Holiday Air Fried Whole Turkey with Gravy
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Can you cook a whole turkey in the air fryer? We’re obsessed with this topic and researched it in so much details. Below is our discuss, tips and resource for cooking an air fried whole turkey.
Air Fryer Whole Turkey Recipe
We did our research and here are the delicious results. We tested this method on 14-16 pound turkeys several times and each time came out super juicy and perfect. This large capacity air fryer plugs into an outlet. This method is perfect for when you don’t have a big kitchen or lacking oven space that took up all the side dishes.
Can I Make Air Fryer Turkey for Thanksgiving?
Yes, it’s possible to air fry a whole turkey that’s up to 16 pounds in this air fryer. It’s crazy to think it’s possible, but it’s true. The turkey comes out juicy and delicious for your next big dinner or Thanksgiving dinner.
How to Cook Air Fried Whole Turkey in Air Fryer
We created a way to make gravy in the same bowl, you saw it here first! No one had created this gravy technique yet and we’re the first to share it online! Our step-by-step photos help you through the process and watch the video for the live tutorial. For full recipe details, print out the recipe in the recipe box when you scroll down this write up.
What is Oil Less Turkey Fryer with Halogen Infrared Convection Cooking?
How big of an air fryer do you need for air frying a whole 16 pound turkey? You need this air fryer. This isn’t the only way to cook a whole turkey and there’s many types of oil less turkey fryers on the market. The air fryers for cooking this turkey is with a convection technology that uses circulating hot air from a halogen infrared light. This method is like cooking the turkey in a small convection oven. The circulating hot air cooks the turkey evenly, with very little oil, and faster for a crispy skin turkey! These plug-in appliances cooks the turkey without any oil and the results are a juicy and healthy turkey!
What Does Air Frying a Turkey Taste Like?
It tastes like it was deep fried or oven roasted where the turkey is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. What an easy way to cook your Thanksgiving turkey! These oil less air fryers are great when you don’t have enough oven space for your turkey. You can cook so many different foods in these large air fryers too.
Watch the Video Making a Whole Turkey & Gravy in the Air Fryer
What are the Best Turkey Air Fryers?
– For outside use only. This type of oil less air fryer is fueled by a propane tank. It cooks a great turkey as well as ribs, whole chicken, etc. If you are able to cook outside, this is the best way to cook a turkey.
Our recipe for air frying a whole turkey in Char-Broil Big Easy is here.
-13-18 qt. Halogen/Infrared Air Fryer. Cooks a 16 lb. turkey beautifully. Plus you can cook the gravy using the turkey drippings in the same vessel after your turkey is done and resting.
Our recipe (gravy included) for air frying a whole turkey in a halogen/infrared air fryer is here.
PROS of Big Boss Air Fryer & Other Similar Styles:
- Energy Efficient and uses less power than traditional full sized oven.
- Frees up oven space if you need to cook lots of other oven foods or if you don’t have a lot of oven space.
- Cooks quicker than traditional oven and the skin is super crispy. Our tests on 14 pound fully thawed turkey took about 2.3 hours-3 hours
- No hassle with almost no oil and the most you would need is a light spray of oil to help crisp the food better. So it’s a healthier way of cooking crispy foods.
- Easy Clean up. The glass bowl is super easy to clean.
- You can immediately make the gravy in the same bowl while the turkey rests. No extra pots or pans.
- Feeds more people. The large size allows you to cook larger portions of food for more people. It’s great to cook meals for 4 people or more.
- Two racks for cooking. The big boss and an extra tray which allows you to cook two trays of food at the same time.
CONS of Big Boss Air Fryer & Other Similar Styles:
- Once assembled, it’s big and bulky. But it does pack into the box easily and the box itself it’s not large for storing away.
- If you have a small kitchen or little countertop space, it will take up a lot of space. This is great for a whole turkey, but for everyday cooking, we recommend smaller air fryers.
- The circulating hot air is kinda loud during cooking.
What Herbs Can I Use for Air Fryer Thanksgiving Turkey?
- You can use fresh rosemary, fresh sage or other dried herbs like dried thyme for additional flavor. But don’t put the herbs skin-on right away. The herbs can burn and become bitter.
- Allow the turkey too cook first, then for about the last 1/2 hour you can add the rub on the turkey.
- Brush some extra un-salted butter on the herbs after you rubbed them in the turkey. This also will help minimize the herbs from burning. Or you can make an herb-butter and brush it on the turkey 1/2 hour before finishing.
Hope you enjoy our air fryer whole turkey with gravy!
Air Fryer Whole Turkey with Gravy
Ingredients
- 14 lb. (6.35 kg) raw Whole Turkey
- 6 Tablespoons (90 g) butter , cut into slices
- 4 cloves garlic , sliced thin
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) kosher salt , or to taste
- black pepper , to taste
- Olive Oil (or oil of choice), to coat turkey
- 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) chicken broth
- 3/4 cup (95 g) all purpose flour (for the gravy)
Instructions
- Thaw your turkey completely on the inside cavity. Remove and giblets and neck bones from the turkey cavity (many times the giblet pack will be tucked under the skin by the neck). Pat the turkey dry.
