Cooking a juicy and flavorful turkey breast with stuffing can seem intimidating but it doesn’t have to be. With some simple preparation and easy-to-follow steps, you can have a delicious stuffed turkey breast on your table that will wow your family and guests.
Choose the Right Turkey Breast
When selecting a turkey breast to stuff and roast, opt for a bone-in skin-on breast half. The bone helps retain moisture and the skin prevents the meat from drying out. Look for a breast that’s about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds to serve 4-6 people.
Make sure the turkey breast hasn’t been injected or treated with any solutions, which can alter the flavor An untreated turkey breast is the best canvas for you to season and flavor yourself.
Brining is Key
To ensure a juicy, flavorful finished turkey breast, brining is a must. A salt-based brine infuses moisture deep into the turkey meat. Simply submerge the breast in a brine solution of water, salt, sugar, and aromatics for 4-8 hours. This short brine time works great for a small turkey breast.
After brining, rinse the turkey breast, pat it dry and let it air dry in the fridge for optimal moisture retention and crispy skin.
Make a Flavorful Stuffing
While the turkey breast brines, prepare your stuffing. For a traditional stuffing with onion, celery, herbs and broth, cook the vegetables in butter first. Then combine the cooled veggies with bread cubes, broth, eggs and herbs.
For a little richness, add sausage, cranberries, cheese, nuts or diced apples to the stuffing. Avoid packing the stuffing too tightly into the breast cavity so it can cook through.
Truss and Roast
Pat the brined breast dry. Carefully loosen the skin from the meat and rub the breast underneath with butter or oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Spoon the stuffing loosely into the cavity, mounding it slightly. Fold the breast over and truss with twine to hold the stuffing in place. Trussing also helps ensure even cooking.
Place on a roasting rack and roast at 350°F for about 1 1/2 hours until the center of the stuffing reaches 165°F. Baste occasionally with pan juices for extra moisture and flavor.
Let It Rest
Before carving, let the cooked turkey breast rest for at least 15 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute through the meat for juicier slices.
Make sure you use a meat thermometer to verify the turkey, stuffing and any other poultry is fully cooked to 165°F for food safety.
Make Simple Gravy
While the stuffed turkey breast rests, make gravy. Pour the roasted turkey pan drippings into a skillet. Whisk in flour to thicken, then slowly whisk in chicken or turkey broth. Simmer until thickened.
Season your scratch-made gravy with salt, pepper and herbs. Serve the sliced turkey breast and stuffing doused in the easy, homemade gravy.
With smart prep and a simple roasting method, you can conquer stuffed turkey breast with ease. Brining, stuffing and roasting a bone-in turkey breast results in a beautiful, delicious entree with no need to roast a whole bird. Serve with savory gravy, cranberry sauce and your favorite holiday sides for a spectacular meal.
So go on and impress your guests with your moist, perfectly cooked stuffed turkey breast this year! With this easy guide, it will be a breeze.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps for foolproof stuffed turkey breast success:
- Choose a 2 1/2 to 3 pound bone-in, skin-on turkey breast half. Avoid pre-injected or treated.
- Make a salt-based brine and submerge the breast for 4-8 hours.
- Rinse, pat dry and air-dry the brined breast in the fridge.
- Prepare your favorite stuffing while the breast brines. Cool completely before using.
- Loosen the skin from the meat and rub the breast with butter or oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Spoon the stuffing loosely into the cavity, mounding slightly. Fold breast over.
- Truss or tie with twine to secure the stuffing. Place on a roasting rack.
- Roast at 350°F for about 1 1/2 hours until 165°F in center of stuffing.
- Baste with pan juices occasionally while roasting.
- Let rest 15 minutes before slicing for juicy meat.
- Make easy gravy with drippings while turkey breast rests.
- Carve turkey breast, serve with stuffing and gravy. Enjoy!
