be removed from the bone.

Step 2: Remove turkey breast or leg quarters only and let stand until cool enough to handle. Pick the meat off the bone and place back into the stockpot.

Step 3: Mix the stuffing with 4 egg whites and roll into small balls. Fry them in a skillet with 2 tablespoons of butter – until browned on all sides.

Step 4: Enjoy with crusty bread and butter!

Courtesy of: Miss Homemade 

5. Turkey Parmigiano

This is certainly not your typical Thanksgiving dinner but there’s no denying that it’s an excellent recipe for wild turkey!

Ingredients:

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 pound boneless turkey breast fillets
  • 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned dry bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup Italian-flavored tomato sauce
  • 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Step 2: In a shallow bowl, beat egg whites with water. In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dip turkey pieces into the egg mixture, then dredge in bread crumb mixture. Arrange the meat on a greased 10-inch x 15-inch baking pan.

Step 3: Bake 4 to 5 minutes. Pour tomato sauce evenly over the turkey and top with Mozzarella cheese. Bake 4 to 5 minutes more, or until turkey is cooked through, the sauce is heated and cheese is melted.

Courtesy of: Bass Pro Shops

Let’s Get Cooking!

With some of the best wild turkey recipes under your belt, it’s time to hit the kitchen! Hunt for your very own wild turkey with LandPass. We’re a free app that connects landowners and hunters and anglers with premiere land to use.

Contact us today to learn more!