Home > Holidays and Events > Christmas
Updated: • Published: • Leave a Comment
Jump to Recipe Save Pin Recipe
No ratings yet
This Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast with Sage and Onion Stuffing is a delicious twist on the traditional whole turkey roast.
Using a turkey breast gives you a beautiful centerpiece that's easier to handle, cooks faster, and delivers all the classic holiday flavors in a compact, sliceable form. Rolling the stuffing into the turkey breast means every slice has the perfect blend of tender meat and savory filling, so each serving is packed with flavor.
Whether you're cooking for a smaller gathering, need extra meat for a large gathering, or just want an easier way to serve up holiday turkey, this rolled turkey breast is a fantastic choice. It's simple enough for a family meal yet impressive enough for a holiday table, and it carves up beautifully for a picture-perfect presentation.
Ingredient Notes
These notes are here to help make this recipe a success; they cover some but not all ingredients. For a complete ingredient list for this Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast, check out the recipe card below.
White sandwich bread:Any white bread will work here, but I use a hearty white sandwich bread with a firm crumb.They are often labeled as country bread. For this recipe, you need around 3 slices of bread, giving you 2¼ cups of fresh breadcrumbs.
Onions:I use regular brown ones, but you can use white or yellow ones.
Fresh sage:This gives the stuffing its classic taste. Fresh is best here as it perfumes the stuffing and the meat far better. But if you only have dried sage, use half the amount.
Broth:I use chicken broth, but you can substitute vegetable or turkey broth if you have them.
Boneless turkey breast:You can buy these from the butchers all year around (sometimes you have to order them) and from the grocery store around the holidays. I prefer to buy one with the skin on, as it helps keep the meat juicy. But you can use skinless if you prefer. If you buy your turkey breast from a butcher, ask him to butterfly it for youasit saves time and effort.You can do this yourself at home. The picture below shows a butterflied chicken breast, but the method is the same.
Recipe Tips
We've tested this recipe at least 3 times to ensure it works well for you. Have a look at our tips for getting the best dish you can!
- When making the breadcrumbs, you want a course crumb; I like to use the pulse function on my food processor to ensure I don't make them too fine.
- Cook the onions over a low heat so they soften without getting any color. You want the sweet onion taste without any caramelization.
- If you are making the turkey in advance, ensure the stuffing is completely cool before stuffing the turkey breast with it.
- Rolling the turkey is tricky to do perfectly. But don't worry. You are looking to have most of the stuffing inside the breast. If a little bit of squeezing is out, it will be fine. The easiest way is to put the stuffing in the very middle of the butterflied turkey breast, fold it back up, and hold it together with the string. The most important thing is to not get any skin inside the roll, as this can get chewy.
- Use cooking twine to tie the turkey breast together; this helps to stop the roast from falling apart as it cooks. You can do fancy butcher knots, but to be honest, lengths wrapped around the turkey and tied in a simple knot work just as well. I like to cut the ends off the string so the knots are neat. This helps stop them from burning and soaking up too much liquid.
Why You'll Love This Rolled Turkey Breast with Sage and Onion Stuffing
- It is easier to cook than a whole turkey.
- It is perfect for smaller holiday gatherings. (it serves 6 people)
- You can serve more people if you roast it, as well as a whole turkey or a joint of beef if you are feeding a large party.
- It can be prepped in advance and only takes an hour to cook.
Want to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Recipe Adaptions
These are all just suggestions and things that have worked in our test kitchen, but it is your dinner, so adapt it to suit your family. That is the beauty of cooking; we can all create our own delicious meals.
- Replace the fresh breadcrumbs with dried breadcrumbs. This will change the texture of the stuffing, but it still tastes great. You'll need half the amount of dried breadcrumbs.
- You can swap the herbs around in the stuffing. Thyme, oregano, and rosemary all work well with turkey. Or go for a mixture of herbs.
- If you have a larger turkey breast, the recipe will still work. You may need to double the stuffing mixture. Or add some sausage meat to the stuffing to make it go further. A larger turkey breast will take longer to cook. Ensure it is at 150ºF/65ºC before pulling it from the oven.
Serving Suggestions
Sides:When it comes to holiday meals, everyone agrees that there needs to be potatoes! For me, that means super buttery mashed potatoes and some crispy roast potatoes. Some brussel spouts and a side of cheesy carrot casserole are a must. If you want a bit of traditional British, then some bacon-wrapped sausages are spot on. Oh, and don't forget the gravy!
Wine:An unoaked or lightly oaked Chardonnayis a wonderful choice. The unoaked version offers crisp acidity and subtle fruit flavors, while a lightly oaked Chardonnay adds a buttery richness that will complement the stuffing. Alternatively, an aromaticViognier(my favorite) brings a savory yet floral flavor that pairs beautifully with the sage and sweet onion.
