This cranberry-stuffed turkey breast is a festive, flavorful take on a traditional holiday centerpiece. With juicy, tender meat wrapped around a herby, tangy stuffing, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s both beautiful and delicious. Ideal for intimate holiday gatherings or a refined Sunday dinner, this turkey roulade makes a memorable main dish without the stress of cooking a whole bird. The sweet cranberries and savory herbs come together perfectly, making every bite burst with comforting, seasonal flavor.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
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1 large boneless skinless turkey breast (about 3 lbs), butterflied
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1/2 tablespoon butter
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1/2 tablespoon olive oil
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1 small onion, chopped
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2 celery stalks, chopped
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2 garlic cloves, minced
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1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
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1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
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1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
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1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
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Freshly ground black pepper to taste
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1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
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3 cups whole wheat bread cubes, toasted
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1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
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Olive oil spray or cooking spray
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Butcher’s twine for tying
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a roasting pan with foil or parchment paper and lightly spray with oil.
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In a medium skillet, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and garlic. Cook until soft, about 5–6 minutes.
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Add parsley, sage, rosemary, salt, and pepper, cooking for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and add broth, bread cubes, and cranberries. Mix until moistened.
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Lay the butterflied turkey breast flat on a clean surface. Spread the stuffing evenly over the meat, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
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Roll the turkey breast tightly and secure with butcher’s twine at 2-inch intervals.
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Place in the prepared roasting pan seam-side down. Lightly spray the top with oil and season with salt and pepper.
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Roast uncovered for 70–80 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 80 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Kcal: 240 kcal | Servings: 6 servings
A Perfect Holiday Centerpiece: Stuffed Turkey Breast with Cranberry Herb Stuffing
When the holiday season rolls around, or you’re looking to host a special dinner without the complexity of roasting a whole bird, Stuffed Turkey Breast with Cranberry Herb Stuffing is a delightful and elegant solution. This dish brings the essence of classic Thanksgiving flavors in a refined, manageable format. Juicy turkey breast rolled with a fragrant mixture of herbs, bread cubes, and sweet-tart cranberries makes for a show-stopping entrée that feels both traditional and modern.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the history, preparation, flavor combinations, and serving tips that make this dish so special. Whether you’re cooking for a small family gathering, a festive holiday table, or just treating yourself to something special, this recipe offers comfort, elegance, and seasonal flair.
The Charm of Turkey Roulade
A turkey roulade is essentially a rolled and stuffed turkey breast. It’s a clever and practical alternative to cooking a whole turkey, especially for smaller groups. By butterflying and flattening the breast meat, then rolling it around a flavorful stuffing, you create a compact roast that cooks evenly, slices beautifully, and retains its moisture.
This method dates back to European culinary traditions, where roulades were a common way to stuff and roast meats in a compact, attractive format. By adapting this method to turkey, the dish becomes uniquely suited for holiday gatherings without the stress and leftovers associated with a full bird.
Flavor Profile: Sweet, Savory, and Herbaceous
What sets this recipe apart is its balance of flavors. The turkey, which can sometimes be bland on its own, becomes a canvas for the savory richness of sautéed onions, garlic, and celery, accented with fresh herbs like sage, rosemary, and parsley. These aromatic herbs not only enhance the stuffing but also permeate the meat from the inside, resulting in a deeply flavorful roast.
Dried cranberries are a star ingredient here. Their sweetness contrasts beautifully with the savory stuffing and slightly salty turkey. As they cook inside the roulade, they soften and release subtle tartness, making each bite feel festive and multidimensional. This balance of flavors evokes the traditional sweet-savory combinations seen in many holiday dishes, from cranberry sauce to glazed carrots.
A Leaner, Healthier Alternative
One of the best things about this dish is that it’s health-conscious without compromising on taste. Turkey breast is naturally low in fat and high in protein, making it a lean meat choice that aligns well with a variety of dietary goals.
