The Best Wild Turkey Recipe: Baked Turkey Nuggets
Cooking wild turkey can be challenging for some, but this simple recipe is easy and fail-proof. These baked turkey nuggets come out moist and delicious every time.
Celebrate your successful spring turkey hunt with some from-scratch turkey nuggets. Your family won’t let you cook wild turkey any other way after they try this!
Our family has come to love this recipe so much that when my toddler saw the wild turkey that his sister harvested, the first thing out of his mouth was, “turkey nuggets!” Wild turkey, like any wild bird, can be dry if it isn’t cooked properly, but this recipe is always moist and delicious.
Tips for Making Baked Wild Turkey Nuggets
Ingredients:
Wild Turkey Breast: This turkey breast recipe uses both breasts from one wild turkey. You will end up with about 8-10 servings of turkey nuggets.
Eggs and Milk: We mix the eggs and milk together for dipping the turkey meat in before adding the bread crumbs. This mixture helps the breadcrumbs to stick to the turkey and also prevents the turkey from drying out during baking.
Bread Crumbs: Dredging the turkey in breadcrumbs gives the nuggets that crispy outside that is so good dipped in your favorite dipping sauce. The best way to get the breadcrumbs to stick is to press the meat gently into the breadcrumb mixture on all sides.
Grated Parmesan: Adding grated Parmesan to the breadcrumb mixture gives the breading a delicious flavor and added crisp after baking.
Dried Basil, Thyme, Black Pepper, and Salt: This spice combination pairs so well with the mild flavor of the turkey. These herbs and spices really set this recipe apart.
Spray Oil: I like to use avocado or olive oil, but any spray oil will work in this recipe.
Tools:
sharp knife
3 medium mixing bowls
whisk
2 cookie sheets
aluminum foil
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Wild Turkey Cooking Tips
The best wild turkey recipes are developed specifically for wild turkeys. Traditional methods using the whole bird or domestic turkey breast might not work well with wild turkey.
The wild turkey is very different from its domestic counterpart.
This recipe uses only the boneless wild turkey breast meat from the wild turkey. Wild turkey legs can also be eaten, but due to the tendon and bone structure in the legs, the dark meat or leg meat is best cooked using different methods.
We have had the best results by removing the entire turkey breast as soon as possible after harvesting the turkey. Place turkey breasts in the refrigerator in a gallon-sized ziplock bag for 1-2 days.
While this recipe will work with previously frozen turkey breasts, we have had the best results with never frozen meat.
How to Make The Best Wild Turkey Recipe: Baked Turkey Nuggets
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. and spray 2 cookie sheets with oil. I prefer avocado oil, but any spray oil will do the trick.
Chop the entire breast into bite sized pieces about 1-2 inches square. Place the chopped wild turkey meat in a medium sized bowl. You want to keep all the turkey pieces the same size so that they will cook at the same rate.
In a separate bowl, combine the eggs and milk. Use a whisk and beat the eggs and milk until the mixture is well incorporated.
In a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, basil, thyme, Parmesan, salt, and black pepper.
Dip each turkey piece in the egg mixture, and then in the breadcrumb mixture, making sure that each piece is covered in the breadcrumbs. A great way to make sure the meat is covered is to gently press the meat into the breadcrumbs on all sides.
Place the breaded turkey meat onto the prepared cookie sheet in a single layer. Make sure the pieces are not touching each other.
Once all the wild turkey breast pieces are breaded and placed on the cookie sheet, put them in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Cook until the outside is golden brown and the internal temperature of the wild turkey reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer.
Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce! Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in a zip lock bag for 2-3 days.
This wild turkey recipe pairs well with your favorite dipping sauce, sauteed zucchini, and fresh sourdough bread with butter and homemade peach jam.
Keep following along here at East Fork Growing for more of our favorite wild turkey recipes. We hope your turkey season is successful!
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The Best Wild Turkey Recipe: Baked Turkey Nuggets
Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and spices combine with the subtle taste of wild turkey to create these delicious turkey nuggets. This recipe is so easy and fail-proof. Wild turkey never tasted so good.
Ingredients
- 2 wild turkey breasts
- 4 eggs
- 4 tablespoons whole milk
- 3 cups plain bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon basil
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F., and spray 2 cookie sheets with oil.
- Chop wild turkey breasts into bite sized pieces, 1-2 inches square.
- Using a whisk, mix the eggs and milk together in a medium bowl until well incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan, basil, thyme, salt and black pepper.
- Dip each turkey piece first in the egg/milk mixture, and then in the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure the turkey is completely covered in the breadcrumbs.
- Place breaded turkey pieces on prepared cookie sheet in a single layer. Make sure the pieces are not touching.
- After all the turkey is breaded and on the cookie sheet, spray the top of the breaded turkey with spray oil.
- Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Serve with barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or your other favorite dipping sauce!
Notes
* These wild turkey nuggets make a great meal served with sauteed zucchini and sourdough bread with homemade jam!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 207Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 587mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 14g
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