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Cooking a turkey in an air fryer might sound a bit ambitious, but if youre looking for a quicker and low-hassle way to serve the festive bird this holiday season, its worth giving it a try.
Unlike traditional roasting methods, air frying a turkey typically requires less hands-on time and attention, which can reduce the stress of holiday cooking. The best air fryers will also circulate hot air around the bird more evenly and precisely than large ovens, making sure its soft in the center with a cripsy, flavorsome skin.
Below, I explain what you need to consider before, during and after cooking turkey in an air fryer with some tips and tricks that Ive learned along the way.
Air frying has become an increasingly popular way to cook turkeys providing a fast and convenient alternative to traditional oven roasting. But can you take it one step further and successfully air fry a stuffed turkey? The answer is yes – with the right techniques, air frying a stuffed turkey can yield incredibly moist flavorful meat encased in ultra-crispy skin.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to air fry a stuffed turkey to perfection.
Air frying uses super hot, rapidly circulating air to cook food resulting in crispier exteriors compared to oven baking. An air fryer essentially works like a mini convection oven.
While air frying an unstuffed turkey is pretty straightforward, inserting stuffing into the cavity adds some extra considerations. The stuffing introduces additional moisture and bulk that affects cook times and temperatures. But with the right adjustments, you can absolutely achieve stellar results air frying a stuffed turkey.
The benefits of air frying stuffed turkey include:
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Shortened cook time – Stuffed turkeys can be done in about half the time of oven roasting
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Uber crispy skin – The high heat and airflow makes the skin incredibly crunchy.
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Moist, flavorful meat – Air frying locks in turkey juices for tender meat.
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Frees up oven space – You can use the oven for all your holiday side dishes.
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Safer than deep frying – No dangerous hot oil is involved.
Key Tips for Success
Follow these tips to ensure your air fried stuffed turkey is perfectly cooked from edge to edge:
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Use a small turkey – Look for a turkey labeled fryer or roaster, about 10-12 lbs, to allow for even cooking. Overstuffing can prevent proper heating.
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Cook breast side down first – Flipping partway through helps the dark and white meat cook evenly since the stuffing protects the breast.
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Inject stuffing with moisture – The stuffing can dry out, so add chicken broth or apple juice to it before inserting into the cavity.
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Take temperature readings – Use a meat thermometer to check the temp in both the thigh and stuffing, aiming for 165°F minimum.
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Let turkey rest before carving – As with oven roasting, allowing the turkey to rest ensures the juices stay locked in.
Step-By-Step Method
Follow these steps for air fryer stuffed turkey success:
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Remove giblets and rinse turkey inside and out. Pat it completely dry.
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Make your favorite stuffing. Avoid extremely dry bread stuffings. Moisten with broth or juices if needed.
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Loosely fill the cavity without over packing. Overstuffing prevents heat from effectively penetrating.
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Tie legs together with kitchen string. This keeps the stuffing enclosed.
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Coat turkey all over with oil or butter. This promotes maximum crisping.
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Season the turkey generously inside and out with salt, pepper and herbs. Common seasonings include sage, rosemary, thyme.
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Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Place turkey breast side down on the fryer basket.
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Air fry for about 1 hour 20 minutes. Time varies based on size. Check for 165°F in thigh.
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Carefully flip turkey breast side up. Air fry 30 minutes more until skin is browned and crisp.
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Verify 165°F temp in both thigh and stuffing. Cook longer if needed.
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Let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving. This allows juices to redistribute.
Helpful Air Fryer Accessories
Specialized accessories can make air frying stuffed turkey even easier:
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Roasting rack – Elevates the turkey for better airflow all around.
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Turkey lifter – Helps easily maneuver and flip the turkey using sturdy hooks.
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Drip pan – Catches juices to make cleanup easier and prevent smoking.
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Meat thermometer – Essential for monitoring temps especially in the stuffing.
Common Questions
Can you air fry just stuffing by itself?
It’s not recommended. Stuffing requires the moist interior of the turkey to prevent drying out.
What if my turkey is too big for my air fryer?
Stick to a smaller 10-12 lb turkey. Or try cooking just a boneless turkey breast instead.
Should I baste my air fried turkey?
Basting isn’t necessary as air frying seals in moisture. But you can baste for added flavor if desired.
Can I stuff with citrus, apples, herbs?
Yes! Feel free to get creative with stuffings. Just ensure they are thoroughly cooked through.
Can I air fry a frozen turkey?
It’s best to thaw the turkey completely before air frying for food safety and even cooking.
The Takeaway
While air frying a stuffed turkey requires a few special considerations, the result is well worth the extra effort. In just half the time of oven roasting, you can enjoy tender, juicy turkey and flavorful stuffing with crackling crispy skin. Air frying makes stuffed turkey an easily achievable alternative for your next holiday meal.
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Step 1: Begin by thoroughly thawing the turkey and removing any giblets.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to approximately 350°F. The cooking time is generally around 10 minutes per pound, but this can vary based on the air fryer and turkey size.
Step 3: Pat the turkey dry to remove excess moisture. This will prevent too much steam from being released into the air fryer, which can stop the skin from crisping up.
Step 4: Season the turkey both inside and out with your choice of herbs and spices.
Step 5: Place the bird in the air fryer basket and cook until the skin is golden and the juices run clear.
Tip: I recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure the insides are cooked properly and have reached at least 165°F. Ideally, the thigh should be 180°F and the breast should measure 170°F.
How to cook a turkey in an air fryer
The first, and most important consideration when looking to cook a turkey in an air fryer is the size of the bird. Standard air fryers are typically suitable for smaller turkeys or turkey breasts but may not lend themselves well to the kinds of large birds needed to feed your whole family.
You need to make sure the turkey can fit in the air fryer basket with enough space around it for the hot air to circulate evenly. If the bird is too cramped, or touching the sides, you wont get an even roast and you could even increase your risk of food poisoning from the meat not being cooked properly.
As a guide, and in my experience, a bird that weighs around 9-10 pounds or less can fit in most family-size air fryers. Air fryer instruction manuals will often list the recommended sizes and capacities for different foods if youre unsure. Alternatively, you can either take a tape measure, or the air fryer basket itself with you while shopping.
You may get some funny looks, but its the safest and most effective way to guarantee you get the optimal size.