Our History
Discover the Bold Flavors of Louisiana – The Story Behind The Cajun Turkey Company.
What started in a garage in 1994 has grown into a nationwide sensation for lovers of bold, authentic Cajun flavor. The Cajun Turkey Company was born from the passion and determination of founder Billy Howell, who, in that very first year, fried over 600 turkeys using just two pots—all by hand, all with heart.
Billy, a proud New Orleans native, grew up surrounded by the rich culinary traditions of Louisiana. Inspired by the vibrant spices and soulful cooking of his hometown, he set out to create something truly special—a deep-fried Cajun turkey that was moist, tender, and bursting with flavor. Friends and family couldn’t get enough. It wasn’t long before a simple newspaper ad in the Dallas Morning News turned a backyard passion into a booming business.
By the fall of 1994, Billy’s garage was the hottest kitchen in town. Just a year later, he opened his first retail store in Dallas, and The Cajun Turkey Company officially took flight.
What makes our turkeys so unforgettable? The secret lies in our proprietary Geaux Juice™—a bold blend of Cajun spices mixed with an orange juice base. Each turkey is hand-injected with a full quart of this flavorful marinade, ensuring a juicy, savory bite every single time. It’s a recipe that’s earned fans from Australia to Japan, Mexico to Maine, and just about everywhere in between.
In the 31 years since that first turkey hit the fryer, we've shipped over 3 million pounds of our signature Cajun-fried turkeys across the country. But we didn’t stop there. Our menu now includes over 125 authentic Cajun and Southern dishes—from gumbo, étouffée, and jambalaya to crawfish cornbread, boudin, and our famous Tur-Duc-Hen (a deboned turkey, duck, and chicken, layered and stuffed with rich Cajun seafood dressing).
And because we’re proud to call Texas home, we’ve added a full lineup of Texas-style BBQ—brisket, ribs, and a mouthwatering selection of sausages that bring the smoke and spice together like only we can.
.From our humble beginnings to becoming a beloved name in kitchens and celebrations nationwide, The Cajun Turkey Company is still driven by the same mission: to bring families and friends together with unforgettable flavor, handcrafted with love and Louisiana soul.
Ready to taste the tradition? Visit us at www.CajunTurkeyCo.com and let us deliver a little Louisiana magic to your table. You can also find Billy’s Deep Fried Cajun Turkeys on the websites of: Neiman Marcus, William~Sonoma, GoldBelly, Luby’s, Central Market, MacKenzie, and through our Food Distributors : Ben E. Keith, Sysco, U.S. Foods, Labatt, & C.D. Hardnett.
deep-fried destiny, cajun-style.
Ever since Billy was a boy, growing up in New Orleans, he just always seemed to wanta’ cook up things Cajun Style. Having experienced the best Cajun restaurants in and around New Orleans and by tasting some of the finest foods in the world, he created some mighty fine recipes, but nothin’ seemed to be more exciting than cookin’ up a traditional Cajun deep fried turkey. Seein’ the expression on his friends faces when he’d tell them that the whole turkey had been fried…well they couldn’t believe it… & then they couldn’t believe how
moist and juicy it was.
nobody could keep this turkey a secret...
On one of those occasions, a childhood friend, Paul Knowlton suggested that Billy’s special Cajun fried Turkeys were too good to just share with his family and friends… So an advertisement was placed in the Dallas Morning News. Well, lets just say the response was unbelievable. Billy cooked over 600 turkeys between mid-November & New Years Day. People were picking up turkeys at the house, at the office, even delivered (both guys kept working full-time in their professions). Billy and Paul figured they were on to somethin’… So in the fall of 1995, they became partners & the Cajun Turkey Company opened a retail store in Dallas.
all systems geaux, baby.
Cookin’ Cajun Style Turkeys has been a community tradition around South Louisiana for about fifty years. The one critical distinction for The Cajun Turkey Company is Billy’s secret Geaux Juice… (that’s Cajun for Go-juice). Geaux Juice, is a secret blend of Cajun spices added to an orange juice base. With a quart injected into each premium turkey, you can begin to appreciate just how moist, flavorful and unique a turkey can be. Fact is, Geaux Juice has become world famous… In Australia, Japan, Mexico & all over the United States.
gettin' the word out about all of our meals.
Over the past 26 years, The Cajun Turkey Company has delivered over 1.8 million pounds of their Signature Cajun Fried Turkey, to customers all over the U.S. Customer satisfaction is the reason that folks are proud to share their newfound gourmet treat with family & friends. In response to customer demands, The Cajun Turkey Company, is delighted to offer their own brand of Cajun Sauces…Cayenne Hot Sauce, Habanero Hot Pepper Sauce, & Creole Mustard. We have added a unique Cajun treat…Tur-Duc-Hens… That’s a baked whole de-boned turkey, whole de-boned duck and a whole de-boned chicken stuffed inside one another… With a Cajun Seafood stuffin’ added to make it slice up just right.
