Regions That Love Turducken & Regional Variations

Published on October 8th, 2025

Frying a turkey for Thanksgiving? That’s so last year.

Have you tried the curious spectacle of unique Thanksgiving meals that is turducken?

Break down the word and you’ll understand what a turducken is. Tur-du-cken: a chicken stuffed inside a duck, stuffed inside a turkey. This matryoshka doll of foul is legendary in Louisiana, but don’t worry — turducken regions have spread far beyond the Louisiana state lines so you can enjoy it in your hometown as well. Keep reading to learn all about where turducken is popular, the common turducken variations, and regional turducken recipes, plus how to order your own.

Origins in Louisiana

In 1984 in Maurice, Louisiana, a legend was born thanks to Junior and Sammy Hebert, owners of Cajun butcher shop Hebert’s Specialty Meats. The Heberts say that a customer came in asking for something similar, so they turned to bird-based stuffing and created the turducken. Hebert’s Specialty Meats stayed the turducken epicenter — though the meal’s popularity did grow in Louisiana — for about a dozen years. In 1996, Glenn Mistich introduced turducken to the world. He owned the shop Gourmet Butcher Block in Gretna, Louisiana, and before a football game in New Orleans on December 1 that year, he presented a turducken to legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden. Madden absolutely loved it and said so on the national broadcast of the game. From there, Chef Paul Prudhomme helped continue to popularize the dish as a Thanksgiving food and holiday meat tradition.

Where Turducken Is Most Popular

Regional Variations

You could have a turducken the standard way, but why not ask yourself how turducken is made regionally — and then try one of these specialities!

• Cajun turducken: Get a little spicy with a cajun turducken, stuffed with one (or all) of traditional cajun foods: andouille, rice, and crawfish.
• Creole turducken: Dive into the NOLA vibes with a Creole turducken — it’s stuffed with cornbread dressing and oysters.
• Southern BBQ twist: Bring some BBQ to your birds with a good, old-fashioned smoker. This southern twist pops the whole bird-bake into the smoker to add another layer of flavor.
• Gourmet urban variations: Fly through the gourmet circuit with things like truffle stuffing inside the chicken or surrounding the layers. Don’t forget to stop by a specialty shop to get your turducken made with artisanal meats.
• Holiday mash-ups: Not a fan of all three birds in the turducken? Mix it up a bit with a porkducken (chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a pig) or leave the triple-food plan for dessert with a piecaken — three or more pies layered inside a cake.

Cultural Significance

Traditionally, a cornucopia is the Thanksgiving symbol — a horn filled with food a-plenty. The turducken replicates that, just with meat. It’s a symbol of abundance wrapped up into an over-the-top celebration menu. Of course, it’s also expanded to Christmas dinner, or anytime someone wants a truly extravagant meal. And don’t forget about John Madden! Culturally, turducken is a football party staple. Have one at your Super Bowl bash this year!

FAQs

Taste a Louisiana tradition this holiday season when you have it delivered directly to your door. Shop authentic regional turkey and turduckens, as well as other Thanksgiving dinner meals on Goldbelly.