This Apple Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe is perfect for when you’re craving turkey but don’t want to deal with brining and baking a whole turkey. Perfect for 2 or 4 with no leftovers!
A Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe
In our family, turkey has always been reserved for large family gatherings at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. However, I tend to crave turkey and stuffing all year long. I just love it! This Turkey Breast recipe is Turkey Dinner on a smaller scale but still satisfies those stuffing cravings. Imagine coming home to the amazing aromas of turkey and stuffing on any weeknight!
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This past Thanksgiving was the first one that we didn’t have a full blown turkey dinner and a table full of family. Our feast was smaller and vegan because we were visiting our daughter in Vancouver. We enjoyed both stuffed tofurky and glazed tofu ham along with roasted veggies and home made cranberry sauce. I was so proud to see her and her friends gather together around the table to give thanks.
Apple Herb and Pine Nut Stuffing
Fall is in full swing and I have been waiting for the new crop Honey Crisp apples to make an appearance. They are absolutely my favourite apple because they are crisp and have the perfect balance of sweet and tart.
Apple is most commonly used in pork dishes but I felt it was the perfect slightly sweet yet punchy addition to my stuffing. Then, I cleaned out my herb garden for some thyme and sage; the most classic herbs used in stuffing.
Finally, for a little texture, I added some toasted pine nuts to the mix. The trick to fluffy, not stodgy stuffing is not to add too much moisture to the mixture even though it’s tempting to always add more butter. Remember, the apples will also release some moisture as they bake.
How Do You Butterfly a Turkey Breast?
Friends, let me tell you… this recipe looks a lot more difficult than it really is. Once you have butterflied the turkey breast, you’ve passed the most difficult part of the recipe.
To butterfly the turkey breast, place the skin side down on a board. Place your hand on top and insert a sharp knife into the middle of the thickest part of the breast. Cut through the breast horizontally taking care to keep the knife level as you slice. Stop short of cutting all the way through the breast.
Open the breast like a book and cover with plastic wrap. Using a heavy meat hammer, pound the breast until it is half an inch all over.
Remove the plastic wrap and cover it with stuffing. Press it down slightly so that it doesn’t move when you roll the breast. After the breast is rolled, use kitchen twine to tie it into a nice roasting shape. If you like, tuck the end flaps in and hold into position with toothpicks.
How Do You Cook A Stuffed Turkey Breast?
Begin by searing the stuffed breast in a hot frying pan with some olive oil. Once all the sides are browned, cover and bake in a 375 F oven.
This is also a great time to add cubed potatoes and/or vegetables to the pan. Alternatively, roast the stuffed breast at 400 F in an open roasting pan for an hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F.
Allow the breast to sit for 5-10 minutes before slicing into rounds.
What to Serve with Apple Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast
Apple Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast can be delicious at any time of the year. In the autumn serve it with extra stuffing balls, Pumpkin No Knead Bread, gravy, and mashed potatoes. During the summer, it would be perfect with creamed peas and a light strawberry spinach salad.
Now that you have mastered cooking a stuffed turkey breast, here’s how to cook turkey legs in a slow cooker. If you love dark meat and an easy ‘fix and forget’ recipe, this one’s for you!
Apple Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe
This Apple Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe is perfect for when you're craving turkey but don't want to deal with brining and baking a whole turkey. Perfect for 2 or 4 with no leftovers!
Ingredients
- 1 turkey breast
- 3 slices bread; torn into small crumbs
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- 1/4 onion; finely diced
- 1/2 tbsp thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp dried sage leaves
- 1/3 apple; small diced
- 1/4 cup butter; melted
- Salt and Pepper
- 1 1/2 lb (0.65 kg) boneless turkey breast
Instructions
- Place torn bread crumbs in a medium bowl.
- Add pine nuts to a dry frying pan and heat until they start to become fragrant. Stir to prevent burning. Remove from pan and add to bread crumbs.
- Add some olive oil to the pan and sauté the onions for a few minutes until they become translucent.
- Add the onions, thyme, sage, and apple to the bowl with the bread crumbs. Season and pour melted butter over all.
- Mix well. Dressing should just stick together but not be pasty. If it still seems a touch dry, add water by the teaspoon until it just sticks together.
- To prepare the turkey breast; place on a cutting board and using a sharp knife, slice it almost in half starting at the right side. Be very careful not to cut it all the way through and to keep the knife level so that the top and bottom end up an equal thickness.
- Open the turkey breast like a book and lay flat on the cutting board. Using a meat hammer, pound the breast flat so that it is an even thickness all over.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Pre-heat oven to 375 F.
- Place stuffing on top of the breast and press in so that it sticks slightly.
- Beginning at the short end, start rolling the turkey up. When you have a fully rolled breast, tie in even rounds with cooking string.
- Add some more oil to the pan you used for the onions, and sear the turkey roll on all sides. Season as you sear.
- Place in a roaster or Dutch oven, cover and bake for an hour or until the turkey reaches 165 F.
- Allow to stand for 5 minutes, remove string and slice in rounds. Serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 280Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 332mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 19g
Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.
Not only did it look incredible, i made the recipe. It was delicious and simple enough for just a Sunday dinner. I used whole grain flax and sunflower bread. and added a few dried cranberries with the apples. after roasting it in a covered pan, the turkey breast had some drippings so i made a very simple sauce to drizzle on the meat. it is beautiful dish.
Thank you so much for trying this stuffed turkey breast recipe Maria. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
I would love to make this recipe but plan on cooking a large turkey breast that is about 5 pounds. I plan to triple the amount of dressing, but am not sure how long I will need to cook the breast for it to reach 165 degrees.
