Do you want to keep it simple this year for Thanksgiving? You dont always need a whole roasted turkey; a simpler dish can be just as great! Try this easy turkey chop recipe; you will love it!
Turkey chops are an underrated cut of meat that can make for a quick, delicious weeknight dinner With their mild flavor and lean, tender texture, turkey chops cook up fast while readily absorbing any seasoning or marinade This versatile ingredient deserves a regular spot in your dinner rotation.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through my proven process for oven-baking turkey chops so they turn out perfectly juicy and packed with flavor every time. With just a few easy steps and basic ingredients, you can transform humble turkey chops into a mouthwatering meal the whole family will request again and again.
Benefits of Cooking with Turkey Chops
Compared to chicken, turkey chops offer several advantages:
-
Quick cooking time: These thin chops bake in just 20-25 minutes. Great for weeknight meals.
-
Budget-friendly Turkey chops cost a fraction of chicken breasts.
-
Lean and tender With minimal fat they bake up moist and tender.
-
Takes on flavor: Turkey has a subtle savory taste that pairs well with herbs, spices, and marinades.
-
Nutritious: Turkey provides protein, B vitamins, zinc, and selenium.
With all these benefits, it’s easy to see why flavorful turkey chops deserve regular rotation in meals.
Selecting Turkey Chops
When shopping for turkey chops, look for:
-
1⁄2 to 3⁄4 inch thickness. Thinner chops cook quicker.
-
Uniform thickness so they cook evenly.
-
Pale pink color without blemishes.
-
Loose packaging, not compressed.
I recommend fresh turkey chops, but frozen pre-packaged also works well. Simply thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking.
Marinating Turkey Chops
A simple marinade makes all the difference, infusing the chops with flavor while ensuring they stay incredibly moist.
My easy marinade contains:
- Olive oil to moisturize
- Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano
- Garlic for subtle zing
- Salt to enhance flavor
- Pepper for mild spice
Combine the ingredients, coat the chops, and marinate 15-30 minutes while preheating the oven. The chops readily soak up the marinade.
How to Cook Turkey Chops to Perfection
Follow these simple steps for foolproof results:
-
Preheat oven to 400°F to fully heat before baking.
-
Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
-
Place seasoned, marinated chops on sheet without overlapping. Even spacing allows browning.
-
Bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown and 160°F internal temperature.
-
Let rest 5 minutes before serving to seal in juices.
That’s it! With this easy oven method, your turkey chops will turn out perfect every time.
Cooking Time for Turkey Chops
Follow these cooking times based on thickness:
- 1⁄2 inch thick: Bake 15-18 minutes
- 3⁄4 inch thick: Bake 18-22 minutes
- 1 inch thick: Bake 22-25 minutes
Check temperature to confirm doneness. 160°F ensures safe, moist turkey.
Gravy and Sauce Options
Take your chops to the next level with flavorful gravy:
-
Pan gravy: Make right in the baking pan using turkey drippings. Whisk in broth, salt, pepper and flour/cornstarch to thicken.
-
Mushroom gravy: Sauté mushrooms first. Use drippings for gravy.
-
Onion gravy: Cook chopped onions in butter until caramelized before making gravy.
-
Jarred gravy: For easy shortcut, use prepared turkey or chicken gravy.
Drizzle over chops for extra moisture and flavor.
Best Side Dishes
Round out your meal with these tasty sides:
- Mashed or roasted potatoes
- Sautéed spinach with garlic
- Honey roasted carrots and parsnips
- Skillet green beans with bacon and onions
- Baked sweet potatoes with butter
- Classic stuffing or dressing
- Garden salad with vinaigrette
With so many options, you can create a different pairing every time.
Tips for the Best Results
Follow these tips for the juiciest, most flavorful oven-baked turkey chops:
- Choose 1⁄2-3⁄4 inch thick chops for quick cooking
- Always fully preheat oven before baking
- Use a foil-lined baking sheet for even browning
- Marinate chops for at least 15-30 minutes
- Bake at 400°F until 160°F internal temperature
- Allow chops to rest after baking to seal in moisture
Get these basics right and you’ll enjoy tender, delicious turkey chops every time for easy weeknight dinners.
Simple Herb and Garlic Marinade
This easy marinade infuses turkey chops with flavor:
Ingredients:
- 1⁄4 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Place turkey chops in a baking dish or sealable plastic bag.
- Pour marinade over chops and coat well on both sides.
- Marinate 15-30 minutes at room temperature, turning occasionally.
- Bake as directed.
Adjust herbs and seasonings to your taste preferences. The possibilities are endless!
Juicy Oven-Baked Turkey Chops
Put this simple oven method to work with a classic recipe:
Ingredients:
- 4 turkey chops (1⁄2 inch thick)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1⁄2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika
- 1⁄4 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Pat chops dry and brush with olive oil. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme.
- Place on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes until browned and 160°F internal temperature.
- Rest 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
This easy preparation results in succulent, flavorful oven-baked turkey chops perfect for any night of the week.
Satisfying, Healthy Meals Made Easy
With quick prep time, budget-friendly ingredients, and foolproof oven cooking method, juicy turkey chops make for easy, delicious weeknight meals.
So next time you’re looking for a satisfying and nutritious dinner option, give flavorful turkey chops a try. With the simple tips in this guide, you’ll be rewarded with tender, mouthwatering oven-baked turkey chops in no time.
/grilled-turkey-chops-3061847-hero-01-a9269441e1d442ca97428808f8844a68.jpg)
Why will you love this recipe?