Brining, stuffing and roasting a whole turkey can be daunting. But cooking just the breast portion allows you to still enjoy delicious stuffed turkey in a more manageable package. With the proper prep and roasting technique, you’ll gain confidence cooking this holiday centerpiece. Impress your family with your moist, flavorful stuffed turkey breast at the next gathering.
What’s the right way to stuff a turkey?
For optimal safety and uniform doneness, we recommend cooking stuffing separately. However, if stuffing a turkey, please refer to these USDA guidelines:
It is essential to use a food thermometer to make sure the center of the stuffing reaches a safe minimum internal temperature of 165ºF.
Cooking a home-stuffed turkey is riskier than cooking one not stuffed. Even if the turkey itself has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165ºF, as measured in the innermost part of the thigh, the wing and the thickest part of the breast, the stuffing may not have reached a temperature high enough to destroy bacteria that may be present.
Bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached 165ºF, possibly resulting in foodborne illness.
| Weight (pounds) | 6-8 | 8-12 | 12-14 | 14-18 | 18-20 | 20-24 | 24-28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unstuffed (hours) | 2 1/4 – 2 3/4 | 2 3/4 – 3 | 3 – 3 3/4 | 3 3/4 – 4 1/4 | 4 1/4 – 4 1/2 | 4 1/2 – 5 | 5 – 5 1/2 |
| Stuffed (hours) | 2 3/4 – 3 | 3 – 3 1/2 | 3 1/2 – 4 | 4 – 4 1/4 | 4 1/4 – 4 3/4 | 4 3/4 – 5 1/4 | 5 1/4 – 5 3/4 |
*Table above based on oven temperature of 325ºF for whole turkey.
If you plan to prepare stuffing using raw meat, poultry, or shellfish, you should cook these ingredients before stuffing the turkey to reduce the risk of foodborne illness from bacteria that may be found in raw ingredients. The wet ingredients for stuffing can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. However, do not mix wet and dry ingredients until just before spooning the stuffing mixture into the turkey cavity.
If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be cooked immediately and refrigerated in shallow containers. Do not stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing.
Do not cool the stuffing. Spoon it directly into the turkey cavity right after preparation. Stuff the turkey loosely — about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, because heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment.
Do not stuff turkeys to be grilled, smoked, fried, or microwaved.
Immediately place the stuffed, raw turkey in an oven set no lower than 325ºF.
Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
FAQ
How to cook butterball turkey breast with stuffing?
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Before removing plastic bag place roast under warm, running water for 1 minute. …
- Place turkey on rack in shallow roasting pan. …
- Cook until meat thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) – approximately 3 – 3 ½ hours.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before removing netting and slicing.
Should I cook my turkey breast covered or uncovered?
Should You Cover a Turkey When Cooking? To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven.Nov 13, 2024
Can you put stuffing in a turkey breast?
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.
How long to cook a stuffed turkey breast in the oven?
Roast until internal temperature of the turkey breast is 165 degrees F, about 1 hour or 12 to 15 minutes per pound.
How do you make stuffed turkey breast?
Get the Prosciutto-Wrapped Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe at How Sweet Eats. This recipe starts off with a turkey brine that has hints of orange, cinnamon, bay leaves, and pepper. Then it’s rubbed with a savory herb butter and placed in a slow cooker with onions and garlic. As you can tell, it has a ton of flavor!
How long do you cook a stuffed turkey breast?
Roast for about 2 to 3 1/4 hours, depending on the size of the turkey breast (stuffed will take longer). The cooking time guide should be on the turkey breast packaging. A meat thermometer will reach 170 F when the turkey is done. If necessary, tent with a piece of buttered or oiled foil during the last hour.
How do you cook a stuffed turkey breast in a Dutch oven?
Spread the stuffing over one side of the turkey breast, leaving 2 inches uncovered on all sides. Roll up and secure tightly with kitchen twine. Heat the remaining oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Sear the stuffed turkey breast on all sides until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side.