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Meat, Americas

Roast turkey breast with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce

This roast turkey breast with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce is a family meal for 4, ready in 60 minutes, rated easy, for about €3.30 per person. The key to success is never letting the turkey go past 70°C at the center, so it stays moist instead of drying out.

Craving a little Thanksgiving feeling in the middle of the week? A roast turkey breast, creamy mashed potatoes and a cranberry sauce with a nice tang.

Roast turkey breast with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.30
Calories per person
510 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Roast turkey isn't just for holidays. Here the breast cooks gently in the oven with garlic and thyme, staying tender and juicy as long as you watch its internal temperature. The mashed potatoes, rich with butter and hot milk, bring the comfort that balances the meat, while the cranberry sauce adds a tangy edge that wakes everything up.

It's a great way to bring a bit of holiday warmth to a weeknight, without spending hours in the kitchen. Kids tend to love the mash and the soft texture of the turkey, and the cranberry sauce, less sweet than people expect, often wins them over too. You can just as easily serve this on a Sunday, for a family meal that's a nice change from the usual roast chicken.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Turkey breast 800 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 1 kg
  • Green beans 500 g
  • Thyme 3 sprigs
  • Garlic 2 cloves

Frozen foods

  • Frozen cranberries or lingonberries 200 g

Pantry

  • Sugaroften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Butter 80 g
  • Milk 20 cl

Allergens Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Rub the turkey breast with oil, thyme, salt and pepper, then roast it at 190°C with the unpeeled garlic cloves. 35 min

    Baste it with its own juices halfway through so it stays moist.

  2. Cook the peeled potatoes in salted water. 20 min

    Salt the water from the start, that's when the potatoes pick up the flavor.

  3. Cook the cranberries with the sugar and a little water over low heat until they burst. 12 min

    If you can't find fresh or frozen cranberries, use dried ones and let them plump up in hot water.

  4. Mash the potatoes with the hot milk and butter.

    Add the milk in small amounts to control the texture.

  5. Cook the green beans in boiling salted water, then toss them in a pan with a knob of butter. 8 min

    Plunge them into cold water right after, it keeps their bright green color.

  6. Let the turkey rest for five minutes, slice it, and serve with the mashed potatoes, green beans and sauce.

    Save the cooking juices and pour them over the slices to keep them juicy.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pierce the garlic cloves with the tip of a knife before roasting them with the turkey, they release their flavor better that way.
  • Use a kitchen thermometer if you have one, it's the safest way to avoid going past 70°C at the center.
  • Make the cranberry sauce first, it's fine served warm or cold and can simply wait while you finish the rest.

The variations

  • Swap the turkey breast for a chicken breast, the cooking time will be a bit shorter, just keep watching the same temperature rule.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the turkey with a thick slice of celery root roasted with the same herbs, the cranberry sauce pairs just as well with it.
  • For kids in a hurry, cut the turkey breast into pieces before cooking, it shortens the oven time and makes it easier to eat.

What to serve it with

  • A crisp green salad
  • Sparkling apple juice
  • Roasted chestnuts for dessert

Storage

Leftovers keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, with turkey, mash and sauce stored separately. The turkey and cranberry sauce freeze well for up to 2 months, though the mash loses a bit of texture after freezing. Reheat gently in a pan or oven with a splash of cooking juices so the turkey doesn't dry out.

Questions about this dish

How do you know the turkey breast is cooked without a thermometer?

Pierce the center with the tip of a knife, the juices should run clear, not pink. The meat should also feel firm but not hard to the touch.

Can you use dried cranberries instead of frozen ones?

Yes, just soak the dried cranberries in hot water for a few minutes to plump them up before cooking them with the sugar. The result is a bit less tangy but still good.

Can you make the cranberry sauce ahead of time?

Yes, it keeps well for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed jar. It also tastes just as good cold as warm, which makes planning the meal easier.

Why does turkey dry out so easily?

Turkey breast is a lean meat that quickly loses its moisture past 70°C at the center. Basting it with its own juices during cooking helps keep it tender.

How long does it take to make a roast turkey breast with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a roast turkey breast with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce?

About 510 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a roast turkey breast with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce cost?

About €3.30 per serving, or €13.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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