Thanksgiving and turkey go hand in hand, especially if you’re looking for flavor-packed feast that leans on the lighter side. And one of the most underrated ways to prepare your bird is with an air fryer. Not sure you’re up to the challenge? Rest easy, Stephen Coe, owner of The Early Bird Restaurant in Kingston, MA, four-time Chopped champion, and winner of the Best Food Truck in New England, is here toshow us how it’s done!
When we asked the celebrity chef, who is known for beating Bobby Flay in a cook-off (and has a TV show, Dangerous Eats, set to air in 2024), if cooking a turkey in an air fryer was considered Thanksgiving-worthy, he left us with no doubt that it could be done: Absolutely! “Cooking a whole turkey in an air fryer can be a convenient and delicious way to prepare this classic dish.” Even better? Coe says you don’t have to be a culinary expert—or even that skilled in the kitchen—to nail Thanksgiving this year.
Plus, isn’t the goal of a Thanksgiving turkey to be crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside? Utilizing an air fryer, over a conventional oven, makes this texture profile easier to achieve.
With that, Chef Coe shares his epic protein-packed air fryer turkey recipe along with clean gravy and of course, cranberry sauce!
Air Fryer Basics
How to Choose Your Air Fryer
There are plenty of solid table-top air fryers—from Ninja, Emeril, Fritaire, and Breville versions. When looking to cook a large turkey he recommends using Masterbuilt or a Charbroil. “They have the same appeal as if you were frying the whole turkey in oil and is a safe and cleaner way out and still has the moisture.”
However, if you don’t want to upgrade your air fryer, but still want to enjoy air-fried turkey, Chef Coe has you covered.
For those who may not want to purchase a bigger air fryer needed for cooking a large turkey, Chef Coe provides a delicious stuffed turkey breast recipe that will keep the holiday guests coming back for me!
Air Fryer Cooking and Cleaning Tip:
If you’re hosting this year, it may be a good idea to do a “test run” before Thanksgiving Day. This will allow you to get comfortable in this cooking process and make any adjustments needed. Watching videos related to this topic is another option to get familiar with this cooking method.
Keep your air fryer in great shape by cleaning it directly after use.
Now go and enjoy your delicious air-fried turkey!

Thanksgiving Whole Air Fryer Turkey Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 whole turkey (10-12 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon of dry sage
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, fresh herbs can be used as well.
Optional: herbs, citrus slices (like lemon or orange) for flavoring
Instructions:
Good to Know: Remember, cooking times may vary depending on the size and model of your air fryer, so it’s important to monitor the turkey’s progress and check the manual for any other questions.

Stuffed Turkey Breast in the Air fryer
Ingredients:
- 1 boneless turkey breast (about 2 pounds)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil
Instructions:
You can use this recipe with amounts adjusted if you want to stuff a whole turkey.
Enjoy your delicious stuffed turkey breast!
And Now for The Gravy- Don’t Worry, It’s Clean! (And Delicious)

Clean Gravy (gluten-free)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cube beef bouillon, or 1 tsp better than bouillon
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon cold unsalted butter
Instructions:
Last But Not Least; Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup fresh orange juice, from two oranges
- ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 (12 oz) bag of fresh or frozen cranberries (do not use dried)
- Zest of one orange, about 2 teaspoons
- Pinch salt
Instructions: