Bought a turkey breast by mistake

[smilie]

We did our shopping for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. I didn't realize it until I got home, but I bought just a turkey breast instead of an entire turkey. I don't know how I missed it but it is what it is.

Any tips on how to cook it? Is it just like cooking an entire turkey, just a different amount of time??

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Yes, a lot like cooking a whole turkey, perhaps a bit easier. It will go a bit quicker. Just baste it a whole lot so it won't dry out and don't skimp on the poultry seasoning either. Most people roast it at 325 or 350.

How much does it weigh?

 

[ronandannette]

We did our shopping for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. I didn't realize it until I got home, but I bought just a turkey breast instead of an entire turkey. I don't know how I missed it but it is what it is.

Any tips on how to cook it? Is it just like cooking an entire turkey, just a different amount of time??

Personally, I find just the breast dry and bland if you’re roasting it alone. Try splitting it, filling it with stuffing (even Stovetop will do) and wrapping it in nice, fatty bacon before you roast it. You won’t get any gravy out of it but it will greatly enhance the flavour and moistness. I mix some cranberry sauce into the stuffing too.

 

[kdonnel]

Cooking a turkey breast well is so much easier than cooking an entire turkey well.

Turkey breast gets a reputation for being dry because it must be overcooked to ensure that the dark meat reaches 180 when cooking an entire turkey.

You don't have that problem with a turkey breast.

Cook it until a meat thermometer reads 165 and enjoy!

 

[QueenIsabella]

When I buy turkey breasts, they come with a packet of gravy inside (instead of giblets). The packet has directions (you add water and heat to boiling, if memory serves).

I follow the directions in "Joy of Cooking" for both a bird and a breast, and have never had a bad result. I think they give you gravy because there's not much in the way of pan drippings. I find I can get 3 meals from a 6lb (or so) breasts, but I have a big family. You could easily do the breast as a "Sunday dinner" meal, some other time, and get a whole turkey for Thursday.

 

[Sinder]

I purposely got a breast this year, I think I’m going to cook it in the crockpot.
If I do roast it I will do it upside down.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Ina Garten (barefoot contessa) once did a thanksgiving episode years ago (I’m talking I was in elementary or middle school) where she did a “smaller thanksgiving” and she had a Turkey breast, something puréed (wasn’t potato’s), another side and a pie. And gravy I believe. I highly recommend checking it out because she really explained the difference.

 

[Metro West]

Cooking a turkey breast well is so much easier than cooking an entire turkey well.

Turkey breast gets a reputation for being dry because it must be overcooked to ensure that the dark meat reaches 180 when cooking an entire turkey.

You don't have that problem with a turkey breast.

Cook it until a meat thermometer reads 165 and enjoy!

I cook one every Thanksgiving and have never had a dried turkey breast....you are absolutely right!

 

[luvnwdwgal]

It’s just going to be my husband and I this year so I bought a 3# boneless turkey breast that comes with a gravy packet. I plan on putting mine in the crockpot and found a recipe online that calls for a dry rub and then you put dots of butter on and under the skin. You also slice an apple and add some on top and in the bottom. No need for additional liquid, the butter and apple will be sufficient. Cook on low 3-4 hours until it reaches 165. I have a digital thermometer I plan to use.

 

[Jennasis]

We do a turkey breast every year and never have had it dry out. In fact it's much more moist and flavorful than any meat off the whole bird.

 

[evilmommie]

I roast Turkey breast all the time. Never dry. Just did 3 of them for Friendsgiving last week. Will do a few more for a dinner next week.

Always brine it, just like a whole Turkey.
https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/brined-roast-turkey-breast/
I always use Ina Garten’s roasting method for the Turkey breast. Just delicious!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fo...herb-roasted-turkey-breast-recipe-1943552.amp

 

[AndreaDM]

I have often done a turkey breast in the crockpot overnight. In the morning I just turn the setting to warm until we're ready to eat. Never dry and always able to make a gravy as well. Lots of seasoning, butter, celery, carrot and onion.

 

[AustinTink]

We do a turkey breast every year and never have had it dry out. In fact it's much more moist and flavorful than any meat off the whole bird.

This is the truth. The turkey breasts I roasted last year instead of a whole bird were the juiciest we've ever eaten. The breast can easily dry out when cooking a whole turkey. I slather lots of herb butter over and under the skin and roast it on top of celery, carrots and onion. It makes just enough drippings to add to my gravy.

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

You could always just throw the breast in the freezer and go grab a full turkey if you want to have that for the holiday meal. I've always felt that I don't get enough turkey in my diet anyway so pulling it out and making another meal later would be an option.

 

[robinb]

I tried to just buy a breast this year. We're both sick with breakthrough covid and there are only 2 of us. I had groceries delivered because we're in isolation through Thanksgiving and they substituted a whole 21lb bird for the same price! There is no way we can eat all this turkey.

 

[evilmommie]

I tried to just buy a breast this year. We're both sick with breakthrough covid and there are only 2 of us. I had groceries delivered because we're in isolation through Thanksgiving and they substituted a whole 21lb bird for the same price! There is no way we can eat all this turkey.

First off, hope you feel better soon! Make Turkey soup and freeze it. Soooo good.

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

I tried to just buy a breast this year. We're both sick with breakthrough covid and there are only 2 of us. I had groceries delivered because we're in isolation through Thanksgiving and they substituted a whole 21lb bird for the same price! There is no way we can eat all this turkey.

You're going to have to post your address if you want me to come over and help...

 

[tvguy]

Just two of us eating turkey, so we have switched to the turkey breast. The one's we buy have cooking directions on the package, follow them and you will be fine. We did do very small whole turkeys for a while, along with Tofurkey. DD is vegetarian and DDIL is allergic to turkey.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Robinb--Consider cooking the whole turkey, and freezing it in meal-sized portions. I'd hate to see all that turkey go to waste! Or possibly you could slice it in half and cook half now, half some other time. You probably can't donate the leftovers--my DD18 just finished a fundraiser for a homeless shelter, and they couldn't take any leftover ingredients where the packaging had been opened. So, I'm now the proud owner of enough baking soda to last a lifetime. I'd hoped they could take that for non-food uses, but, nope.

I'm going to have to try a turkey breast in the crockpot--I'm a big crockpot cooker, and you all are making it sound delicious!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We did our shopping for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. I didn't realize it until I got home, but I bought just a turkey breast instead of an entire turkey. I don't know how I missed it but it is what it is.

Any tips on how to cook it? Is it just like cooking an entire turkey, just a different amount of time??

I always cooked turkey breast just like a small turkey. If it's a whole breast, you can even stuff it.

I bought turkey breasts, instead of a whole turkey, for years because no one in this house eats dark meat. But the price on just a breast vs whole turkey was so high in recent years (I could buy a whole turkey cheaper than just a breast) that I'm back to cooking a whole turkey, any only carving the white meat out.