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This bacon-wrapped porchetta-style turkey breast brings a savory twist to your traditional Thanksgiving meal. The tender turkey, stuffed with a flavorful mix of herbs and sourdough, is wrapped in crispy bacon for a mouthwatering experience.
Perfect for a festive family gathering, this dish offers a beautiful balance of flavors and textures, from the rich turkey to the herby stuffing and crispy bacon exterior. It’s a perfect centerpiece for your holiday spread, and a true crowd-pleaser that will have everyone coming back for more.
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Full Recipe:
- 3/4 pounds thick-cut bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped fine
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped fine
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 cups day-old country sourdough, cut or torn into 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
- 1 tablespoon thyme, picked
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 (4 pounds) boneless half turkey breast, butterflied (ask your butcher to do this)
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
- Olive oil
- 12 slices bacon
- Twine for tying
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until golden and starting to crisp. Add butter, onion, celery, and garlic, and sauté in bacon fat until tender and golden.
- Add the sourdough cubes to the skillet with sage, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper, stirring to coat. Pour in chicken broth and cook for 2-3 minutes, letting the mixture soak up the liquid.
- Lay the butterflied turkey breast flat and season with salt and pepper. Spread the stuffing mixture evenly over the turkey.
- Roll the turkey up tightly into a cylinder and tie it with twine. Rub the exterior with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Lay the 12 slices of bacon over the rolled turkey breast, securing them with toothpicks or twine.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the turkey is cooked through and the bacon is crispy.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with your favorite sides.
Prep Time: 25 minutes | Cooking Time: 1 hour 10 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
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Kcal: 580 kcal | Servings: 6 servings
Thanksgiving Stuffed Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast: A Showstopper for Your Holiday Table
When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, most people envision a traditional roasted turkey as the star of the show. However, if you’re looking to break away from the classic and add a touch of sophistication to your holiday feast, the Thanksgiving Stuffed Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast is the perfect choice. This dish elevates the humble turkey breast to new heights by stuffing it with savory ingredients, rolling it up in crispy bacon, and roasting it to perfection. It’s a hearty, flavorful alternative to the whole turkey, and it’s sure to impress your guests.
Why Choose a Stuffed Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast?
The beauty of the stuffed porchetta-style turkey breast lies in its versatility. Unlike a traditional whole turkey, which can be difficult to carve and requires long cooking times, this dish is easier to manage and much more forgiving in terms of preparation. By using a boneless turkey breast, the meat cooks more evenly, resulting in a juicy and tender texture that’s often harder to achieve with a whole bird.
The porchetta-style preparation is inspired by Italian cooking, where pork is traditionally rolled with herbs, garlic, and sometimes vegetables, then roasted to create a flavorful, succulent roast. In this recipe, the turkey breast takes the place of pork, but the concept remains the same: a seasoned, herby stuffing enveloped in crispy bacon. The result is a delightful contrast between the crispy bacon exterior, the juicy turkey breast, and the rich, flavorful stuffing.
Flavor Profile: Savory, Herbaceous, and Rich
One of the key attractions of this dish is the bold flavor profile. The combination of fresh herbs such as sage, thyme, and rosemary gives the stuffing a fragrant, earthy aroma that complements the turkey beautifully. Sourdough bread, used in the stuffing, provides a slightly tangy flavor and a hearty texture, while the addition of bacon adds a savory richness that makes each bite more indulgent.
The crispy bacon wrapping on the turkey breast not only adds a delightful crunch but also imparts a smoky depth to the turkey, making it even more savory. The stuffing itself is a perfect balance of flavors: it’s seasoned well with salt, pepper, and aromatic herbs, and moistened with a touch of chicken broth to keep it soft and succulent. This is a dish that appeals to both traditionalists who love the comforting flavors of Thanksgiving and those who crave something new and exciting.
Preparation Tips: Mastering the Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast
While this recipe may seem complex at first glance, it’s actually quite simple to execute, especially if you follow a few helpful tips to ensure everything goes smoothly.
- Butterflying the Turkey Breast: This is the first and most important step in preparing the turkey. Butterflying the turkey means cutting it open to create a flat, even surface that will make it easier to stuff. You can ask your butcher to do this for you, or if you prefer to tackle it yourself, be sure to use a sharp boning knife to carefully slice through the center of the turkey breast. The goal is to open it up like a book so it can be stuffed and rolled.
- Even Stuffing Distribution: When preparing the stuffing, make sure to evenly distribute it over the entire surface of the turkey breast. This will ensure that every bite of turkey is complemented by the savory stuffing. Don’t overstuff the turkey, as this can make it difficult to roll and secure. Aim for a generous, but even, layer of filling.
- Bacon Wrapping: The bacon serves two purposes: it provides flavor and helps keep the turkey breast moist during roasting. When wrapping the turkey with bacon, make sure to lay the slices over the turkey breast in a crisscross pattern to cover the entire surface. Secure the bacon with toothpicks or twine so that it doesn’t unravel during cooking. If you want extra crispiness, you can broil the turkey for a few minutes after it’s done roasting to crisp up the bacon even further.
