This Dutch oven turkey breast recipe makes the most delicious Thanksgiving meal for a smaller gathering. The breast is cooked with apples in it is served in a creamy sauce,
If cooking a whole turkey for Thanksgiving dinner is too much for you, here is an easy and incredibly flavorful alternative: cook a Dutch oven turkey breast on the stove; this easy recipe is perfect for the holiday feast and makes an amazing main dish for a Sunday dinner, actually.
But if you would still like a whole bird, have a look at this Dutch Oven Turkey recipe; it is dead easy and incredibly delicious!
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Why should you use a Dutch oven for this recipe?
- Juicy turkey breast meat is ready in about 1 hour and full of flavor. This allows more time to spend on side dishes, appetizers, or some really great desserts.
- Sauce included. No need for extra stuffing or for making a sauce from scratch using the turkey giblets or similar. Just the moist turkey breast, some white wine, onions and apples, and a little bit of cream at the end.
- Cheaper: It is much cheaper to buy one part of a bird than an entire turkey. The rest of the ingredients are also very cheap.
- Healthier: Super lean, white meat, and has no skin.
Why not try the no canned soup green bean casserole, these puff pastry pesto nibbles, or these cheese caraway crackers? The oven will be empty anyway, so you can use it for baking side dishes or appetizers. And for dessert, a double chocolate cheesecake or a lemon meringue pie?
And if you like turkey breast, check out the Boneless Skinless Turkey Breast in the Oven, the Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Breast, or the Slow-Roasted Turkey Breast.
Recipe ingredients
- Turkey: You will need boneless, skinless turkey breast of about 1 kg/ 2.2 lbs.
- Apples: I used two sorts of apples: Granny Smith and Jonagold. After trying both, I recommend Granny Smith because they hold their shape much better.
- Wine: Semi-sweet white wine. If using dry wine, you will have to adjust the taste of the sauce with a pinch of sugar, if necessary. If you don't want to use wine, you can substitute it with low-sodium chicken stock or turkey broth, but I must say that wine yields the best results in terms of flavor.
- Spices: Cinnamon and sugar; it might sound unusual, but it really works; you will love the flavor. You will also need fine sea salt and ground black pepper.
- Curry powder: I used a mild yellow curry powder, which is very flavorful but not hot at all. If you use hot curry powder, adjust the amount according to taste.
- Heavy cream for the sauce and a bit of olive oil for searing the meat.
How to cook turkey breast in the Dutch oven?
This recipe is so easy and requires so little actual work that you will keep coming back to it. It is suitable for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other festive meals as well as a regular meal on Sunday or any day of the week. It is just that easy to make.
- Season the breast: Pat dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix curry, cinnamon, sugar, salt, and pepper. Rub the meat with this mixture.
- Sear on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. If the breast is rather higher than flat, it will have more than only two sides to brown; I had to turn mine on four sides.
- Add the chopped onions and quartered apples during the last 3 minutes of the browning time.
- Add white wine and stir slightly.
- Simmer: Place the lid on the Dutch oven, turn the heat down to medium-low, and braise for 1 hour, turning 2 times in between.
- Check the internal temperature using an instant-read meat thermometer (the Amazon affiliate link opens in anew tab). It should be 74 degrees Celsius/ 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If the breast is rather flat, check after about 50 minutes of cooking time.
- Rest: Remove the turkey from the pot, cover it loosely with aluminum foil, and let it rest while you finish the sauce. If you like a thicker sauce, you could thicken it with a little cornstarch stirred into a paste with some water. However, I don't find it necessary; I like the consistency of the sauce as it is.
- Pour the heavy cream into the pot and let bubble until slightly thickened. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper.
- To carve a boneless turkey breast, place it on a large cutting board, and slice it across the grain with a sharp knife; the slices should be about as thick as your finger or just a tad thicker.
Variations on the recipe
Try other spices or dry rubs for poultry. The cinnamon-sugar-curry combination is amazing, but you can easily substitute it with your favorite spice mixtures.
To give your Dutch oven turkey breast a Mediterranean flavor, choose dried herbs such as oregano, thyme, and rosemary instead. You could also add a few sprigs of fresh herbs to the pot and remove them before serving.
Cooking Tips
- Make sure the turkey breast is completely thawed before cooking, and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting.
- Don't skip searing the turkey; this step enhances flavor and locks in moisture.
- The best way to ensure that the Dutch oven turkey breast is cooked through but not overcooked is by checking with a thermometer; just stick it into the thickest part of the turkey breast. However, this recipe is more forgiving than others; due to the slow cooking in the sauce, the turkey will not dry out so easily.
