Description
Succulent herb-roasted turkey breast with classic stuffing delights family gatherings. Tender, aromatic herbs and savory bread cubes create a comforting meal you’ll savor with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bone-in turkey breast (5 to 7 pounds / 2.27 to 3.18 kilograms)
- 4 tbsps (60 ml) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 8 cups cubed day-old bread (such as French or Italian bread)
- ½ cup (120 ml) unsalted butter
- 2 cups (480 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tsps chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 tsps chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsps chopped fresh sage
- 1 tsp dried sage
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tsps kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lemon, zested and quartered
- Fresh herb sprigs (rosemary, thyme, sage) for cavity
Instructions
- Herb Infusion: Whisk olive oil with rosemary, thyme, sage, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl to create a robust seasoning blend.
- Turkey Preparation: Thoroughly massage the herb mixture across the turkey breast, ensuring complete coverage, then drizzle fresh lemon juice over the surface and tuck lemon halves into the cavity to amplify aromatic depth.
- Roasting Setup: Arrange the turkey breast skin-side up in a parchment-lined roasting pan, creating a shallow chicken broth base to maintain consistent moisture during cooking.
- Oven Roasting: Position the pan in a preheated 350F (175C) oven, roasting for 1.5 to 2 hours, intermittently basting with pan juices to enhance flavor and prevent drying.
- Doneness Check: Confirm the turkey’s internal temperature reaches 165F (74C) using a meat thermometer to ensure safe and perfect cooking.
- Stuffing Creation: Sauté diced onions, celery, and grated carrots in melted butter until translucent, then combine with cubed bread, sage, thyme, and parsley in a large mixing bowl.
- Stuffing Preparation: Gradually add chicken broth to the vegetable-bread mixture, seasoning with salt and pepper, and stirring to achieve a moist, cohesive texture.
- Baking Stuffing: Transfer the stuffing to a greased baking dish, initially covering with foil, then bake alongside the turkey for 25-30 minutes, uncovering the final 10 minutes to develop a golden, crisp top.
- Resting and Serving: Allow the turkey to rest for 10 minutes after roasting, then slice and plate with the freshly baked stuffing, garnishing with additional fresh herbs for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Herb Massage Technique: Thoroughly rub herb mixture under the skin and all over the turkey breast to maximize flavor penetration and ensure even seasoning.
- Moisture Preservation Trick: Always place chicken broth at the bottom of the roasting pan to create steamy environment, preventing turkey from drying out during long roasting process.
- Temperature Precision: Use a reliable meat thermometer to check internal temperature; 165F is critical for food safety without overcooking the meat.
- Stuffing Consistency Control: Mix bread cubes gradually with broth, stopping when mixture reaches moist but not soggy texture to prevent dense, heavy stuffing.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg