The ultimate bacon wrapped turkey breast recipe (boneless)

Is there a better pairing than crispy bacon and juicy turkey? 

Delight the tastebuds with this traditional turkey breast recipe by wrapping it in bacon.  I will give you my best step-by-step tips so that your turkey breast is tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. 

From the moment you take your first bite, you will enjoy this immensely flavorful dish. The simplicity of ingredients is sure to make this dish a regular on your meal rotation!

For this recipe, it’s best to use a fresh turkey breast, boneless turkey breast (which I used here) or a bone-in turkey breast.  Either buy a skinless turkey breast or a skin-on turkey breast and remove the skin. The turkey breast I used for this recipe is about 4 pounds and was purchased from my local grocery store.

I love making turkey breasts for these reasons:

• Easier and less time than roasting a whole turkey (whole bird).
• The perfect meal and the perfect size for a small family.
• You can pair it with your favorite side dishes.
• Looking for a twist during the holiday season, Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving dinner?  Try a roasted turkey breast – it’s the perfect Thanksgiving turkey recipe!
• Only a few minutes of prep time and the result will be a perfect turkey breast.

What Bacon to Select?  There are several Enticing Options:

The bacon you select has a major impact on the overall results of your bacon-wrapped turkey breast so here are a few things to consider:

• There are various types of bacon, for example, flavored bacon, smoked bacon, and breakfast bacon.  
• There are many flavored kinds of bacon such as maple, savory blends, and peppered.
• Bacon comes in varying thickness. A thin sliced bacon may be crispier while a thick sliced bacon may provide a more prominent overall flavor.
• Consider smoked bacon for a delicious robust smoky flavor.
• Local farms and markets can also be a place to consider for your bacon as the quality and freshness is usually outstanding.

The best bacon is the one with the flavors you prefer.  For this recipe, I have chosen a thin bacon traditional, everyday bacon purchased at the grocery store.  I find this an easy bacon which I’ve had great success with.

Next, Season Your Turkey Breast:

For this recipe, you can either brine your turkey breast, which takes a bit of time or simply season with salt and pepper and a few spices and herbs.

Method #1 Brine your turkey breast.

• Use a non-reactive container, such as stainless steel, plastic, or ceramic that is large enough to hold your turkey breast.
• Wash and pat dry your turkey breast with a paper towel. This step is optional.
• To the container or brining bag, add your brining mixture which is 1/2 cup of kosher salt, 2 quarts of water, 1/3 cup sugar, and a handful of peppercorns. 
• Stir the brining mixture together.  
• Place the turkey in the container or bag.
• Pour enough cold water over the turkey to cover.
• Place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Why Brine Your Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast?  This is a process that seasons your turkey breast and can make it more moist and flavorful.

Method #2 Season your turkey breast with salt, black pepper, herbs, and spices (or your favorite poultry seasoning).

• This is a perfect method if you don’t have the time to brine, but with equally delicious results.
• Wash and pat dry your turkey breast with a paper towel. This step is optional.
• Place the turkey breast in your baking pan.
• Season mixture:  In a small bowl, place 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or onion powder (optional), and fresh herbs (optional) such as rosemary, thyme or parsley.  Stir the seasonings to combine, keeping in mind the flavors of your bacon choice.
• Using your hands, rub the turkey breast all over with the seasoning and place in your baking or roasting pan.

Best roasting/baking pan for turkey breast:

My favorite choices:

• a stainless steel roasting pan with an insertable grate or wire rack.
• a baking pan (baking sheet) with an insertable metal rack or grate.
• A ceramic or porcelain baking dish. Note: these pans may not come with a grate.

Why do I like pans with insertable metal racks or grates?  It catches all the grease in the bottom of the pan and the turkey doesn’t cook and sit in the grease.

Note:  Another great option is a non-stick baking/roasting pan and they work as well.

Time to Wrap the Turkey Breast with Bacon:

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

1. Open the bacon package and separate the bacon slices into strips of bacon so they are easily accessible.
2. Place the turkey breast in the baking pan, a large plate, a cutting board, or a surface you’ll be most comfortable wrapping with bacon.
3. Begin wrapping the turkey breast with the bacon starting at the top of the turkey breast. The best way to deal with the excess at the ends is to tuck under the turkey breast.
4. You can line up the bacon strips (as I have done), or choose to wrap bacon in a basket weave (bacon weave or bacon lattice) design.
5. At the ends of the turkey, you may want to cut the bacon to fit as it may be very long.

Roast/Bake your Turkey Breast:  How to make bacon-wrapped turkey breast.

If you choose to brine your turkey, take the turkey out of the brine and follow these steps to create a delicious turkey breast.