Food safety
- Thaw safely: Thaw frozen turkey breast in the refrigerator; never thaw at room temperature.
- Avoid cross-contamination: Keep raw turkey separate from other foods, utensils, and surfaces to prevent the spread of bacteria.
- Cook to safe temperature: Cook the turkey breast to an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C to kill harmful bacteria like salmonella.
- Properly store leftovers: Refrigerate or freeze leftover turkey within two hours of cooking to prevent bacterial growth.
What is a Dutch oven?
A Dutch oven is a thick, heavy cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. It can be made of seasoned cast iron or enameled. Dutch ovens are also called casserole dishes or cocotte.
They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. I have four of them:
- One seasoned cast iron Dutch oven (the Amazon link opens in a new tab). It is oval-shaped, and I use it for making large roasts, for instance, this slow-cooked turkey leg recipe. I bought this one at the flea market (new ones are really expensive around here), and my husband spent quite a few hours restoring it and seasoning it again.
- A smaller red oval enameled Dutch oven (the Amazon link opens in a new tab) for making smaller roasts or casseroles.
- A round Dutch oven (the Amazon link opens in a new tab), which I use mostly for soups, stews, and occasionally for baking bread.
- And a large, shallow Dutch oven (the Amazon link opens in a new tab) which I use for making chicken stews, goulash, or anything requiring a wider pot, actually.
- Generally, I prefer to use the enameled Dutch ovens, not because they are better than the seasoned ones (they are all great), but because they are easier to clean. But otherwise, whether cast iron or enamel, use whatever you have or buy whatever you like best.
Recipe FAQs
No. According to USDA (link opens in a new tab), washing poultry will only spread the bacteria in your sink and working surfaces. Only heat will destroy the bacteria anyway.
You can season the turkey breast one day ahead, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it until ready to cook.
I prefer to remove it for this recipe; you will not miss it at all. Thanks to the cooking method, the breast will remain juicy even when cooked without the skin on.
How to store and reheat?
- Refrigerate Dutch oven turkey breast leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
- Leftover turkey breast slices can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat before serving.
- You can freeze the sauce, but the apples might not hold their shape well when you thaw it. To still enjoy the sauce, just blend it after defrosting it.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave before serving. Add a splash of milk to loosen the sauce, stir the sauce, spoon it over the meat, and flip the turkey breast slices halfway through.
What to serve with it?
- Serve Dutch oven turkey breast with the sauce and the apples.
- The recipe goes very well with rice, potatoes, noodles, or any of your favorite side dishes. Semmelknödel or other dumplings are a great idea, too; they are perfect for this homemade gravy.
More turkey recipes
- Slow-Cooker Turkey Legs (with Gravy)
- Easy Turkey Chop Recipe (with Balsamic Sauce)
- Turkey with Red Wine
- Baked Turkey Wings Recipe
- Slow-Roasted Turkey Breast
Do you like this recipe?
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Dutch Oven Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs turkey breast 1.2 kg, boneless, skinless
- ½ teaspoon curry powder Note 1
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 crisp sweet-tart apples Note 2
- 1 medium onion
- 1 cup semi-sweet white wine 250 ml
- 1 cup heavy cream 250 ml
- fine sea salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Season: Pat dry the turkey breast with kitchen paper. Mix the curry, cinnamon, sugar, ¾ fine sea salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper. Rub the turkey breast with this mixture. 2.5 lbs turkey breast/ 1.2 kg + ½ teaspoon curry powder + ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Brown: Heat a little oil in the Dutch oven and brown the turkey breast on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. If the turkey breast is rather higher than flat, it will have more than only two sides to brown.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the chopped onions and quartered apples during the last 3 minutes of the browning time. Add the white wine and stir slightly around the turkey breast.1 medium onion + 2 crisp sweet-tart apples + 1 cup semi-sweet white wine/ 250 ml
- Braise: Place the lid on and braise the turkey on medium low heat for 1 hour, turning the breast twice in between.
- Check the internal temperature after about 50 minutes if the turkey breast is relatively flat. To ensure that the turkey breast is cooked through (even a thicker one should be done after one hour), check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 165°F/ 74°C.
- Rest: Remove the turkey breast from the pot, cover it loosely with aluminum foil and let rest while you make the sauce.