Wow! That is huge…I really can’t say for sure as I’ve never done it. There’s no ‘cook time per pound’ listed anywhere either. Since it’s so big, I would double the cooking time and do a temperature check. Return it to the oven for more cooking time if needed then. The only way to really tell if it is done is the recommended temperature.
This looks so good and I love the stuffing ingredients! Love these flavors!
Thank you very much Paige.
This looks so good, especially the stuffing. I love the addition of herbs and fresh apples. Amazing how neat and delicious turkey looks.
Thank you Jo!! I love the flavour combination, it’s my favourite.
Oh my gosh! Your images are maki g me hungry. This looks like an awesome thanksgiving dinner.
Wow, this looks absolutely incredible! I would love to try this for dinner one of these nights, I guarantee my family will love it!
I hope they do! Thanks for stopping by Denise.
This looks absolutely beautiful! I love how the turkey is rolled up with the stuffing so you get everything in one bite!
Thank you Jamie…it’s a great way to eat turkey and stuffing.
Such a fabulous composition and an absolutely delicious recipe. Most importantly, so timely! 🙂 Great serving choice for summer, too!
I really think you could have this dish any time of year. Thanks for stopping by Danielle.
This is the quintessential holiday roast. How pretty! Thanks for your gorgeous how-to shots and step by step instructions.
You’re welcome, Tara. So glad you enjoyed this post.
This Apple Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe is making me super hungry! I could hear my tummy growl. I want this on my plate right now!
It’s delicious! Thanks for stopping by Dennis
This looks incredible, I swear I can almost smell it! The combination of chicken, apple and sage together is so comforting to me, I can’t turn it down.
And best of all…you’re not waiting 4 hours to eat it!
This looks delicious! What a great alternative to cooking a whole turkey! This is perfect for us as we are just hosting for a few people!
Wonderful…love that you’re hosting such an intimate Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy!
Oh my goodness I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! My partner Chris has a habit of buying huge turkeys when they are on sale, and as a family of three, it’s just too much. I’ve never thought to just buy a breast! It’s SO SMART! And that stuffing looks unreal. Making this for sure!!
This is a fabulous twist on a classic turkey breast. That stuffing is extra special, those bits of apples are pure genius. Great recipe!!
Thanks for stopping by Debbie!
I have never made a stuffed turkey breast and now I’ll definitely be giving it a try! The apples and herbs sound like a wonderful stuffing. Lucky you for getting to your herb garden before we got nailed with snow – I wasn’t so lucky and lost mine…. 🙁
It’s so nice you are able to go and visit your daughter for Thanksgiving. My boys are a good decade and a half off from living on their own (although there are days in which I wish I could speed up their ageing process rather then they speeding up mine!). Also, I like your idea of having a stuffed turkey breast. I’m planning my Christmas dinner for the family now, and there is always a friendly debate with my mother-in-law if I make turkey or beef. Making something like this might mean I can do both!
Yes, I’m quite lucky that my kids love to cook. This is the second Thanksgiving I have been treated to a great meal. My son grew all the vegetables for his Thanksgiving last year!
I couldn’t imagine beef for Christmas dinner but I guess everyone has their own traditions.
I actually have something similar in the works coming to my own blog – I love that you added apple! It’s nice to have something elegant like this to serve for the holidays when you don’t want a giant turkey! Yum! Pinned.
Looking forward to seeing your own version Katherine! Thanks for stopping by.
Your stuffing looks SO good!! I love this idea for Thanksgiving especially if you’re having a smaller crowd. Perfect!
Thank you Tammy, we were very happy to just have a little bit of turkey and not a whole bunch of leftovers.
The pictures are beautiful, Bernice! The sage and apples are a perfect background for your stuffed turkey. You know I am vegetarian, but I am pretty sure the flavors are amazing and Loreto would highly enjoy it!
thank you Nicoletta! Thank goodness sage is very hardy…that sage was taken from my herb garden after 2 snowstorms! I cleaned it right out. PS the stuffing would also be amazing in a squash…though I am allergic so you’ll never see that recipe on here.
I did a stuffed butterflied turkey breast for Thanksgiving this year and it changed my life. Such a great alternative when you still want turkey but don’t want to have leftovers for a month. I love the combination of flavours you’ve used here for your stuffing and can’t wait to try this.
Yes! Moving forward I think this may be our go to when I’m not cooking for the entire family. Thanks for stopping by Yvonne.
This looks fantastic!!!!!!! Could this also be stuffed with cornbread dressing??? I can’t wait to make this!!!
Oh for sure! I was also thinking it would be great with a rice stuffing.
This looks incredible! You make it look easy to make, I think I shall try it!
Give it a try, it’s a nice change from a whole turkey.
Such a great fall dish and perfect for a smaller Thanksgiving meal!
Thank you for stopping by Phillip!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the flavors used in this recipe! Your photography is also stunning!
Thank you for stopping by Leslie!
I can imagine the deliciousness of this recipe. My relatives would love this. I am sharing your page with my brother though.
Thank you so much Gunjan, I hope they enjoy it and find it useful.
What a classic beauty. I love this recipe and the how to pictures make it so approachable. It’s going on the list for Thanksgiving…or just a holiday sunday dinner!
That’s the beauty of it…you can have it any time!
This Apple Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe is making me super hungry! I definitely love to experience this amazing aromas of turkey and stuffing! Thanks for sharing.
Yes I think it’s almost better when you’re not cooking it too. If you’re arriving somewhere as a guest and you walk into a house with those aromas, it’s the best!
I love this recipe for something a little different for Thanksgiving. That stuffing looks super delicious and full of fall flavor. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by Amanda!
All the YESSES to this recipe! I am loving absolutely everything about it from the stuffing, to how it’s made to your shots! Absolutely gorgeous and a killer recipe!