Make Thanksgiving a little easier this year with this holiday stuffed turkey breast! Don't forget to enter our holiday giveaway below to win a blue Rachel Ray cookware set this season!
Almost by its very nature, the holiday season simply insists that we the focus on the ‘big things.’ The ‘big days,’ the intentional memory-making, the long lists of guests and the pressure to ‘impress’ them, and of course the attempts to uphold family tradition while at the same time trying leave one’s own mark. There are shopping lists to be filled, menus to be planned, and a seemingly endless array of ‘busy work’ to be done all in preparation for these ‘big’ holidays.
With Thanksgiving nearly here, the focus of course is ‘fussing’ about turkey, plotting out ways to best prepare it, and how to plan the rest of evening’s menu around the stuffed fowl. Despite this, there’s precious little ‘eating’ of turkey throughout the season or in all of this lead up. One meal does not make a season, after all. But, of course, few of us ever consider this tiny bit of irony, and it’s hardly any wonder why. With this year’s bout of intentional memory-making crowding both our minds and our schedules, focusing one’s attention on the smaller and perhaps more pleasant details seems almost anathema to the increasingly hectic spirit of the season.
Yet, it is the ‘moments for self’ and the ‘little things’ that truly accentuate not just the season, not merely our memory-making, intentional or otherwise, but which highlights our very humanity. Think for a moment how often a stray turn of phrase, an aroma, or the lyric from a song, otherwise seemingly innocuous details, provide the spark for a memory. For this reason, I like to pepper the lead up to Thanksgiving with a few turkey dinners for myself and my kids, both for the memories, and for the much loved seasonal flavors.
Which brings us to today’s recipe – Stuffed Split-Turkey Breast with a Honeyed Fruit Stuffing. Simply put, this is a sort of a “Thanksgiving Preview.”
To start, we rub down the turkey breast with the herb and spice mixture outlined below, and message that into the turkey, being careful not to ‘displace’ or ‘detach’ the skin. After that, we prepare the stuffing using a base of chopped dried apricots and chopped dried cherries, which we enhance with fresh lemon juice, honey, and garlic. After combining that with the rest of the ingredients outlined below, we stuff this generously under the skin as described below.
Stuffed Turkey Breast
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 3 lb. split turkey breast
For the Turkey Rub:
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- Dash of ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 2 tbs. olive oil
For the Stuffing:
- 2 stalks of celery - chopped
- 3 cloves of fresh garlic - chopped
- 1/4 cup of fresh Italian Parsley - chopped
- 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro - chopped
- 1/4 cup of chopped dried apricots
- 1/4 cup of chopped dried cherries
- 1/2 cup of plain bread crumbs
- 3 tbs. fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup of honey
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
For the Turkey Rub:
- Combine all of the ingredients for the rub in a small bowl and mix.
- Gently message the turkey breast with the rub.
For the Stuffing:
- Gently lift the skin of the turkey breast and gently push the stuffing mixture under the skin.
- Preheat Oven 325 degrees F.
- Place the prepared turkey breast in a baking dish.
- Bake for 1 ¼ hours or until the meat thermometer reads 175 – 180 degrees F.
- Let the turkey rest for 12 – 15 minutes before carving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
Next, I like to put together a quick from-scratch gravy, and usually pair the turkey breast either with roast potato wedges or baked sweat potatoes. Of course, you can do all of this in style, from start to finish, with a premier Rachel Ray cookware set by entering this giveaway.
What are some of the ways you keep yourself focused on what’s important this holiday season? Or what are some of your favorite seasonal recipes? We would love to hear from you.
Enjoy the Love!
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anna jennai says
What a mouth watering food you have sharing thanks a lot
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
This looks excellent! The turkey breast looks super tender and juicy and that filling looks super delicious too.
Marye says
This stuffed turkey looks amazing! What a great alternative to a traditional roast Thanksgiving turkey!
Kristen Chidsey says
Catherine, I am hosting a friendsgiving this Friday and have a turkey breast ready to make--I think I am totally making this version!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Dear Catherine, I am so loving that cumin and coriander spiked turkey rub! And using breasts instead of the whole turkey makes this perfect - for Turkey day or anyday! I bet this would be wonderful with chicken too! Thanks so much for the recipe and for including me in your giveaway! Good luck with the contest! 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
This stuffed turkey breast looks amazing! It's perfect for Thanksgiving!
olivia @ livforcake says
This looks SO good! Love all of the spices and the stuffing sounds divine. Perfect for the holiday season!
lisa @panningtheglobe says
I love the mix of sweet dried fruits, tangy lemon, savory garlic.... Looks like a great stuffing!
Big Daddy Dave says
Catherine, That is a beautiful Thanksgiving presentation! If my wife would go for white meat vs. dark... I solved the problem this year...Prime Rib Roast for us and 'Big Dude'. I'd love to try a helping of your turkey though! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Maria says
I'm so excited to use this recipe for my fam this year!
Pam says
It all looks and sounds delicious, Catherine! I like stuffing just like this, lots of celery, dried cherries and apricots. I'm roasting a large turkey, plus a turkey breast and really like your way of doing it. Have a Blessed Happy Thanksgiving! Hugs
carolina g.ticala says
A very interesting post !!
We'll be in touch!!!!
Gingi Freeman says
OMG, what a delicious giveaway!!! Thanks for sharing!! <3 - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Joni says
I love Rachel Ray recipes
Michelle Parczick says
Thabks for sharing your recipe and going to try it out. Love to try new recipes all the time. And really live new cookwear to try all the new recipes that cook. Thanks for letting enter in the givaway.
Michelle
allie says
Dear Catherine, this looks WONDERFUL!!! What a beautifully stuffed turkey breast. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving together. I hope you are all well. I will be in touch soon, you have been on my heart. XO
Adina says
Wow! This is really an impressive looking turkey breast! I would love to try it.
Mary says
This Stuffed Turkey Breast looks so delish! I am definitely going to be trying this recipe!
Sabrina Zaragoza says
This stuffed turkey breast look so delicious. It'll be awsome to eat with family in dinner. Thanks for your recipe
Emily says
I love this!! Although the Thanksgiving is over, it is never too late to cook a good dish for our darling, right? Especially coming up to Christmas when most of us have visitors, what a great chance to cook this dish for them!