- Make the gravy: Pour the heavy cream into the pot and let bubble until slightly thickened. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper.1 cup heavy cream + fine sea salt and ground black pepper
Notes
- Spices: I used an aromatic yellow curry powder, which was not hot. If using hotter curry powder, please adjust the amount according to your taste. Alternatively, use your favorite dry rub for poultry or another spice mixture. Although, I must say again, that the combination of apples, cinnamon and a bit of curry is amazing!
- Apples: Granny Smith are a great choice; they keep their shape very well.
Vanessa says
I was excited to try cooking my turkey breast on the cooktop in order to free up space in the oven for all my sides. Just made this for our Thanksgiving dinner and I was blown away. I’ll only be cooking turkey in my Staub Dutch oven from now on. Note: I didn’t use the prescribed seasoning, mostly just the method. Also I did salt brine for 24 hours prior to cooking. I seasoned with sage, thyme, rosemary, and pepper (not the seasoning listed in the recipe ). I used a Gala apple since that is what I had on hand and my slices were fully intact even after stirring in cornstarch to thicken the sauce. Hands down the best turkey I’ve ever had. Ever. My split fresh turkey breast was 3.5 pounds and after browning, I cooked for about an hour and 20 minutes then let rest for 15 minutes before plating. Sauce was outstanding.
Joseph says
Hi
I am an American living in Japan and turkey is non existent here but I’m able to order a frozen turkey breast from America. We don’t have Ovens here in Japan but we do have Dutch ovens mine is a Le Cruesant French Dutch oven so I followed your recipe .
The apples all melted and didn’t hold their form but it was still a very decent meal and the fact that I could actually eat Turkey in japan was almost unbelievable..
we served it with rice ( my wife is Japanese ) And we enjoyed it very much.
Julia says
I’d love advice on the presence of sugar in the spice list. I found it burned easily when I was searing the breast. Any tips?
Adina says
Hi Julia. Turning the breast more often should help.
Linda says
What oven temp do you use to cook a turkey breast!
Adina says
@Linda, Hi Linda. I've never cooked this recipe in the oven, you can try it at about 180-200 degrees Celsius/ 360-400 degrees Fahrenheit and check if the turkey breast is done with a meat thermometer.
David Grote says
Just a follow up--I used the recipe to cook a 6 pound breast. Per Adina's suggestion, I doubled the wine, apples, spices, etc. It took 1 hour and 45 minutes before the temp got to 165. I suspected the apples would be sauce if they cooked that long so I put half of the apples in for the duration and the other half for the last 30 minutes only. Everyone was raving. Best turkey ever.
Adina says
Hi David. I am so happy to read your comment. Thank you very much for the follow up, it is always important to me to know how a recipe works for other people as well. 🙂
Kris says
This was a tasty recipe, but it will not look anything like the pictures. The apples do not keep their form being cooked for that long. They became a part of the sauce. No slices.
Also, it appears that the pictures show parsley, but that is not called out in the recipe at all. I also found it surprising when going through the directions that onions is called out. An onion is not on the ingredient list. Luckily I caught that before starting and I was able to get an onion. I found myself guessing on what to get. I think a medium yellow onion worked out well.
This is a recipe that I will use again. Thank you Adina.
Adina says
Thank you for the feedback, Kris, I am happy it worked for you. When it comes to apples it depends very much on the sort of apples you have. They have to be really crisp ones. I cooked this recipe with different sorts of apples over the years and I can say that the kind really matters. I find Granny Smith to be able to hold their shape. As for the parsley, I often forget to list it because is more part of the decoration than of the recipe. For taste purposes, it won't make a difference, but you will be surprised how much it makes for the eyes, for instance, see the picture with or without the parsley.
David Grote says
If my turkey breast is 6 lbs does the recipe still work? Should I triple the amount of wine and apples etc.?
Adina says
Hi David. It will still work, but you will have to check the internal temperature with a thermometer to see when the turkey is cooked. I would only double the rest, triple just seems too much, the recipe has a generous amount of sauce as it is.
Dawn Marie says
Did I miss how many onions to use?
Adina says
Hi Dawn. One medium. I added.
Dawn Marie says
You rock! As does this recipe. Thank you!! ♡♡♡
Mark Sullivan says
Help / how long do I cook a 7 lb Turkey breast on a Dutch oven ???
Adina says
Hi. The best thing is to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
Pam says
Can i do this in the oven instead on top of the stove?
Adina says
Hi Pam, I can't really say, I have only ever cooked this recipe on the stove. Merry Christmas!
tanzeela fawad says
This combination is irresistible! What a delicious idea!!.....it looks so yummy!!...and the picture is so great and presentative!.
angiesrecipes says
The star here is definitely that sauce with apples. So yummy!