Honey Brined Turkey Breast Recipes

BRINED GRILLED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine 1 quart water, salt, brown sugar and peppercorns. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Pour into a large bowl. Add remaining 1 quart cold water to cool the brine to room temperature. Add turkey breast; turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate 4-6 hours, turning occasionally., Prepare grill for indirect medium heat, using a drip pan. Meanwhile, combine basting sauce ingredients. Grill turkey, covered, until a thermometer reads 170°, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours, basting occasionally with sauce. Remove to a cutting board. Cover and let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

HONEY APPLE BRINED TURKEY

Steps:

• Combine chicken stock, apple cider, honey, and salt in a large bowl; stir until honey is dissolved. Add 1/2 of the thyme, 1/2 of the sage, garlic, and black pepper; stir. Add water and stir until brine is evenly combined.
• Place turkey in a food-safe cooking bag and pour brine over turkey. Inject the meaty parts of turkey with brine using an injector. Gather bag tightly around turkey so that brine completely surrounds turkey, adding more water if needed. Seal bag, place in a large pot, and refrigerate, 24 to 48 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a rack in a large 2 1/2-inch deep roasting pan.
• Remove turkey from brine and pat dry inside and out. Reserve about 1/2 of the brine. Place turkey in a fresh oven-safe baking bag, breast-side down and place on the rack.
• Squeeze oranges and lemons into the main cavity of the turkey. Place squeezed oranges and lemons, remaining thyme, and remaining sage in the cavity. Lightly coat turkey with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Insert an oven-safe thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh without touching the bone.
• Bake in the preheated oven, basting with brine every 30 minutes, for 2 1/2 hours. Flip turkey and continue baking until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 1 to 1 1/2 hours more. The thermometer should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Allow turkey to rest 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.

HONEY BRINED SMOKED TURKEY

Steps:

• Combine the hot water and the salt in a 54-quart cooler. Stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey. Add the ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side up, and cover with cooler lid.. Brine overnight, up to 12 hours.
• Remove the turkey from the brine and dry thoroughly. Rub the bird thoroughly with the vegetable oil.
• Heat the grill to 400 degrees F.
• Using a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil, build a smoke bomb. Place a cup of hickory wood chips in the center of the foil and gather up the edges, making a small pouch. Leave the pouch open at the top. Set this directly on the charcoal or on the metal bar over the gas flame. Set the turkey over indirect heat, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat, and set the alarm for 160 degrees F. Close the lid and cook for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour check the bird; if the skin is golden brown, cover with aluminum foil and continue cooking. Also, after 1 hour, replace wood chips with second cup.
• Once the bird reaches 160 degrees F, remove from grill, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve.

HONEY-BRINED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• For brine, place first four ingredients and 4 cups cider in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until salt is dissolved. Add rosemary; remove from heat. Stir in remaining cider; cool to room temperature., Place one roasting bag inside the other. Place turkey breast inside both bags; add brine. Seal bags, pressing out as much air as possible; turn to coat turkey. Place in a baking pan. Refrigerate 6-24 hours, turning occasionally., Preheat oven to 325°. Line bottom of a roasting pan with foil. Drain turkey, discarding brine. Place on a rack in prepared pan; pat dry., Roast turkey 30 minutes. Brush with oil; roast until a thermometer reads 170°, 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hours. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.) Remove from oven; tent with foil. Let stand 15 minutes.

HONEY-BRINED TURKEY WITH GIBLET CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• For turkey:
• Line extra-large stockpot with heavy large plastic bag (about 30-gallon capacity). Rinse turkey; place in plastic bag. Stir 8 quarts water, 2 cups coarse salt and 1 cup honey in large pot until salt and honey dissolve. Add 1 bunch fresh thyme, peeled garlic cloves and black pepper. Pour brine over turkey. Gather plastic bag tightly around turkey so that bird is covered with brine; seal plastic bag. Refrigerate pot with turkey in brine at least 12 hours and up to 18 hours.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Drain turkey well; discard brine. Pat turkey dry inside and out. Squeeze juice from lemon halves into main cavity. Add lemon rinds and remaining 1 bunch fresh thyme to main cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Rub turkey all over with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Roast turkey 1 hour. Baste turkey with 1 cup chicken broth. Continue to roast until turkey is deep brown and thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F, basting with 1 cup chicken broth every 30 minutes and covering loosely with foil if turkey is browning too quickly, about 2 1/2 hours longer. Transfer turkey to platter. Tent turkey loosely with foil and let stand 30 minutes. Pour pan juices into large glass measuring cup. Spoon off fat; reserve juices.
• For gravy:
• While turkey cooks, place reserved turkey neck, heart and gizzard into large saucepan. Add 6 cups water, 3 1/2 cups chicken broth, carrots, onion, celery and bay leaf. Simmer over medium heat until turkey stock is reduced to 3 cups, about 2 hours. Strain turkey stock into bowl; reserve turkey neck and giblets. Pull meat off neck. Chop neck meat and giblets.
• Melt 5 tablespoons butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add 5 tablespoons all purpose flour and whisk 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in turkey stock, cream and up to 1 cup reserved turkey pan juices (juices are salty, so add according to taste). Simmer gravy until thickened to desired consistency, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add chopped turkey neck meat and giblets; season to taste with pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