- Its turkey: You might not want to cook a whole turkey, especially if your family is small, but you might still want to have turkey for Thanksgiving (or Christmas). If youre going to cook a whole bird anyway; have a look at our Dutch Oven Turkey or Red Wine Turkey; both recipes are easy and delicious.
- Perfect for guests: This is a beautiful-looking dish; the flavors are rich and exciting, making this turkey chops recipe perfect for serving guests.
- Simple: Prepare some vegetables, cook the cutlets shortly, and mix a few ingredients to make the sauce.
- Quick: It all comes down to how quick you are in peeling and chopping the veggies needed for roasting; that is the most “challenging” task when cooking this recipe. Otherwise, the vegetables will need about 30-40 minutes of roasting time; frying the meat will take 4 minutes and making the sauce another 8 minutes or so.
- Budget recipe: Turkey cutlets are much cheaper than a whole bird or larger parts of it. You will have to buy a bottle of good quality Balsamic vinegar, but you will only need about 5 tablespoons of it, and the rest keeps well for a long time.
- Complete meal: Main dish and side dish in one recipe.
- Turkey chops, also known as cutlets or escalopes. They are boneless slices of turkey breast, about ½ inch/ 1 cm thick. You will need 4 of them, each weighing about 125 g/ 4.5 oz.
- Vegetables: Fresh Brussels sprouts, carrots, sweet potato, onion, garlic. If you would like to try a similar side dish for this recipe, I recommend Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes.
- Frozen sprouts are not that great for roasting; I recommend using fresh. It is also nice if you can get smaller sprouts, which you can leave whole. If they are larger, halve them before roasting. You can swap some of the veggies according to taste. How about beets, regular potatoes instead of sweet ones, cauliflower, or broccoli?
- Balsamic: Use good quality vinegar; it is an essential ingredient in making or breaking the sauce.
- Red wine: Dry red wine, medium price range. You dont have to buy something expensive but dont choose the cheapest one either. Use something you would enjoy drinking as well, you will only need a scant cup for the recipe, and you might want to drink the leftovers with dinner.
- Honey: Runny, clear honey.
- Other ingredients: dried or fresh thyme (dried or fresh rosemary are great as well), olive oil, chicken broth, cornstarch, sea or kosher salt, and black pepper.
How to cook turkey chops?
Start with the vegetables:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit/ 200 degrees Celsius. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Prepare vegetables: Peel the outer leaves of the sprouts and trim off the stem. If the sprouts are small, leave them whole; if they are large, halve them. Peel and cut the carrots slightly on the diagonal. Peel and chop the sweet potato into 1.2 inch/3 cm cubes. Peel and cut the onion into thin wedges. Peel and slice the garlic cloves.
- Season: Place all vegetables on the prepared baking dish. Add salt, pepper, thyme, and olive oil. Rub well with your hands until the veggies are coated with the oil mixture (1).
- Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the oven and the size of the veggies. Check with a fork to see if they are done (2).
- During the last 10-15 minutes of the roasting time, start with the meat and the sauce.
Meat:
- Pat the meat dry with a paper towel (you dont have to rinse turkey chops, the bacteria on it will only be destroyed by heat). Season with sea salt and pepper on both sides. Rub them slightly with the spices. You can also use poultry seasoning.
- Cook: Heat oil in a large skillet nonstick pan. Place turkey chops into the hot pan and cook on medium heat for 2 minutes; flip using tongs, and cook on the other side for another 2 minutes until golden brown (3).
- Keep warm: Remove from the pan and keep warm while you make the sauce.
Sauce:
- Reduce wine: Pour red wine into the pan and reduce it by half; this will take about 3-4 minutes (4).
- Add chicken stock, balsamic, and honey. Stir well and cook for about 1 minute.
- Thicken sauce: In the meantime, whisk cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Slowly whisk the slurry into the sauce. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly (5).
- Return chops and their accumulated juices to the pan, spoon some sauce over them and reheat gently on low heat for 1 or 2 minutes (6). Dont overcook!
How To Make Smothered Turkey Chops Taste Delicious
FAQ
What are turkey chops?
You cut the breast into chops, so that the rib mimics a pork chop/ bone in ribeye. Unfortunately, you only get about 2 per breast, so it’s quite a waste, because you really only cut it from the thickest part of the breast.
Are turkey chops good for you?
“Turkey is a great source of protein, rich in many vitamins and minerals, and is low-fat – if you don’t eat the skin,” Champagne said. It’s rich in B-complex vitamins niacin, B6 and B12 and the essential nutrient choline.
Are turkey chops and cutlets the same?
Are turkey chops the same as turkey cutlets? Yes! Both of these refer to a thin sliced, boneless cut of turkey that cooks very quickly. It can be found in the meat section of your grocery store under either name.
How do you cook Turkey chops in the oven?
Cooking turkey chops in the oven is a hassle-free way to prepare them that results in juicy, tender meat every time. Wrap Up! Preheat your oven to 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the turkey chops in a baking dish and brush them with olive oil. Season the turkey chops with salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings or marinades.
How to cook turkey breast chops?
Drizzle a bit of olive oil on both sides of the turkey chops and gently massage it in. This helps to enhance the flavor and keep the meat tender. Season the turkey breast chops with salt, pepper, and your desired herbs and spices. Don’t be afraid to get creative here! Experiment with different flavors to suit your taste.
What are the best ingredients for Turkey chops?
The homemade or store-bought version is completely acceptable. Flour- The main ingredient for the best turkey chops. You want to use it for dredging. Minced Garlic—If you want a roast garlicky taste, this is your go-to. It helps to balance any spiciness in the recipe. A complete list of ingredients will be listed below. How to cook?