Take your Thanksgiving dinner to the next level with the BEST Bacon Wrapped Turkey! This easy, foolproof recipe combines the classic flavors of onions and fresh herbs with the deliciousness of bacon in a show-stopping combo that’s guaranteed to be a new holiday favorite!
When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, there are certain things that are essential. Namely…. stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberries. They’re the things that make a Thanksgiving meal what it is… and for most of us, it’s just not the holidays without them.
And then there’s the turkey. Which is arguably the most essential piece of all! So why not jazz it up a little with the delicious addition of bacon!?
This Bacon Wrapped Turkey recipe is hands down the BEST turkey recipe ever. It combines the classic flavors of rosemary, sage, and thyme with everyone’s favorite… bacon… and the end result is nothing short of exactly what you’re looking for in a Thanksgiving turkey.
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How does it work? Simply shop at select retailers using the Ibotta app, website, or browser extension for online grocery pick-up and delivery orders, and get 100% cash back on everything you need to make a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. New users get a full bundle of sides, plus a free turkey worth up to $15. Existing users can unlock the turkey just by referring a friend!
The full bundle includes everything you see pictured above – all the Thanksgiving essentials – and it’s available at select retailers, while supplies last, check the app for details. And just like that… Thanksgiving got a whole lot better!
What you need for Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
Turkey breast – For this recipe I used a 6 pound frozen Butterball Turkey Breast, which was the perfect size. You’ll want to look for a breast that’s in the 5-6 pound range, and any brand will work just fine. Since turkey breasts are usually purchased frozen, please see my section below about how to thaw.
Onion – I used 1 large sweet (vidalia) onion, cut into pieces. I stuffed as much as I could fit into the turkey breast, and the rest I placed around it while roasting.
Garlic – For extra flavor, I added 4 garlic cloves to the turkey breast along with the onions. Feel free to add more or less according to taste.
Fresh herbs – Fresh herbs are EVERYTHING in this recipe! I used a combination of rosemary, sage, and thyme, which is one of my favorite fall combos.
Butter – I brushed 1/2 stick of melted, salted butter onto the raw turkey breast before adding the bacon. To the melted butter, I added the seasonings listed below.
Seasonings – A simple combination of salt, pepper, and paprika… in addition to onions, garlic, fresh herbs, and bacon… is all this recipe needs. Feel free to add additional spices according to taste.
Bacon – Bacon is the one thing that takes this recipe to the next level. I used 1 pound of regular cut bacon, which was plenty to cover the entire turkey breast.
How to make Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
Thaw & unwrap the turkey – This recipe uses a completely thawed turkey breast, so be sure your turkey is completely thawed before using. Once thawed, open and unwrap the turkey breast. You’ll want to do this over the sink to catch any liquids and avoid a mess. Once open, pat dry with a paper towel.
Stuff it – Flip the breast over to expose the cavity. Stuff the cavity with chopped onions, garlic cloves, and fresh herbs. Carefully flip it back over and place it in a 9×13 inch baking pan.
Season it – Brush the turkey breast, which is now skin side up, with a combination of melted butter, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Wrap it in bacon – Starting at one end, place bacon strips horizontally over the turkey breast until it’s fully covered. Then weave bacon strips vertically through the horizontal strips, leaving no space between. Continue until the entire breast is covered.
Roast it – Surround the turkey breast with onion pieces and additional garlic cloves as desired. Roast at 350° for 1 hour, then tent with foil and roast for an additional 1 – 1 1/2 hours, until meat thermometer reaches 165° F.
How to thaw a turkey breast
The BEST way to store a turkey breast (or whole turkey, for that matter) is in the refrigerator. Simply place an unopened turkey breast in the refrigerator for 1 1/2 – 2 days until it is completely thawed. You can also thaw it faster by submerging it in ice water. The key here is that the water MUST stay cold, which can be accomplished either by changing the water every 30 minutes OR adding enough ice that it will stay cold longer. Using the cold water method, your turkey breast will be completely thawed in approximately 12 hours.
Storing & reheating tips
Have leftovers? These are the steps to follow to ensure food safety and delicious leftovers:
- While the turkey is cooling (if necessary) loosely wrap it in foil.
- Once it has cooled, wrap it tightly in foil or transfer it to an airtight container. *NOTE: Once cooked, leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator within 2 hours.
- Store, refrigerated, for 3-4 days.
To reheat, slice turkey breast and place in foil. Top with gravy or chicken stock, then wrap tightly. Place in the oven at 300° F for 10-15 minutes or until fully heated through.
More Thanksgiving Sides you’ll love
- Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes
- Cranberry Relish
- Butternut Squash Stuffing
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Maple Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Candied Acorn Squash
- Maple Bacon Roasted Butternut Squash
- Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
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Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 1 5-6 pound turkey breast
- 1 large Vidalia onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 sprigs fresh sage
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 stick salted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 pound bacon
Instructions
- Completely thaw the turkey breast. Once thawed, open and unwrap it. (*You'll want to do this over the sink to catch any liquids.) Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Flip the breast over to expose the cavity. Stuff the cavity with chopped onions, garlic cloves, and fresh herbs. Carefully flip it back over and place it in a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- Brush the turkey breast with a combination of melted butter, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Starting at one end, place bacon strips horizontally over the turkey breast until it's fully covered. Then weave bacon strips vertically through the horizontal strips, leaving no space between. Continue until the entire breast is covered.
- Surround the turkey breast with remaining onion pieces and additional garlic cloves as desired. Roast at 350° for 1 hour, then tent with foil and roast for an additional 1 - 1 1/2 hours, until meat thermometer reaches 165° F.
Quinn LaFosse says
Planning on bacon wrapping turkey breast for Thanksgiving on a pellet smoker. Wish me luck!