Just the Breasts: Thanksgiving Turkey, Take Two

Quick-cooking, white-meat turkey breasts will save you time on Thanksgiving, and when they're elegantly stuffed and rolled, they make for an impressive main dish for the feast. Alternately, a breast makes a good accompaniment to a whole bird for feeding a large crowd.

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Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Photo By: Emmer Schmidt

Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Breast Stuffed with Pear Hash

Covering a turkey breast in bacon prior to cooking encases the meat in rich, smoky fat, infusing it with both flavor and moisture. Take the time to brine the meat before cooking it to ensure the breasts stay juicy and not at all tough.

Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Breast Stuffed with Pear Hash

Roasted, Brined Turkey Breast with Maple-Worcestershire Gravy, and Fruit and Nut Rice Pilaf

Don’t be intimidated by the 25-hour total time on this recipe –– you’ll spend only an hour doing actual cooking (the rest is just for marinating). Rachael Ray makes a simple-yet-genius gravy by adding maple syrup and Worcestershire sauce to the turkey pan juices.

Get the Recipe: Roasted, Brined Turkey Breast with Maple-Worcestershire Gravy and Fruit and Nut Rice Pilaf

Stuffed Turkey Breast

It’s impossible to go wrong with sausage, prosciutto, sage and chestnuts, but it’s the green olives that really take this combination to the next level. Giada De Laurentiis uses the savory mix as a stuffing for turkey breast.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Turkey Breast

Brined Turkey Breast with Spanish Spice Rub and Sour Orange Sauce

There's a reason so many chefs cook their turkeys in an orange-based sauce: The resulting sweet and tangy flavors were meant to be. Bobby Flay rubs his bird with a robust spice mixture to lend additional depth to the holiday meal.

Get the Recipe: Brined Turkey Breast with Spanish Spice Rub and Sour Orange Sauce

Turkey Scallopine Milanese with Mustard Cranberry Sauce

Pounding turkey breast into thin rounds not only allows the meat to cook quickly, but it prevents the turkey from drying out. Michael Chiarello serves his breadcrumb-coated meat with cranberry sauce and a light arugula salad for a one-plate Thanksgiving meal that'd work well for a small crowd.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Scallopine Milanese with Mustard Cranberry Sauce

Roasted Turkey Breast with Peach and Rosemary Glaze

Sweet peaches are given woodsy depth thanks to a few sprigs of fresh rosemary in this sweet-and-savory dish.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Turkey Breast with Peach Rosemary Glaze

Roasted Turkey Breast with Creamy Gravy and Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce

The star of this turkey plate is the garlic-herb butter, slathered liberally on the meat before roasting and used to make the simple cream gravy. A chunky cranberry-pomegranate sauce adds color and sweet seasonal flavors to your plate.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Turkey Breast with Creamy Gravy and Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

Ellie Krieger's turkey breast fills the kitchen with the fragrant fall aromas of fresh thyme, rosemary and sage. Producing tender and moist meat, this slimmed-down recipe is a quick-cooking alternative to a whole turkey that's sure to satisfy.

Get the Recipe: Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast

Sliced Chipotle Turkey Breast with Pomegranate Cranberry Relish and Polenta

In less than two hours, prepare this Thanksgiving dinner for four: a sweet-spicy, honey-chipotle turkey breast plated with fresh pomegranate-cranberry relish and polenta (perfect for sopping up those meat juices).

Get the Recipe: Sliced Chipotle Turkey Breast With Pomegranate Cranberry Relish and Polenta

Turkey Roulade with Apple Cider Gravy

Ellie's ultimate healthy turkey uses just the breast. It's filled with cranberry and pecan stuffing, then rolled and secured with kitchen twine. Sear the turkey until lightly brown, then roast until done.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Roulade with Apple-Cider Gravy

Roast Turkey Breast

Kelsey Nixon's quick-cooking turkey has a secret: It's just the breast. Rub the turkey skin with seasoned butter and cook it on a roasting pan filled with fall vegetables. (Serve the turkey with her Pomegranate Quinoa Pilaf to make it a meal.)

Get the Recipe: Roast Turkey Breast

Cranberry Apple Roasted Turkey Breast

Kelsey brines her bird in a mix of apple cider, cranberry juice and pickling spices for perky fall flavor. Those ingredients make a second appearance in her dark and decadent glaze that's made extra sticky with maple syrup.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Apple Roasted Turkey Breast