Peyton, I had some more thoughts about what to use if you want to serve a bird, a stuffing but not a turducken. I would suggest whole smallish birds or a turkey breast. That way, you need less time to cook both the bird and stuffing to tasty done-ness without drying out or overcooking one of them. Pick a bird you know your guests like, then choose your stuffing by taste or what's available in markets. Examples: Duck with orange and hazelnut stuffing Chicken stuffed with anything from broccoli to foie gras Turkey breast stuffed, rolled, roasted and carved. Like the chicken, can be stuffed with many things - sausage-cornbread, bacon-mushroom, cranberries and brioche.
Hi there! You certainly can stuff a bird (it'll help it cook more evenly and add a bit of extra flavor), but you also don't have to. If you do decide to stuff the bird, just make sure to not let it sit out uncooked at room temperature, which can lead to food-safety issues. You'll also want to make sure the stuffing has reached the same food-safe temperature as the meat. Here are a few options for stuffed and non-stuffed recipes I've made before and like:
Ahhh yes the turducken! I've never made one before but here's a brief history on the subject: https://food52.com/blog/14637-the-brief-history-of-the-turducken-and-stuffing-food-in-food
Peyton - here's a butcher's story before Thanksgiving 2018 and he DOESN'T recommend the 3 birds stuffed together.. Have a look and see what you think. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/take-it-from-a-butcher-a-turducken-isnt-worth-the-trouble/2018/11/15/bb3efc4e-e0b3-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html
6 Comments
I had some more thoughts about what to use if you want to serve a bird, a stuffing but not a turducken.
I would suggest whole smallish birds or a turkey breast. That way, you need less time to cook both the bird and stuffing to tasty done-ness without drying out or overcooking one of them.
Pick a bird you know your guests like, then choose your stuffing by taste or what's available in markets. Examples:
Duck with orange and hazelnut stuffing
Chicken stuffed with anything from broccoli to foie gras
Turkey breast stuffed, rolled, roasted and carved. Like the chicken, can be stuffed with many things - sausage-cornbread, bacon-mushroom, cranberries and brioche.
https://food52.com/recipes/17568-barbara-kafka-s-simplest-roast-chicken
https://food52.com/recipes/14669-butter-and-herb-roast-turkey
https://food52.com/blog/9941-how-to-make-stuffed-roast-chicken-breast-or-turkey-or-duck-without-a-recipe
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/take-it-from-a-butcher-a-turducken-isnt-worth-the-trouble/2018/11/15/bb3efc4e-e0b3-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html