Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Stuffing and Golden Skin Recipe

I absolutely love sharing this Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Stuffing and Golden Skin Recipe because it delivers a perfect balance of festive flavors and comforting textures that work wonders for holiday dinners or any special occasion. When I first tried this roulade, I was blown away by how the juicy turkey breast wrapped around a fragrant, slightly sweet cranberry stuffing came together with a golden, crispy skin that made every bite feel celebratory.

This recipe shines because it’s as impressive in presentation as it is satisfying on the palate—you’ll find that the roulade slices beautifully to reveal the colorful stuffing inside, making it a real showstopper on the table. Plus, it makes great use of a boneless turkey breast, so you get a quicker cooking time without sacrificing flavor or moisture, which is a win for busy cooks like us!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

All the ingredients in this Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Stuffing and Golden Skin Recipe come together to create layers of texture and flavor, from the fresh herbs and sautéed veggies to the crunchy bread cubes and sweet cranberries. When shopping, try to use fresh herbs and day-old bread for the best stuffing consistency.

• Boneless turkey breast half with skin: The star of the dish, easy to butterflied and perfect for rolling.
• Kosher salt: Essential for seasoning both the turkey and stuffing evenly.
• Cooking twine: You’ll use this to securely tie your roulade, so it cooks evenly and holds its shape.
• Salted butter (softened): Adds richness and helps crisp the skin beautifully.
• Whole wheat French bread (small cubes): Provides a hearty base for the stuffing; stale or toasted works best.
• Butter: For sautéing veggies to build deep flavor in the stuffing.
• Onion, celery (minced): Classic stuffing vegetables that add sweetness and crunch.
• Fresh sage leaves (minced): Brings that warm, piney aroma quintessential for poultry dishes.
• Chopped parsley: For freshness and color contrast.
• Turkey or poultry seasoning: Adds that savory, herbaceous boost.
• Freshly ground black pepper: To taste, for balanced seasoning.
• Large egg (beaten): Helps bind the stuffing together.
• Chicken broth: Moistens the stuffing and infuses extra richness.
• Dried cranberries (chopped): Provide that classic tart-sweet note everyone loves.
• Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil: Critical for tightly covering the roulade during baking to seal in moisture.
• Turkey or chicken broth (for gravy): Forms the base of a delicious pan gravy.
• Fresh sage leaves (for gravy): Added for flavoring the gravy beautifully.
• All-purpose flour: To thicken the gravy perfectly.

Variations

I love how flexible this Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Stuffing and Golden Skin Recipe is! Feel free to tweak the stuffing ingredients based on what you have or prefer—maybe swap the cranberries for dried cherries or add nuts for crunch. There’s plenty of room to make it your own.

• Add nuts: I once added toasted pecans to the stuffing and it gave a delightful texture contrast that my family went crazy for.
• Make it gluten-free: Swap the bread cubes for gluten-free bread to cater to dietary needs without losing the stuffing’s heartiness.
• Seasonal herbs: Try rosemary or thyme instead of sage for a slightly different herbal note that still complements the turkey.
• Make it spicier: A pinch of red pepper flakes in the stuffing adds a surprising kick without overpowering the other flavors.

How to Make Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Stuffing and Golden Skin Recipe

Step 1: Preparing the Bread Cubes & Sautéing the Veggies

Start by making sure your bread cubes are stale or toasted—this prevents soggy stuffing. If your bread’s fresh, pop it in the oven at 250°F for about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet and gently sauté the minced onion, celery, parsley, and sage with turkey seasoning, salt, and pepper until soft and fragrant—about 8 to 10 minutes. Let this cool slightly before mixing it with the toasted bread and cranberries. This step builds the savory-sweet flavor base that makes the stuffing so irresistible.

Step 2: Butterflying and Pounding the Turkey Breast

Next, remove the skin from the turkey breast but keep it in one piece—it’ll go back on later to give you that beautiful golden skin. Trim any excess fat and remove the tenderloin. Place the turkey breast flat on a cutting board, then carefully butterfly it open into a wide rectangle (around 1/4″ thick) by slicing horizontally but not cutting all the way through. Cover it with plastic wrap and gently pound it with a mallet or heavy pan. Season both sides with kosher salt. This even thickness helps the roulade cook uniformly without dry edges.

Step 3: Assembling the Roulade

Spread the prepared stuffing evenly over the pounded turkey, leaving a small border all around—this keeps the stuffing from spilling out during rolling. Roll the turkey tightly jelly roll style and carefully lay the reserved turkey skin on top. Using 4 to 6 pieces of cooking twine, tie the roulade firmly but not too tight—you want it secure so it holds shape but still allows for even cooking. Spread softened butter over the skin for that gorgeous crisp when baked.

Step 4: Baking and Finishing the Roulade

Preheat your oven to 375°F and position the rack in the center. Place the roulade in a baking pan and cover tightly with heavy-duty foil—this traps moisture and keeps the turkey juicy as it cooks. Bake until the internal temperature at the center of the stuffing hits 165°F, which usually takes about 45 to 55 minutes. Then, uncover and broil for 5 to 7 minutes to transform the skin to a mouthwatering golden crisp. Let the roulade rest for about 5 minutes before slicing—this locks in the juices and helps the slices hold their shape.

Step 5: Making the Gravy

While the roulade rests, whisk together turkey or chicken broth, fresh sage leaves, poultry seasoning, and flour with any drippings left in the pan. Bring this mixture to a simmer on medium-high heat, then cover and reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally until the gravy thickens, around 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the herbs before serving. This homemade gravy is the perfect finishing touch, adding rich, savory moisture to each sliced piece.

How to Serve Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Stuffing and Golden Skin Recipe

Garnishes

I love garnishing slices of this roulade with a few fresh sage leaves or a sprinkle of finely chopped parsley for a pop of color. Some fresh cranberries or a few whole ones on the side add a festive touch and highlight the cranberry in the stuffing beautifully.

Side Dishes

My favorite side dishes with this Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Stuffing and Golden Skin Recipe are simple roasted root vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes, and a crisp green salad dressed lightly with lemon vinaigrette. These sides balance the richness of the roulade without overwhelming the flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

For holidays, I like to arrange the roulade slices on a large platter garnished with fresh herbs and scatter dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds around for sparkle. Placing some mini edible flowers can also make it visually stunning for a special dinner.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

When you have leftovers (and trust me, you will!), I wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. This keeps them moist and makes grabbing a quick meal super easy.

Freezing

I’ve frozen fully cooked roulade wrapped tightly in foil and placed in freezer bags. It reheats well, though for best texture, I recommend slicing before freezing and storing slices individually. It keeps well for 2 to 3 months.

Reheating

To reheat leftovers, I cover slices with foil and warm them in the oven at 325°F for about 15 minutes, then remove the foil briefly to crisp up the skin again under the broiler if desired. The gravy is great warmed gently on the stove to pour over.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Stuffing and Golden Skin Recipe has become a family favorite – it’s the type of dish that feels both festive and homemade, with comforting flavors that everyone appreciates. I love how it transforms a simple turkey breast into something elegant and memorable without requiring hours of fuss. Give it a try, and I promise it’ll become one of those recipes you turn to when you want to impress without stress.

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