Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Breast Roulade (Budget Friendly)
Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Breast Roulade
Thanksgiving dinner doesn't have to break the bank. This easy turkey breast roulade is a budget-friendly alternative to roasting a whole turkey, perfect for small gatherings or anyone looking to save money without sacrificing flavor. With a boneless turkey breast and simple stuffing, you can create an impressive Thanksgiving centerpiece for a fraction of the cost.
In 2024, the average Thanksgiving meal for 10 people costs around $58. This turkey roulade recipe helps you stick to that budget while still delivering all the traditional flavors your family expects. It's proof that Thanksgiving is 50 percent about the food and 50 percent about gathering with family and friends - and whatever you have on the table, everyone will be happy with as long as you have turkey.
What is Turkey Breast Roulade?
Turkey breast roulade is a boneless turkey breast that's been butterflied, stuffed with your favorite filling (usually stuffing or herbs), rolled up, and roasted. The result is beautiful spiral slices that look impressive on the plate but are surprisingly simple to make. It cooks faster than a whole turkey and feeds fewer people, making it ideal for smaller Thanksgiving gatherings or budget-conscious cooks.
Why Make Turkey Roulade for Thanksgiving?
Budget-friendly benefits:
- Costs significantly less than a whole turkey
- No waste from bones and parts you won't eat
- Feeds 4-6 people perfectly (or provides great leftovers for 2-3)
- Uses less oven space, so you can cook more sides
Cooking advantages:
- Cooks in half the time of a whole turkey (about 90 minutes)
- Easier to carve, just slice into beautiful pinwheels
- Stays moist from cooking in foil
- No fighting over white vs. dark meat because it's all breast meat
- No basting required
Perfect for:
- Small Thanksgiving gatherings
- First-time Thanksgiving hosts
- Apartment dwellers with small ovens
- Anyone watching their budget
- People who prefer white meat
Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Tips
In 2024, the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving meal for 10 people was around $58.08. For a smaller gathering of 4-6 using turkey roulade, you can cut that cost significantly by shopping smart and sticking with the staples.
Money-saving shopping strategies:
- Shop early: Check prices and plan your grocery list well in advance to take advantage of sales
- Consider meal bundles: Look for grocery stores offering meal kits or pre-made bundles
- Buy turkey on sale: Purchase your turkey breast early when it goes on sale in October or early November
- Compare stores: Check multiple grocery stores for the best prices
- Choose store brands: They're often the same quality for less money
Keep it simple:
- Stick with the staples and don't try to reinvent the wheel
- Make sides from scratch instead of buying pre-made
- Use what's already in your pantry (herbs, spices, butter)
- Skip fancy ingredients - traditional recipes taste just as good
Remember: it doesn't have to be fancy because Thanksgiving is 50 percent about the food and the other 50 percent is about your family and friends. Whatever you have on the table, everyone will be happy with just as long as you have turkey.
Watch this news broadcast and see how I completed the meal by clicking HERE and see the complete menu, tips and price breakdown by clicking HERE. if you want the turkey recipe, just follow along below!
Watch this news broadcast and see how I completed the meal by clicking HERE and see the complete menu, tips and price breakdown by clicking HERE. if you want the turkey recipe, just follow along below!
Tips for Perfect Turkey Roulade
Butterflying the turkey breast:
Use a sharp knife and cut horizontally through the thickest part
Open it like a book and pound to even thickness
Aim for about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness for even cooking
Rolling and wrapping:
Don't overstuff - leave about 1 inch of space at the edges
Roll the turkey breast tightly around the stuffing
Wrap securely in aluminum foil, creating a tube shape
Twist the ends of the foil tightly to seal and prevent the roulade from unrolling
Roasting tips:
- Use a meat thermometer - cook to 165°F internal temperature
- The foil keeps the turkey moist but it will look pale when unwrapped (that's normal!)
- Let it rest 10-15 minutes before slicing so juices redistribute
- Slice into beautiful pinwheel rounds and arrange on a platter
- Ladle warm gravy over the sliced turkey just before serving to add color and flavor
Making it ahead:
You can stuff and roll the roulade the night before
Keep it wrapped in foil in the fridge and bring to room temp before roasting
This saves time on Thanksgiving Day
Presentation tip:
Since the turkey comes out pale from cooking in foil, don't worry about how it looks when you unwrap it. Once you slice it into spirals and plate it with gravy, it looks beautiful and appetizing. The gravy adds both color and moisture to the finished dish.
What to Serve with Turkey Roulade
Stick with the Thanksgiving staples everyone loves:
- Mashed potatoes
- Gravy made from the pan drippings
- Macaroni and cheese
- Green bean casserole
- Cranberry sauce
- Dinner rolls
- Sweet potato pie
The beauty of a smaller turkey is you have more oven space for more sides!
Storing and Using Leftovers
Storage:
Store leftover turkey roulade in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Leftover ideas:
- Turkey sandwiches (like my Monte Cristo)
- Turkey gumbo or pot pie
- Turkey salad
- Dice it up for turkey hash
- Add to pasta or casseroles
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Thanksgiving Turkey Breast Roulade
Yield: 8
Thanksgiving turkey reimagined. As part of my $25 Thanksgiving dinner challenge, I've received the most comments and questions about the turkey. Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.
Ingredients
- 1 box Stove Top stuffing (any flavor), prepared
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup white onion, diced
- 2 boneless, skinless turkey breast halves, butterflied
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Lay the butterflied turkey breast between two large pieces of plastic wrap on clean work surface. Use a tenderizer (flat side only) or rolling pin to pound turkey breast to an even thickness. Use firm, tight sweeping strokes to pound out the breast. Remove plastic wrap and discard.
- Place one turkey breast half on a sheet pan covered with aluminum foil. Season turkey generously with salt and pepper.
- Add diced onion to prepared Stove Top stuffing. Divide and spread the stuffing mixture evenly over the turkey breast, leaving about a 3/4 to 1/2-inch border. Be careful not to overstuff the turkey or you will have a difficult time rolling it up. Starting with the long end of the breast, roll the turkey up and over the stuffing, jelly roll style. Repeat with remaining breast.
- Place the turkey roulade seam side down on the foil. Wrap roulade and twist each end of the foil tightly. Place on sheet pan and bake for 35 minutes.
- Slice the turkey into 1-inch thick slices and serve with gravy.
Calories
41.96Fat (grams)
0.89Sat. Fat (grams)
0.22Carbs (grams)
1.56Fiber (grams)
0.20Net carbs
1.36Sugar (grams)
0.41Protein (grams)
6.63Sodium (milligrams)
110.95Cholesterol (grams)
17.00Please consult a healthcare professional or dietician about nutritional needs for your diet. I am a communications professional, not a physician.
Budget-Friendly Recipes
Holiday Recipes
Main Dish
Small Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Recipes
Turkey Recipes
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About the author
Nikki Miller-Ka
Ms. Miller-Ka is a classically trained chef with a BA in English from East Carolina University and a Culinary Arts Associate Degree from Le Cordon Bleu-Miami.
Formerly, she’s worked as a researcher, an editorial assistant, reporter and guest blogger for various publications and outlets in the Southeast. She has also worked as a catering chef, a pastry chef, a butcher, a baker, and a biscuit-maker. Presently, she is a food editor, freelance food writer, and a tour guide for Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.
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