HONEY BRINED SMOKED TURKEY

Steps:

• Combine hot water and salt in a 54-quart cooler; stir until salt dissolves. Stir vegetable broth and honey into the water. Add ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine with the breast facing up; cover with cooler lid. Brine overnight to 12 hours.
• Remove the turkey from the brine and pat dry with paper towel; rub vegetable oil over turkey to coat. Discard brine.
• Put 1 cup wood chips in the center of each of two large sheets of aluminum foil. Wrap edges around wood chips to form small pouches, leaving small openings at the top.
• Preheat an outdoor grill to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and lightly oil the grate. Place 1 pouch of wood chips directly over the flame beneath the grate.
• Set the turkey over indirect heat, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, and set the alarm for 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Close the lid and cook until the turkey's skin is golden brown, about 1 hour. Remove and discard first pouch of wood chips; replace with remaining pouch.
• Cover turkey with aluminum foil, return cover to grill and continue cooking until the turkey is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 3 hours more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).
• Remove the turkey from the grill, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 1 hour before carving to serve.

HONEY AND THYME-BRINED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons pepper, and 6 thyme sprigs; bring to a boil then remove from heat.
• Pour mixture into a large bowl; cool to room temperature.
• To the bowl: add 6 cups water, salt, honey, and sugar, stirring until salt and sugar dissolve.
• Pour salt mixture into a 2-gallon heavy-duty zip-lock plastic bag.
• Add ice and turkey; seal.
• Refrigerate 24 hours, turning bag occasionally.
• Remove turkey from bag; discard brine.
• Pat turkey dry using paper towels.
• Rub turkey with oil.
• Mix together 1 tablespoon pepper and chopped thyme, rub over turkey.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Place turkey on a roasting pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
• Bake for 1 hour or until meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion reads 180°F.
• Place turkey on a platter.
• Cover with foil and let stand 15 minutes.
• If desired, garnish with thyme sprigs.

HONEY BRINED SMOKED TURKEY

Steps:

• Combine the hot water and the salt in a 54-quart cooler. Stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey. Add the ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side up, and cover with cooler lid. Brine overnight, up to 12 hours.
• Remove the turkey from the brine and dry thoroughly. Rub the bird thoroughly with the vegetable oil.
• Heat the grill to 400 degrees F.
• Using a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil, build a smoke bomb. Place a cup of hickory wood chips in the center of the foil and gather up the edges, making a small pouch. Leave the pouch open at the top. Set this directly on the charcoal or on the metal bar over the gas flame. Set the turkey over indirect heat, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat, and set the alarm for 160 degrees F. Close the lid and cook for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour check the bird; if the skin is golden brown, cover with aluminum foil and continue cooking. Also, after 1 hour, replace wood chips with second cup.
• Once the bird reaches 160 degrees F, remove from grill, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve.
• Recipe Summary.
• Difficulty: Easy
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 13 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Yield: 10 to 12 servings.

ROAST-YOUR-OWN HONEY-ROASTED TURKEY BREAST AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rub 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper around the whole turkey breast, in every crevasse and crevice. Gently peel back the skin and rub the seasoning under the skin too. Do the same with the honey, concentrating it under the skin; avoid putting the honey on top of the skin.
• On a baking sheet, mix the thyme, carrots, sweet potatoes, fennel, onions and 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. Season with salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables out evenly and place the turkey on top of the vegetables. Next, brush the remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter all over the turkey and on top of the skin.
• Cook for 15 minutes, then bump the temperature down to 325 degrees F and cook until the meat registers 165 degrees F on a GOOD instant-read thermometer, for another hour or so. Let rest at least 10 minutes.
• Slice and serve with the roasted vegetables. The turkey will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, and is perfect for the kids' lunches the following week.

GRILLED HONEY-DIJON BRINED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• In 6-quart container or stockpot, stir water, honey, Dijon mustard and salt until honey and salt are dissolved. Add turkey breast to brine mixture. Cover; refrigerate at least 12 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• Heat gas or charcoal grill for indirect cooking as directed by manufacturer. Remove turkey from brine mixture; rinse thoroughly under cool running water and pat dry. Discard brine.
• In small bowl, mix remaining ingredients; brush over turkey. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer into turkey so tip is in thickest part of breast and does not touch bone.
• Place turkey on unheated side of 2-burner gas grill or over drip pan on charcoal grill. (If using one-burner gas grill, cook over low heat.) Cover grill; cook over medium heat 1 hour.
• Rotate turkey 1/2 turn; cook covered 45 to 60 minutes longer or until thermometer reads 165°F.
• Remove turkey from grill. Cover with foil; let stand 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.