Great HEAL Recipes
Turkey Breast
Don’t be intimidated by this traditional holiday dish!
Serves 6 – 8
- Extra-Large Oven Bag (such as Reynolds X-Large Size Oven Bag)
- 9-to-12-pound turkey breast with bones (Note: this is the breast only and different from a traditional turkey)
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 Tbsp poultry seasoning
- 2 Tbsp fresh thyme, plucked* and chopped
- 2 whole thyme sprigs
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 ribs celery, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 medium apple, quartered to stuff in the turkey.**
- 2 medium yellow onions, coarsely cut
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup (substitute honey, molasses, or golden syrup)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven to 350°F.
- Spray the inside of the bag with non-stick cooking spray. Place flour into the bag, shaking it to coat the bag.
- In a small bowl, combine the softened butter with the poultry seasoning and thyme. Using your hands, gently lift the skin of the turkey breast away from the meat with your hands and rub half of the mixture on the breast between the turkey and skin. Rub the remaining butter mixture on top of the turkey breasts. Season the outside of the turkey with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stuff the turkey cavity with the chopped celery, onion, apples, and 2 whole thyme sprigs.
- Place the turkey in the prepared oven bag. Place the bag in a large pan or roasting dish.
- Place the chopped celery, apples, and sliced onion in the bag. Whisk the apple cider and maple syrup together. Pour the mixture over the turkey. Place 2 sprigs of thyme inside the turkey cavity.
- Close bag with tie.
- Cut six 1/2-inch slits on top of the bag.
- Bake for approximately 2 to 3 hours. Cooking time is based on the size of the turkey. Cook until the meat thermometer reads at least 165 degrees F in several places not touching the bone. ALWAYS CHECK DONENESS WITH A MEAT THERMOMETER. Useing the oven bag speeds up cooking time, so keep an eye on it.
*Pro-tip: To remove the leaves from a sprig of fresh thyme, simply hold the sprig at the top with one hand, pinch the sprig at the top with the other hand, and then slide fingers down the stem, this will pull off the leaves as you go. The leaves will detach easily.
**HEAL-icious tip: slice a few extra apples to serve as a healthy snack