Turkey Roulade with Sausage Stuffing – An Elegant Holiday Dinner

If you’re searching for a holiday entrée that’s impressive, flavorful, and much easier than roasting an entire turkey, Turkey Roulade with Sausage Stuffing is the perfect choice. This dish delivers all the beloved holiday flavors—juicy turkey, savory sausage, aromatic herbs, and buttery breadcrumbs—rolled into a stunning spiral that slices beautifully. It’s festive, comforting, elegant, and surprisingly simple to prepare, making it ideal for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special dinner where you want the “wow” factor without the stress.

Unlike a traditional whole roasted turkey, a roulade cooks quickly and evenly. You don’t have to worry about dry breast meat or undercooked dark meat. Instead, you get juicy, tender slices infused with the rich flavors of sausage, herbs, garlic, and a hint of butter. It’s a modern twist on classic holiday flavors, offering a gourmet presentation worthy of any celebration.

In this article, you’ll find a complete walkthrough of how to make turkey roulade with sausage stuffing, including preparation tips, ingredient substitutions, variations, make-ahead instructions, and elegant serving ideas. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or cooking for a small family dinner, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results every single time.

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What Is a Turkey Roulade?

A roulade is simply a protein that has been pounded thin, filled with stuffing, rolled tightly, and roasted. Turkey breast makes the perfect roulade protein because it cooks quickly, has a mild flavor that pairs beautifully with herbs and sausage, and delivers clean, picture-perfect slices.

A turkey roulade is:

• Great for smaller gatherings (4–8 people)
• Faster to cook than a whole turkey
• Easier to season evenly
• Simpler to slice and serve
• Perfect for stuffing variety

If you want all the holiday flavor but want to skip the stress of a 15-pound bird, this is the ultimate solution.

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Why You’ll Love This Turkey Roulade

• Elegant presentation: The spiral cut makes this dish look like it came straight from a gourmet kitchen.
• Packed with flavor: Sausage adds depth, herbs bring freshness, and breadcrumbs hold everything together.
• Moist and juicy: Rolling the turkey locks in moisture.
• Highly customizable: Add spinach, apples, cranberries, mushrooms, or pecans.
• Make-ahead friendly: Perfect for prepping the day before.

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Ingredients

Turkey

• 1 large boneless skinless turkey breast (2–3 lbs), butterflied
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

Sausage & Herb Stuffing

• 1 lb ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

For Roasting

• 2 tbsp melted butter or olive oil
• Fresh herbs for garnish

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Instructions

1. Prepare the Turkey Breast

1. Butterfly the turkey breast and open it like a book.
2. Place plastic wrap over the top and pound gently with a mallet until the breast is even, about ½ inch thickness.
3. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

2. Make the Sausage Stuffing

4. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add sausage. Cook until browned, breaking it apart.
5. Add onions and garlic; sauté until soft and fragrant.
6. Stir in butter until melted, then add spinach and cook until wilted.
7. Add breadcrumbs, rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper.
8. Mix until the stuffing holds together and remove from heat to cool slightly.

3. Assemble the Roulade

9. Spread the sausage stuffing evenly over the turkey breast, leaving ½ inch border around the edges.
10. Roll the turkey tightly from the narrow side into a log.
11. Secure with kitchen twine every 1–2 inches.
12. Brush the outside with melted butter or oil.

4. Roast

13. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
14. Place the roulade in a greased baking dish, seam-side down.
15. Roast for 60–75 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
16. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

5. Serve

17. Remove twine, slice into spirals, garnish with herbs, and serve warm.

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Tips for the Best Turkey Roulade

º Pound Evenly

Ensures the turkey cooks uniformly and rolls neatly.

º Don’t Overfill

Too much stuffing makes rolling difficult and causes bursting.

º Tie Securely

Kitchen twine is essential for keeping everything intact.

º Rest Before Slicing

This keeps juices inside and preserves the spiral.

º Use a Sharp Knife

Clean, smooth cuts make the roulade look professional.

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Make-Ahead Instructions

One of the biggest advantages of this dish is how well it works for meal prep.

Make Ahead (24 hours):

• Assemble the roulade fully
• Wrap tightly in plastic
• Refrigerate
• Roast the next day as directed

Freezer Method:

• Assemble but do NOT bake
• Wrap in plastic + foil
• Freeze up to 1 month
• Thaw overnight
• Roast normally

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Serving Suggestions

Pair your roulade with:

• Mashed potatoes
• Cranberry sauce
• Roasted carrots
• Garlic green beans
• Stuffing or wild rice
• Gravy (drizzle over the top!)

Turkey roulade is also beautiful served on a platter with roasted lemon slices and fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary.

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Variations

1. Apple-Sausage Roulade

Add 1 cup diced apples to the stuffing for a sweet contrast.

2. Spinach & Mushroom

Replace sausage with sautéed mushrooms and add extra spinach.

3. Cranberry-Pecan Stuffing

Fold in dried cranberries and chopped pecans for a festive twist.

4. Spicy Italian Sausage

Gives the roulade a bold kick and bright flavor.

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Storage & Reheating

• Refrigerator: Up to 3 days
• Freezer (cooked): Up to 2 months
• Reheat: 325°F for 10–15 minutes, covered, with a splash of broth