Apple-Bourbon Turkey Breast

Main MealAmerican

6-8 servings

Ingredients:

Apple-Bourbon Marinade:

- 2 cups apple cider
- ½ cup bourbon 
- ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar

Turkey Breast:

  • 1 (6-lb.) bone-in whole turkey breast (When cooking it for just Dan and I, I use a half-breast, but use the same amounts in this recipe of marinade, veggies, gravy for the whole breast)
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 
  • 1 large oven bag 
  • 2 celery ribs 
  • 1 medium onion, sliced 
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted 

Apple-Bourbon Gravy:

- ¼ cup butter or margarine 
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour 
- 2 cups reserved drippings 
- ½ cup reserved Apple-Bourbon Marinade
- Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Turkey:

  • Rinse turkey breast thoroughly with cold water; pat dry, and set aside.
  • Remove 1/2 cup Apple-Bourbon Marinade, and reserve for Apple-Bourbon Gravy. Pour remaining 2 cups Apple-Bourbon Marinade into a 2-gal. zip-top plastic freezer bag; add turkey breast. Seal bag, and chill at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
  • Remove turkey breast from bag, discarding marinade.
  • Place flour in oven bag; shake to coat inside of bag. Place bag in a shallow roasting pan; place celery and sliced onion inside bag. Brush turkey breast with melted butter, and place on top of vegetables in bag. Close bag with nylon tie; cut 6 (1/2-inch) slits in top of bag.
  • Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of turkey breast registers 170°. Remove turkey breast from bag to a serving platter. Pour bag drippings through a wire-mesh strainer into a medium bowl, discarding solids in strainer and reserving drippings (about 2 cups) in bowl for Apple-Bourbon Gravy. Garnish, if desired, and serve with gravy.

Gravy:

  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth.
  • Gradually add reserved drippings and marinade to pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until thickened.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.

Note: If doubling the recipe, simply place both oven bags side by side in the same roasting pan, and bake as directed.