For many cooks, Thanksgiving means roasting a big beautiful turkey. But preparing a whole bird can be daunting. A great alternative is a bone-in stuffed turkey breast. But can you really stuff a turkey breast while keeping the bone in? Let’s explore the possibilities of stuffing bone-in turkey breasts for holidays, special occasions or anytime.
Understanding Bone-In Turkey Breasts
Bone-in turkey breasts contain part of the breastbone and ribs attached. This small breastbone resembles a wishbone shape. The bone lends moisture, flavor and structural support when roasting. Boneless turkey breasts lack these benefits sometimes drying out. For best results look for bone-in turkey breast halves with skin on.
Why Stuff a Bone-In Turkey Breast?
There are several advantages to stuffing boneless turkey breasts
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Adds moisture – Stuffing helps retain juices keeping meat tender
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Infuses flavor – Savory stuffing complements turkey creating delicious flavor fusion.
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Cooks evenly – Inner stuffing cooks along with outer breast meat.
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Feeds a crowd – A stuffed turkey breast serves more people than unstuffed.
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Fun presentation – Carving reveals beautiful spiral sliced stuffed breast.
Prepping the Bone-In Breast for Stuffing
Properly preparing the raw bone-in breast is important:
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Carefully remove giblets and neck. Rinse inside and pat dry.
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Separate skin from meat without totally detaching it.
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Loosen breast meat from bone without fully detaching.
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This allows stuffing ingredients to penetrate into breast for maximum flavor.
Best Stuffing Ingredients for Turkey Breasts
Consider lighter, more delicate stuffing flavors to complement the lean breast meat:
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Diced bread, corn bread or croissants
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Sauteed aromatics like onion, celery, mushrooms
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Fresh herbs – sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley
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Savory seasonings – garlic, black pepper, paprika
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Chicken or vegetable broth for moisture
Avoid very dense stuffings that may hinder even cooking.
How to Stuff a Bone-In Turkey Breast
After prepping the raw breast, stuff it carefully:
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Spoon stuffing into cavity without packing or cramming it in.
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Mound stuffing lightly leaving room for expansion.
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Truss up breast with kitchen string to contain stuffing if needed.
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Tie legs together over stuffing. Fasten wings back to hold shape.
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Rub skin with oil or butter and season all over with salt and pepper.
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Insert meat thermometer into thickest part without touching bone.
Roasting a Stuffed Bone-In Turkey Breast
Use these tips for roasting stuffed bone-in turkey breasts:
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Roast at 350°F on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
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Add 1/2 cup broth or wine to pan bottom to prevent drippings from burning.
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Baste turkey with pan juices every 30 minutes to keep moist and browned.
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Cook to 165°F internal temperature. Takes about 2 to 3 hours for a 5-7 lb breast.
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Let rest 15 minutes before carving for easiest slicing and juiciest meat.
Troubleshooting Bone-In Stuffed Turkey Breasts
Watch for these potential stuffing pitfalls:
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Undercooked stuffing – Use a meat thermometer to confirm 165°F.
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Dry turkey meat – Baste frequently and don’t overcook. Stop at 165°F.
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Uneven cooking – Allow proper time for thickness. Stuff lightly.
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Stuffing falls out – Truss up breast cavity securely so stuffing stays put.
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Soggy skin – Start breast skin-side up then flip over midway through roasting.
Carving Bone-In Stuffed Turkey Breasts
Carve stuffed turkey breasts carefully:
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Cut straight down along breastbone to slice stuffing and meat evenly.
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Angle knife to separate slices from bone.
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Cut across the grain for tenderest slices.
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Cut stuffing portion thicker since it holds together better.
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Slice any smaller portions still attached to the breastbone.
Enjoy Your Creations!
A beautifully bronzed bone-in stuffed turkey breast makes an elegant entree for holidays or dinner parties. But with practice, you can master preparing these any time of year. With attention to detail, you can indeed stuff bone-in turkey breasts for delicious results. Just follow proper techniques for preparing, stuffing, roasting and carving. Your guests will be impressed with your culinary skills.
How to Debone a Turkey Breast | Gimme that Recipe!
FAQ
Is it possible to stuff a turkey breast?
Is a turkey breast better with bone in?
Do I need to debone turkey breast?
Is a stuffed turkey breast boneless?
For easy carving and a golden roast, this stuffed turkey breast is boneless but keeps its crispy skin. For the prettiest roast, get a 5- to 7-pound bone-in skin-on breast roast. There are instructions for taking the keel bone, ribs, and backbone out of a whole roast and butterflying it in this recipe.
What is a bone-in Turkey Breast?
This bone-in turkey breast (turkey crown) has golden, crispy skin and moist, juicy white meat on the inside. It’s a quicker, smaller alternative to roasting a whole turkey. 8 pound bone-in turkey breast with skin, remove gizzards from turkey’s cavity.
How do you fill a turkey breast with stuffing?
Set the turkey breast opening side up and spoon stuffing into the cavity. Don’t pack it in, just fill it full. If you have brined the breast, you won’t need salt in your stuffing. Continue to 6 of 8 below. Heat the oven to 350 F. Place the filled breast on its side in the pan.
Can you eat a stuffed turkey breast?
You can enjoy a stuffed and roasted turkey breast for a feast or any time of year. When you don’t want the whole bird, this is a great option. You can find fresh or frozen bone-in turkey breasts at the market. As opposed to a boneless turkey breast, you will be able to stuff this as you would a whole bird.