For red wine lovers,Pinot Noirwould be a classic pairing with its soft tannins, red berry flavors, and earthy undertones, it will enhance the sage in the stuffing but still balance the subtle turkey. For something slightly bolder but still balanced,a Grenache would bring ripe berry flavors and subtle spice that warm up the dish without overpowering its delicate flavors.
Enjoy x
If you try thisRolled Stuffed Turkey Breast with Sage and Onion Stuffing, please leave a 🌟star ratingand let me know how it went in thecommentsbelow. I really appreciate it, and it helps others to know that the recipe is trustworthy.
Any questions about the recipe? Use the comments section below.
Get the Recipe
Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast with Sage and Onion Stuffing
Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
This Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast with Sage and Onion Stuffing is a delicious twist on the traditional whole turkey roast. Using a turkey breast gives you a beautiful centerpiece that's easier to handle, cooks faster, and delivers all the classic holiday flavors in a compact, sliceable form.Whether you're cooking for a smaller gathering, need extra meat for a large gathering, or just want an easier way to serve up holiday turkey, this rolled turkey breast is a fantastic choice.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Main
Cuisine Modern British
Servings 6
Calories 275 kcal
Ingredients
For the stuffing
- 3 slices white sandwich bread (see note 1)
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1 large onion finely diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2½ tablespoon broth (see note 2&4)
For the Turkey:
- 2 lb boneless turkey breast (see note 3)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup broth see note 4
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350ºF/175ºC.
Make the stuffing
Place the slices of bread in a food processor and whizz them until you have a coarse breadcrumb.
3 slices white sandwich bread
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the chopped onion and cook it until softened but not colored (around 15 minutes)
3 tablespoon butter
1 large onion
Stir in the sage, parsley, salt, and pepper, then cook for another 2 minutes.
1 tablespoon fresh sage
¼ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Add the breadcrumbs and stir them to coat in the buttery onions.
Add the broth and stir until everything is combined. (see note 2)
2½ tablespoon broth
Allow to cook if you are making the turkey in advance. Or continue with the recipe if you are about to cook the turkey.
Butterfly the turkey breast (or ask your butcher)
Place the raw boneless turkey breast on a chopping board.
2 lb boneless turkey breast
Keeping the knife flat and parallel to the board, start cutting horizontally through the length of the turkey breast, gently opening the breast like you are opening a book; just don't cut all the way through. You should have one large piece of turkey, and the skin side should now be on the chopping board. (see pictures in the post for visuals)
Prepare the rolled turkey
Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the cut side of the turkey.
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Spread the stuffing over the middle section of the breast, then carefully roll the turkey up so the skin is on the outside and the stuffing is sandwiched inside.
Tie the turkey breast with kitchen string at 1 ½-inch intervals. Tie it as tightly as possible to ensure it stays rolled up and roasts evenly.
Place the rolled turkey breast onto a rack in a roasting pan, ensuring that the skin faces up.
Pat the skin dry with paper towels, then brush the skin all over with olive oil.
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pour the broth and water into the roasting pan (do not pour over the turkey) and roast for between 40-50 minutes, until the skin is golden brown and the internal temperature is 150º F. (The exact time will depend on the size of your turkey and how tightly you rolled it)
1 cup broth
1 cup boiling water
Remove the turkey from the oven, cover it with foil, and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
Serve in thick slices and drizzle with any pan juices if desired.
Notes
- Any white bread will work here, but I use a hearty white sandwich bread with a firm crumb.They are often labeled as country bread. For this recipe, you need around 3 slices of bread, giving you 2¼ cups of fresh breadcrumbs. You can replace the fresh breadcrumbs with dried breadcrumbs. This will change the texture of the stuffing, but it still tastes great. You'll need half the amount of dried breadcrumbs.
- You may need to add a little extra broth to your mixture, as the exact amount required depends on how dry your breadcrumbs are. You want the mixture to be thoroughly moist but with no excess liquid in the pan.
- You can buy these from the butchers all year round (sometimes you have to order them) and from the grocery store around the holidays. I prefer to buy one with the skin on, as it helps keep the meat juicy. But you can use skinless if you prefer. If you buy your turkey breast from a butcher, ask him to butterfly it for you, as it saves time and effort.
- I use chicken broth, but you can substitute vegetable or turkey broth if you have them.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Nutrition
Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 923mg | Potassium: 457mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition is per serving
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
More Christmas
- Turkey and Ham Pot Pies
- Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes
- Honey Baked Turkey Breast
- Crockpot Turkey Breast
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.