Compared to traditional stuffing-laden, butter-basted whole turkeys, this recipe uses a modest amount of oil and butter for sautéing and skips excessive basting altogether. The result is a dish that’s lighter on calories but still rich in flavor and satisfying enough to stand up to any festive menu.
Ideal for Intimate Gatherings
In recent years, there’s been a growing trend toward scaled-down celebrations from Friendsgivings to smaller holiday dinners. A stuffed turkey breast fits this shift perfectly. It’s much easier to manage than a 12-pound turkey and doesn’t require a giant oven, special tools, or an entire day in the kitchen.
Even better, because the meat is rolled and tied with stuffing inside, you still get that “slice of everything” in each portion the tender meat, the soft, herbaceous stuffing, and the occasional sweet surprise of a cranberry. It’s all there in a neat, satisfying package.
Cooking Tips for the Best Results
To ensure success, here are some helpful tips for perfecting your stuffed turkey breast:
1. Butterflying and Flattening the Breast
Ask your butcher to butterfly the turkey breast for you, or do it at home by slicing horizontally, being careful not to cut all the way through. Once open, cover it with plastic wrap and use a meat mallet to pound it to an even thickness. This step ensures even cooking and easy rolling.
2. Don’t Overstuff
Less is more when it comes to stuffing. Overstuffing can lead to uneven cooking and cause the roll to fall apart. Spread the stuffing evenly but leave a half-inch border to allow room for rolling and sealing the edges.
3. Tie it Right
Use butcher’s twine to secure the roll at 2-inch intervals. This keeps the roulade tight during roasting and prevents the stuffing from escaping. If you don’t have twine, toothpicks or kitchen-safe silicone bands can work in a pinch.
4. Roast with Care
Place the roulade seam-side down in a roasting pan so it maintains its shape. Lightly spray the top with oil to promote browning and crispness. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness; turkey breast is perfect at 160°F and will rise slightly while resting.
5. Rest Before Slicing
Resting the meat for at least 10 minutes after roasting allows the juices to redistribute and makes slicing easier. Use a sharp knife to cut clean, beautiful rounds that showcase the spiral of stuffing.
Serving Suggestions
This dish pairs well with classic holiday side dishes. Consider serving it alongside:
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Mashed or roasted potatoes for a hearty base
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Green beans with almonds or roasted Brussels sprouts for color and crunch
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Cranberry sauce to amplify the cranberry flavor in the stuffing
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Gravy or a simple pan sauce made from the roasting drippings
A crisp white wine like a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc can beautifully complement the herbaceous and fruity notes in the dish. For a non-alcoholic pairing, a sparkling apple cider or pomegranate spritzer works equally well.
Make-Ahead and Storage
One of the best features of this recipe is that it can be prepped ahead. Assemble the roulade a day in advance and keep it tightly wrapped in the fridge. When you’re ready to cook, just roast and serve no last-minute chaos.
Leftovers are just as delightful. Sliced cold or reheated gently, they make excellent turkey sandwiches, salad toppers, or wraps the next day. You can also freeze portions for future meals.
A Dish Worth Returning To
While the Stuffed Turkey Breast with Cranberry Herb Stuffing is perfect for holidays, it’s versatile enough to make appearances year-round. You can adapt the stuffing with seasonal ingredients try apples and walnuts in fall, or mushrooms and spinach in winter. The core technique of butterflying, stuffing, and roasting the breast gives you a template for endless flavor combinations.
Conclusion:
This dish celebrates the spirit of tradition with a twist of modern practicality. It’s elegant yet approachable, comforting yet elevated. Whether you’re looking for a memorable holiday main or just want to explore a new way to enjoy turkey, this recipe delivers both flavor and function in equal measure.
In a world that often demands more, the simplicity of a rolled, stuffed turkey breast reminds us that less can indeed be more especially when that “less” is rolled up with herbs, cranberries, and care. Serve it with love, and you’ll have a meal to remember.