- Roasting Time: Roasting times can vary depending on the size of your turkey breast, but a general guideline is to roast at 325°F for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. It’s essential to let the turkey rest for about 10 minutes after removing it from the oven so the juices can redistribute, ensuring a moist and flavorful roast.
- Brining the Turkey: While not essential, brining the turkey breast before cooking can help to infuse the meat with additional flavor and moisture. A simple brine made with water, salt, and sugar (plus any herbs or aromatics you like) can improve the overall texture and taste of the turkey. If you’re in a time crunch, however, skipping the brine won’t affect the final result too much.
Serving Suggestions: The Perfect Holiday Meal
Once you’ve roasted your Thanksgiving Stuffed Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast, it’s time to think about the sides and how to plate the dish. Since this recipe is already packed with flavor, you don’t need much else to complete the meal. However, a few complementary side dishes can elevate the entire dining experience.
- Crispy Roasted Vegetables: Consider roasting a selection of root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. Their sweetness and caramelized exterior will pair wonderfully with the savory richness of the turkey.
- Mashed Potatoes: You can never go wrong with classic mashed potatoes, which are perfect for soaking up any flavorful drippings from the turkey. For added richness, you can incorporate roasted garlic or cream cheese into the mash.
- Cranberry Sauce: A zesty, tangy cranberry sauce can balance the richness of the turkey and bacon, providing a refreshing contrast to the dish’s savory elements.
- Brussels Sprouts: Roasted Brussels sprouts, perhaps tossed with a little balsamic vinegar and maple syrup, are another excellent side dish. Their slight bitterness pairs well with the saltiness of the bacon.
Why This Dish is Perfect for Thanksgiving
What sets the Thanksgiving Stuffed Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast apart from other holiday dishes is its combination of tradition and innovation. It takes the classic turkey and stuffing combo, but enhances it with layers of flavor, a crispy bacon finish, and a beautifully elegant presentation. It’s a dish that can be the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table, without the stress of cooking a whole turkey.
For those looking for a new take on Thanksgiving dinner, this recipe is a showstopper. It combines the best elements of a traditional feast—tender turkey, flavorful stuffing, and rich gravy—with a modern twist. Whether you’re feeding a small family or hosting a larger gathering, this dish can easily scale to suit your needs. It’s also ideal for those who prefer white meat or have guests who may not be fans of dark meat turkey.
Conclusion: A Flavorful Centerpiece for Your Thanksgiving Feast
The Thanksgiving Stuffed Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast is more than just a meal—it’s an experience. It’s a dish that brings people together and creates lasting memories. With its combination of tender turkey, savory herb stuffing, and crispy bacon, it offers a modern spin on traditional holiday flavors that will impress even the most discerning guests.
This recipe is not only delicious but also relatively simple to prepare, making it perfect for both seasoned cooks and those new to holiday meal prep. The key to success lies in the quality of the ingredients, a few thoughtful preparation tips, and patience while roasting the turkey to perfection. So, why not make this year’s Thanksgiving extra special with a dish that’s sure to be the highlight of your celebration?
With a little time, effort, and love, you’ll have a meal that everyone will remember for years to come. Happy cooking, and happy Thanksgiving!
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Thanksgiving Stuffed Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Description
This bacon-wrapped porchetta-style turkey breast brings a savory twist to your traditional Thanksgiving meal. The tender turkey, stuffed with a flavorful mix of herbs and sourdough, is wrapped in crispy bacon for a mouthwatering experience.
Perfect for a festive family gathering, this dish offers a beautiful balance of flavors and textures, from the rich turkey to the herby stuffing and crispy bacon exterior. It’s a perfect centerpiece for your holiday spread, and a true crowd-pleaser that will have everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients
- 3/4 pounds thick-cut bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped fine
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped fine
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 cups day-old country sourdough, cut or torn into 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
- 1 tablespoon thyme, picked
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 (4 pounds) boneless half turkey breast, butterflied (ask your butcher to do this)
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
- Olive oil
- 12 slices bacon
- Twine for tying
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until golden and starting to crisp. Add butter, onion, celery, and garlic, and sauté in bacon fat until tender and golden.
- Add the sourdough cubes to the skillet with sage, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper, stirring to coat. Pour in chicken broth and cook for 2-3 minutes, letting the mixture soak up the liquid.
- Lay the butterflied turkey breast flat and season with salt and pepper. Spread the stuffing mixture evenly over the turkey.
- Roll the turkey up tightly into a cylinder and tie it with twine. Rub the exterior with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Lay the 12 slices of bacon over the rolled turkey breast, securing them with toothpicks or twine.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the turkey is cooked through and the bacon is crispy.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with your favorite sides.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes