Thanksgiving Turkey with Italian Meat Stuffing

5.0
(6)
5 Reviews
2 Photos

Each Thanksgiving we all looked forward to my Mom's delicious turkey with Italian meat stuffing. When she got older and could no longer cook, I took over the Thanksgiving dinners. She is no longer with us but each year members of my family continue to ask for Grandma's recipe so they can make it for their own family. I would now like to pass it on to you.

Submitted by travelrose
Updated on December 25, 2022
close up view of Turkey with Italian Meat Stuffing in a roasting pan
2
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
6 hrs 10 mins
Total Time:
6 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
20
Yield:
1 whole stuffed turkey
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • ½ (1 pound) loaf day-old Italian bread

  • 1 large onion, chopped

  • 2 large stalks celery with leaves, chopped

  • ½ cup chopped fresh mushrooms (Optional)

  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped, or more to taste

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

  • 1 large egg

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 (15 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 lemons, cut in half

  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped, or to taste

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder, or to taste

  • 1 cup water (Optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

  2. Place the ground beef into a skillet, and cook and stir the meat until browned and crumbly, breaking it up into chunks as it cooks, about 10 minutes. Drain grease. Place the ground beef into a large mixing bowl.

  3. Tear the bread into rough chunks, and place into a bowl; soak bread in water until moistened, and squeeze the water out of the bread. Crumble the wet bread into the bowl with the ground beef. Mix in the onion, celery, mushrooms, 4 cloves of garlic, flat-leaf parsley, Parmesan cheese, and egg until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and black pepper.

  4. Rinse the turkey, and pat dry with paper towels. Lightly stuff the turkey with the ground beef mixture, and place into a roasting pan with a lid. Rub the turkey with olive oil, squeeze lemons over the turkey, and sprinkle 2 more cloves of garlic, the garlic powder, and more salt and black pepper over the bird.

  5. Roast the turkey uncovered in the preheated oven until the skin is browned, about 45 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees C (175 degrees C), and cover the turkey with the lid. Continue roasting until the juices run clear and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reads 180 degrees F (80 degrees C), about 5 more hours. Baste occasionally. If the bottom of the roasting pan looks dry, pour in water.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

612 Calories
29g Fat
8g Carbs
75g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 20
Calories 612
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 29g 37%
Saturated Fat 9g 44%
Cholesterol 225mg 75%
Sodium 290mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 75g 150%
Vitamin C 3mg 4%
Calcium 108mg 8%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 796mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.