1. Your oven temperature is set since the preheated oven is 350 degrees Fahrenheit by now (from the previous step).
2. The bacon-wrapped turkey breast is in the roasting/baking pan (roasting rack). See the photos below.
3.  My turkey breast was about 4 pounds.  You can choose a larger breast.
4. Place the turkey in the oven and roast until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165 degrees. The amount of time to roast your turkey (cook time) will depend on the size.  My turkey breast took about 1 1/2 hours.  Note: my turkey breast came with a pop-up thermometer which I usually remove as they are not always accurate.  A reliable instant-read thermometer (meat thermometer) is a great kitchen tool and a worthwhile investment.
5. Once your turkey is roasted you can set the oven to broil for a few minutes.
6.  Take the turkey out of the oven and let it rest for about 10-15 minutes.  I place aluminum foil over my turkey breast as it rests.
7. By letting your turkey breast rest, the end result will be the perfect dish and juicy turkey meat.
8. Using a sharp knife, slice turkey breast and serve.

Recipe Tips:

• Cover the entire turkey breast with the bacon.  Cut smaller pieces of bacon for the ends.  You could create a box weave design with the bacon which would be great for a festive occasion. 
• Store leftover turkey in an airtight container for up to 5 days.  You can also freeze leftovers for several months.
• It is not required to brine the turkey, however, it helps to create a juicy flavorful turkey breast. 
• I purchased a skin-on turkey breast and then removed the skin for this recipe.  
• Serve your turkey breast with your favorite sides such as cranberry sauce, any green vegetable, potato or rice.
• For the best presentation, I like to serve this turkey breast on an oval platter, sliced, with fresh herbs as a garnish.

I hope you love this recipe and consider it for your next Thanksgiving meal, especially if you’ll be expecting a smaller crowd.

Turkey Recipes:

• Roast Turkey Breast
• Boneless Turkey Breast
• Paleo Turkey Meatloaf
• Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
• Whole30 Meatballs

Print

The Ultimate Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast Recipe (Boneless)

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 30 mins

 

This turkey breast is perfectly cooked and wrapped in crispy bacon, making it juicy, succulent, and tender!   Don’t want to roast a whole bird? Bacon-wrapped turkey breast is the answer! It's a delicious recipe and great for small festive gatherings! 

Course: Dinner, Entree, gluten-free, grain-free, holiday dish, Thanksgiving

Cuisine: American

Servings: 15

Calories: 59 kcal

Author: Christine Galvani

Ingredients

• 1 turkey breast My turkey breast, skinless and boneless, was about 4 pounds.
• 10 slices Bacon

Instructions

1. If brining the turkey, this is the first step. In a non-reactive container or brining bag, add 1/2 cup kosher salt, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 quarts of water, and a handful of peppercorns. Stir the brine mixture and add the turkey breast. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to roast.

2. If not brining the turkey breast, season the turkey breast before wrapping it with bacon. in a medium-sized bowl, add and mix - 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, fresh herbs or spices of your choice, (rosemary, thyme, and parsley are good options). Using your hands rub the herb mixture all over the turkey breast to season.

3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. You'll need a roasting pan with a metal rack.

4. Place the turkey breast on a cutting board or directly into the roasting pan. Since I purchased a turkey breast with skin, I removed the skin.

5. Layer the slices of bacon all over the turkey breast. Cut the bacon pieces for the ends. Tuck the bacon slices under the turkey.

6. Place the turkey on the roasting pan with a metal rack. Roast until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. The roasting time will depend on the size of your turkey. My turkey breast took about 90 minutes.

7. Take the turkey breast out of the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. I place a piece of aluminum foil over my turkey breast as it is resting.

8. Using a sharp knife, slice and serve your turkey breast with your favorite sides and gravy if you desire.

9. Store leftover turkey breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe Notes

Recipe Tips:

• Cover the entire turkey breast with the bacon.  Cut smaller pieces of bacon for the ends.  You could create a box weave design with the bacon which would be great for a festive occasion. 
• Store leftover turkey in an airtight container for up to 5 days.  You can also freeze leftovers for several months.
• It is not required to brine the turkey, however, it helps to create a juicy flavorful turkey breast. 
• I purchased a skin-on turkey breast and then removed the skin for this recipe.  
• Serve your turkey breast with your favorite sides such as cranberry sauce, any green vegetable, potato or rice.
• For the best presentation, I like to serve this turkey breast on an oval platter, sliced, with fresh herbs as a garnish.

Nutrition Facts

The Ultimate Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast Recipe (Boneless)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 59 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Cholesterol 29mg10%

Sodium 108mg5%

Potassium 126mg4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 10IU0%

Calcium 7mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.