Description
Succulent Thanksgiving Porchetta-Style Turkey Breast brings Italian culinary flair to classic holiday fare. Herbed pork belly wraps tender turkey, creating a show-stopping centerpiece that promises rich flavors and memorable moments for you at the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 (4 pounds) boneless half turkey breast, butterflied
- 3/4 pounds thick-cut bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 12 slices bacon
Herbs and Aromatics:
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
- 1 tablespoon thyme, picked
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped fine
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped fine
Stuffing and Seasoning:
- 3 cups day-old country sourdough, cut or torn into 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
- Olive oil
- Twine for tying
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 325°F, ensuring an optimal roasting temperature for the turkey breast.
- Render chopped bacon in a large skillet until golden and slightly crisp, creating a flavorful base for the stuffing.
- Incorporate butter, onion, celery, and garlic into the bacon drippings, sautéing until vegetables become tender and develop a rich golden hue.
- Introduce sourdough cubes to the skillet, mixing with sage, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Pour chicken broth over the bread mixture, allowing the cubes to absorb liquid and create a cohesive stuffing texture within 2-3 minutes.
- Butterfly the turkey breast and season with salt and pepper, creating a flat surface for even stuffing distribution.
- Spread the prepared stuffing mixture uniformly across the turkey breast, ensuring complete and consistent coverage.
- Carefully roll the turkey into a tight cylindrical shape, maintaining the stuffing’s integrity during the rolling process.
- Secure the rolled turkey with kitchen twine, preventing the stuffing from falling out and helping maintain its shape.
- Massage the exterior with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper to enhance flavor and promote crispy skin.
- Drape bacon slices over the turkey, overlapping them to create a protective and flavorful outer layer.
- Fasten bacon strips using toothpicks or additional twine to ensure they remain in place during roasting.
- Roast in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches safe cooking levels and bacon becomes crisp.
- Allow the porchetta-style turkey breast to rest for 10 minutes, enabling juices to redistribute and ensure a moist, tender result.
- Slice and serve alongside complementary side dishes, presenting a festive and flavorful main course.
Notes
- Make stuffing ahead of time to let flavors meld and intensify, creating a richer taste profile.
- Choose high-quality, thick-cut bacon for maximum crispness and flavor coverage on the turkey breast.
- Butterfly turkey breast carefully to ensure even thickness, allowing uniform cooking and perfect stuffing distribution.
- Use kitchen twine strategically to maintain tight roll and prevent stuffing from falling out during roasting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg