Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • A turkey breast is the ideal size for small gatherings and is far faster to cook, going from fridge to table in under 2 hours.
  • You only have to keep in mind a single final target temperature, instead of having to worry about legs and breasts cooking at different rates with a whole bird.
  • Removing the turkey breast halfway through to finish roasting on its own ensures both the meat and the stuffing are cooked to the right temperature.
  • Adding pan juices to the stuffing just before reheating provides moisture and saturates it with rich turkey flavor.

Perhaps your family is small. Perhaps your friends all bailed on you the week before. Perhaps only half your family eats meat. Heck, perhaps you simply don't enjoy leftovers.*

*You weirdo.

Point is, there are any number of reasons you might have for not wanting to roast an entire turkey for Thanksgiving, but nobody should be deprived of juicy meat, crispy skin, and turkey-saturated stuffing on that day, am I right?

My initial thought was that since I already have a great method for crisp-skinned spatchco*cked roast turkey, and a roast turkey breast is essentially a spatchco*cked breast without the legs, I should just be able to use the exact same technique, throwing the breast on top of a casserole dish full of stuffing to catch the drippings. I tried it, using my classic sage and sausage stuffing recipe, and rubbing my turkey over and under the skin with some herb butter.

Simply cooking a turkey breast is far easier than cooking a whole turkey, since you only have a single final target temperature in mind, instead of having to worry about legs and breasts cooking at different rates. As soon as that breast is at 150°F, you can pull it out of the oven and let it rest.

About halfway through cooking, I realized there was a problem.

Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (1)

The Problems With Cooking Turkey Breast

While my stuffing was already pushing 180°F and starting to char around the edges, the turkey breast was not even close to finished. It still had a good 30°F to get up to my 150°F target temperature.

On top of that, the butter in the stuffing, combined with the sausage fat, and the rendering fat from the turkey breast made the stuffing unpalatably greasy—there was a huge pool of oil on top of it. This greasiness is exacerbated by the fact that if the stuffing gets much above 160°F or so, the eggs I use to bind it will curdle and break, squeezing out the fat that they were initially trapping.

Fortunately, the solution was relatively simple.

The Solution

First of all, I decreased the butter content of my stuffing, figuring that what renders from the turkey will make it plenty rich.

Second, I decided to just remove the turkey breast half way through roasting, and let it finish on its own. Once it had cooked, I then took all those exuded pan juices and poured them right back onto the stuffing.

Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (2)

Since the turkey needs to rest for about 20 minutes anyway to make sure that you don't lose all its juices, this gives you ample time to throw that stuffing back into the oven to crisp up on top and reheat to 160°F. The stuffing comes loaded with turkey flavor, but if you want even more, make sure to stuff the cavity under the breast and under the flap of fat near the neck with stuffing as well before you start to roast.

Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (3)

The best part? The whole process goes from fridge to table in under two hours. How's that for a fast holiday meal?

November 2012

Recipe Details

Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing

Prep20 mins

Cook2 hrs

Active45 mins

Total2 hrs 20 mins

Serves6to 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, divided

  • 1 1/2 pounds sage sausage, removed from casing

  • 1 large onion, finely chopped (about 2 cups)

  • 4 large stalks celery, finely chopped (about 2 cups)

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced or grated on microplane, divided

  • 1/4 cup minced fresh sage leaves (or 2 teaspoons dried sage leaves)

  • 32 ounces (4 cups; 946ml) low-sodium chicken or turkey broth, preferably homemade

  • 3 large whole eggs

  • 2 1/2 pounds (about 2 loaves) high quality sandwich bread or soft Italian or French bread, stale or dried in the oven

  • 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 whole bone-in, skin-on turkey breast (about 4 to 5 pounds), patted dry

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 450°F. In a large Dutch oven, melt 5 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat until foaming subsides (don't allow butter to brown), about 2 minutes. Add sausage and mash with stiff whisk or potato masher to break up into fine pieces (largest pieces should be no greater than 1/4-inch). Cook, stirring frequently until only a few bits of pink remain, about 8 minutes. Add onions, celery, garlic, and sage and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add half of chicken stock.

    Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (4)

  2. Whisk remaining chicken stock, eggs, and 3 tablespoons parsley in a medium bowl until hom*ogeneous. Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, slowly pour egg mixture into sausage mixture. Add bread cubes and fold gently until evenly mixed.

    Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (5)

  3. Using poultry shears, cut off and remove any back portion that may be attached to the turkey (there may not be any). Fill cavity under turkey breast and under flap of fat around neck with stuffing. Transfer remaining stuffing to a buttered 9- by 13-inch baking dish and place turkey on top.

    Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (6)

  4. Using your hands, carefully separate the turkey skin from the meat by inserting at the bottom of the breast, being careful not to tear it. In a small bowl, combine remaining butter with remaining parsley and oregano. Add 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Stir with a fork until hom*ogenous. Rub mixture evenly over and under turkey skin.

    Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (7)

  5. Transfer to oven and roast until stuffing starts to brown, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven, transfer turkey to a wire rack set in a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet, and return turkey to oven. Continue roasting until turkey is golden brown and crisp, and thickest part near bone registers 145 to 150°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 30 minutes longer. Remove from oven, transfer to a plate, and let rest for 20 minutes.

    Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (8)

  6. Meanwhile, pour exuded juices back over stuffing. Return stuffing to oven and cook until it's golden brown and registers 160°F on an instant read thermometer, about 15 minutes. Carve turkey, spread over stuffing, and serve.

    Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (9)

Special Equipment

9- by 13-inch baking dish

Read More

  • The Food Lab's Definitive Guide to Buying, Prepping, Cooking, and Carving Your Holiday Turkey
Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast and Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is stuffing cooked before putting in turkey? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

Can you stuff a turkey breast? ›

You can find fresh or frozen bone-in turkey breasts at the market. As opposed to a boneless turkey breast, you will be able to stuff this as you would a whole bird. You'll have plenty of meat for a large meal or enough for a week's worth of sandwiches.

Is it better to cook a stuffed turkey at 325 or 350? ›

For the best results, our Test Kitchen recommends cooking a stuffed turkey at 325°F.

Does stuffing a turkey make it more moist? ›

The primary advantages to in-bird stuffing are that it's unbelievably moist and looks super-Thanksgiving-y, but to be safe (with the raw eggs in the stuffing and the raw turkey touching it), you need to cook it to 165 degrees F, which means the bird's going to have to cook to an even higher temperature, which means a ...

Can you cook stuffing and turkey at the same time? ›

You can cook the bird and the bread in the same pan with delicious results.

Is it safe to put stuffing in a raw turkey? ›

If you put stuffing in the turkey, do so just before cooking. Avoid pre-stuffing. Insert a food thermometer into the center of the stuffing to make sure it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached 165 degrees that could then cause food poisoning.

Should I cook my turkey breast covered? ›

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

Does a turkey breast need to be on a rack? ›

Cook it in whatever you want.

Instead of a roasting rack, you can roast the turkey breast over thick-cut onions and potatoes (instant side dish!).

Do you put turkey in bag breast up or down? ›

Place your turkey, breast-side up inside the bag. Use the enclosed oven-safe tie to secure the bag at the top. Snip six 1/2-inch-long slits in the bag with scissors – be sure to put one near a breast and a thigh, that way you can sneak your thermometer in to check the temperature.

How many hours do you cook a turkey at 325 degrees? ›

In general, you should plan to cook a turkey for around 15-20 minutes per pound of turkey at 325ºF to get to that temp.
  1. 10-12 pounds: cook 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
  2. 15-16 pounds: cook 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
  3. 18-20 pounds: cook 4 to 4 1/2 hours.
Oct 15, 2023

Is 350 too high for turkey? ›

Begin by roasting your turkey at 425°F for 40 to 45 minutes before lowering the temperature of the oven to 350°F for the rest of the cooking time. Like the other method, it's a good idea to brush the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with butter or olive oil to help the surface brown and keep the meat moist.

How many minutes per lb for stuffed turkey? ›

A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey. Roast a stuffed turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). It is important to check the temperature of the stuffing; it should be 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) when you insert the thermometer into the center of the stuffing.

Why add eggs to turkey stuffing? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency. Seasonings: This turkey dressing recipe is seasoned with salt, pepper, rubbed sage, and garlic powder.

What to stuff a turkey with for flavor? ›

Alliums: Add quartered onions, shallots, leeks, or garlic cloves for a delicious, earthy aroma. Fruits: Insert quarters of apple, lemon, orange, lime, or even grapefruit to add moisture and brightness to the turkey. You can even go with dried fruit, like cranberries, to double down on the autumn vibes.

When should I put stuffing in the turkey? ›

Place the prepared stuffing in the whole turkey just before roasting. Stuffing the night before could cause food-borne illness. Stuff both the neck and body cavities of a completely thawed turkey, allowing ½ to ¾ cup of stuffing per pound. Don't pack stuffing too tightly, as it may cause uneven cooking.

Is stuffing already cooked? ›

If the premixed stuffing is uncooked, it is not safe and consumers should not buy the stuffing. If the premixed stuffing is cooked and refrigerated, the stuffing would be safe to buy. At home, reheat it to 165 °F before serving.

Does stuffing a turkey dry out the meat? ›

For whole turkeys it is generally not recommended to stuff the cavity of the turkey nowadays, as the extra cooking time required for the stuffing can cause the rest of the turkey to become overcooked and dry. Instead put the stuffing in dish and cook it separately.

Why is stuffing cooked separately? ›

Stuffing cooked inside the turkey could become contaminated with salmonella if the bird is stuffed too early, if the stuffing is left in too long, or if the stuffing doesn't come to a high enough temperature while cooking. Even Health Canada recommends cooking stuffing separately in the oven or on the stove top.

Do you cook stuffing before putting it in the chicken? ›

Be sure any stuffing that has been cooked, or ingredient that is cooked, is cooled completely before inserting into the cavity of the chicken. The chicken should not be stuffed until just before it is to be cooked, so that the risk of bacterial growth is reduced.

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