Guide Note
Turducken is a boneless poultry dish, where a small, whole chicken is stuffed inside a duck which is stuffed inside a large turkey. The birds can be cooked similarly to Thanksgiving Turkey, a dish which it commonly replaces on some American Thanksgiving tables.
Fast Facts
- John Madden favors the turducken, prefering it to turkey alone on Thanksgiving
- Stuffing can be included in the center bird or within each bird separately
- Likely Cajun in origin
The Origin of Turducken
The Tabasco company claims that Turducken was invented in New Orleans, Louisiana, either by Corinne Dunbar's, a New Orelans Creole Restaurant or by chef Paul Prudhomme.
Prudhomme first made the dish publicly at a Washington State festival in 1983. Though Prudhomme has popularized Turducken for many years, he has never claimed to have invented it.
Turducken Comedy
Turducken references are frequently made concerning non-food elements "stuffed" into others. On Comedy Central's The Daily Show, correspondent Aasif Mandvi suggested that the Kurds, Iraq and Turkey should form a single nation and call it Turducken. Stephen Colbert claims that his Peabody Award is the "turducken" of awards, as it combines the best elements of several others.
