Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Breast With Cornbread Stuffing Recipe

1. To make the brine: Combine water, salt, and sugar in a large bowl and whisk to dissolve. Submerge turkey breasts in brine and place in refrigerator for 1 hour.

2. To make the stuffing: While turkey is brining, melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add in sausage and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Add in onions, celery, and apple and cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place sausage mixture in a large bowl along with cornbread, chicken stock, sage, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Mix to thoroughly combine.

3. Create a bacon weave by laying 6 strip of bacon out horizontally side by side. Interlace 6 more pieces of bacon vertically with horizontal bacon, as you would making a lattice-top pie. Repeat with remaining 12 slices of bacon to make a second weave.

4. Remove turkey breasts from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Butterfly turkey breasts open and pound out to a square of even thickness. Lay each breast on one bacon weave. Spread half of the stuffing in an even thickness over each of the breasts, leaving about 1/2 an inch edge with no stuffing. Roll tightly into a cylinder with bacon on the outside. Wrap turkey rolls tightly in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to firm up, about 1 hour to overnight.

5. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Place turkey rolls on cool side of grill, cover, and cook until an instant read thermometer reads 150°F degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the turkey. If bacon has not colored or crisped sufficiently, quickly sear over hot side of grill until desired doneness. Remove from grill and let rest for 15 minutes. Cut turkey into 3/4-inch slices and serve immediately.

Special Equipment

Grill