Wild Turkey and Waffles
We’re big on breakfast in my house, so I thought this classic southern breakfast recipe (chicken and waffles) would be fun to recreate with wild turkey.
As our 2025 spring turkey season comes to an end, I’m left, sadly, with only one pack of bite-sized wild turkey pieces from a breast that I trimmed out.
It equals to about a pound of meat, so it’s the perfect amount for a family meal. We’re big on breakfast in my house, so I thought this classic southern breakfast recipe (chicken and waffles) would be fun to recreate with wild turkey. It’s salty. It’s sweet. It’s delicious. And it’s incredibly easy.
You can deep fry it in oil, bake it in the oven or even put it in the air fryer. You can even use frozen waffles, but I highly recommend going from scratch with your favorite Belgian waffle recipe. You can toss the turkey in a spicy dry rub or keep it classic. I prefer a little spice on mine with plenty of maple syrup pooled in each square of the waffle. It’s like my turkey is taking a high dive into each pool of syrupy goodness. I’m still a kid at heart, I know.
I’ll enjoy this meal, reflecting on a successful spring turkey season full of memories and counting down until next season with a grateful heart and thankful spirit.
Ingredients
- 1 pound wild turkey, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1-2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Your favorite hot sauce. (I love Crystal Louisiana Hot Sauce for this)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Half a pound of bacon cooked extra crispy and chopped into bacon bites
- Your favorite Belgian waffle recipe (or frozen waffles)
- Your favorite spice seasoning, I used Fire and Smoke Society’s Morning Buzz Hot Honey Rub
- Maple Syrup
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine egg, buttermilk, hot sauce, black pepper, garlic powder and turkey, and let sit in the fridge for an hour or so.
- Mix the flour and seasoning in a small bowl.
- In segments, remove the turkey from the marinade and place it in a bowl of flour, coating evenly. Shake off extra flour and place in the air fryer. Repeat until the basket is full.
- Spray your turkey with oil before turning on the air fryer. Set the temperature to 400 and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the turkey reaches 160 degrees.
- While the turkey is cooking, prepare and cook your Belgian waffles as your recipe calls for it.
- Fry your bacon and set aside on a paper-towel-lined plate. When cool enough to handle, chop into small pieces and set aside.
- When your turkey is finished, place it into a small bowl and toss it with maple syrup and your seasoning.
- Place two of your waffles, or however many you’d like, on a plate, topped with the turkey and cover with tasty bits of bacon. Top with more seasoning and maple syrup.