This recipe provides a brilliant solution for those moments when Thanksgiving cravings strike, but you're neither in the season nor in the mood for an elaborate feast. It simplifies the grandeur of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner by focusing on the essential elements: tender turkey and savory stuffing. By using a boneless turkey breast, which cooks faster and more evenly than a whole bird, you're spared the lengthy roasting time and potential challenges of cooking larger poultry. The stuffing, with its familiar herbs and ingredients, delivers that quintessential Thanksgiving taste but is uncomplicated to prepare. Merging these elements, the dish offers a harmonious blend of flavors and textures reminiscent of the November holiday. Additionally, with a straightforward preparation and baking process, it's a cinch to whip up on a weeknight. In essence, this recipe captures the essence of Thanksgiving in a format that's both accessible and delectable, making it perfect for those nights when you want comfort and nostalgia on your plate without the fuss.
Serving size: 6-8 people
Time: 2 hours
Ingredients for the turkey:
- 1 large boneless turkey breast
- salt & pepper, to taste
- Fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, parsley)
Ingredients for the stuffing:
- ½ onion, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup chopped canned mushrooms, discard the water
- ½ cup diced green apples
- 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
- ½ cup cooked ground sausage (optional)
- 1.5 teaspoons [Not So] SIMPLE SPICE
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley
- ½ box of cooked jiffy cornbread, crumbled
- 2 cooked homestyle biscuits, torn into pieces
- 1 raw egg
- 1 cup chicken broth or turkey drippings
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Sauté onion and celery in 2 tablespoons butter until soft.
- In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients then pour into a greased pan.
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes then remove from the oven.
- Turn up the oven to 375 degrees.
- Lay the turkey breast skin-side down onto a cookie sheet lined with foil or greased. (If the turkey breast is too thick, you may need to butterfly it to create more space for the stuffing)
- Season the inside with salt, pepper, and some fresh herbs.
- Spread the stuffing evenly over the turkey breast, leaving a border around the edges.
- Carefully roll the turkey breast, tucking in the stuffing, and tie it securely with kitchen twine.
- Rub the outside with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and additional herbs.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour or until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165 degrees and the skin is golden brown.
- Once cooked, let the turkey breast rest for about 15 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!