- Tuck the butter slices and garlic in-between the skin and the turkey breasts. Rub olive oil over the turkey and season with salt and pepper.
- Place the lower rack in the air fryer and spray with oil. Place the turkey breast side down in the air fryer. Pour in 1/2 cup of broth over the turkey. Place the extender ring and lid on the air fryer.
- Air Fry the turkey at 350°F for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- Every 30 minutes, baste with chicken broth (the first 2 bastes will be with the remaining broth. After that, baste from the broth & juices at the bottom of the air fryer).
- After cooking for 2 hours, take off the air fryer lid and extender ring. Lift the turkey out, flip to breast side up, and then place back into the air fryer. Baste the turkey and then place the extender ring and lid back on
- Continue to Air Fry at 350°F until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F at the thickest parts of the thigh, wings and breast, and the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh (about 30 minutes – 1 hour).
- Let rest for about 15-20 minutes.
- While the turkey rests, make the gravy. Remove the lower rack from the air fryer. Leaving the turkey juices and broth in the air fryer, skim the chunks from the drippings and broth.
- Place flour in a medium bowl. Ladle in about 1 cup of the drippings and broth into the flour and whisk until smooth. Pour the flour mixture into the air fryer with the remaining drippings and broth. Whisk until smooth.
- Place the air fryer lid back on and Air Fry at 400°F for 10 minutes or until thickened, whisking a couple times while cooking.
If your air fryer is preheated or if you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce timing by a few minutes (unless preheating is called for in the recipe).
Video
Nutrition Information per Serving
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes:
- Have Leftover Turkey? An Air Fryer Turkey Melt Sandwich is a great use of the extras!
- Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Breast with Lemon Pepper or Herbs(Opens in a new browser tab)
- Easy air fryer recipes here.
- Check out all our –> Air Fried Turkey Recipes
- Enjoy Our Air Fryer Thanksgiving Recipes –> Air Fryer Thanksgiving Recipes
Try the Oil Less Deep Fried Turkey with No Oil!
23 Comments on “Holiday Air Fried Whole Turkey with Gravy”
Again I’m so coming back to this recipe for Thanksgiving. It was so successful last year.
I’m totally bookmarking this for Thanksgiving. Really awesome. I can’t wait.
I have an older air fryer. It does not have an expansion ring. Can i cook a turkey without the ring or will it catch fire?
Hi Terry, most full size whole turkeys need the expansion ring. Without the ring, you would probably be able to air fry a 5 pound whole chicken. But a whole turkey will be too large.
I’m adding this recipe to my holiday menu. It’s really perfect. Your pictures and video was really helpful.
Can you air fry a whole turkey with stuffing?
Hi Claire, we don’t suggest air frying the turkey with stuffing inside the turkey cavity. We’ve tested it and the stuffing doesn’t get cooked or heated through enough in the center.
I’m really loving all the tips I’m seeing with the air fryer. They’ve becoming really useful for Thanksgiving.
So glad I could air fry an entire turkey. Thanks for your easy-to-follow instructions.
Would like recipes for AirFryer Grilling. Need a recipe for airfried grilled pork tenderloin
Literally the best turkey I have ever made. The whole family was raving over it, and the gravy was to die for. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Jason! That’s awesome that your family enjoyed it. We’re pretty obsessed with our original gravy technique and taste too! 🙂
Also I brined it in a bit of pickle juice and other spices. It was really juicy
Wow, the pickle brine sounds brilliant!
Have u have any experiences when the turkey is touching the sides of the bowl while cooking. Will it still cook right. I could only find a 15lb and it looks like tight squeeze. I love my big boss and never tried whole turkey.
Hi Emily, Yes it has and a 15 pound turkey is fine. The turkey will shrink as it cooks. Just make sure to add a little more cooking time and check with a thermometer to ensure it’s cooked all the way through. Enjoy!
Looking at all the recommendations you have for air fryers! Can’t wait to shop for one this weekend and make this for Thanksgiving!
Love your pictures! It gives me a good idea of what I should be expecting when we air fried our turkey. It came just like your pictures! And I used extra broth during basting, so the gravy was a little runnier. But by the time we ate, the gravy cooled and became thicker and it was perfect!
So glad it worked out for you!
Thanks for all your recommendations for air fryers! I was really looking into a larger one since we have the space and I wanted one that’ll fit whole turkeys, chicken, etc. We had a smaller 10 pound turkey and cut back on the cooking time. It came out crispy and perfect! Thanks so much for your amazing recipes and detail with photos. It really helped me so much.
I don’t have a working oven at home so this idea helps so much! Thanks for the suggestion!
I think I will stick with the old fashion way of cooking a turkey, I love the aroma it wafts through the room I do have an air fryer and use it often Love it.
Hi Camilla, the old fashioned way is always great! Don’t change tradition, especially if it works for you! The air fryer option is a great problem solver, especially for those with very limited oven space. Our traditional ovens are filled to capacity with side dishes so it’s always been a challenge to cook for 14 people with limited oven space. The air fryer is a wonderful alternative and when cooked inside the house, we can still enjoy the aroma of turkey. Or if you decide to cook the turkey in the traditional oven, the air fryer is perfect for a side dish. Divide and conquer! Thanks for the input!