Turkey Roll Ups With Stuffing

Everyone loves comfort food, and this Turkey Stuffing Roll Ups recipe has all the great holiday flavors in a simple casserole. Yes, cranberries and gravy are included. Why wait for Thanksgiving to make this classic meal?

This page may contain affiliate links; please see my full disclosure for policy details. I earn commissions if you shop through the links on this page.

This turkey casserole captures all the flavors of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner without the need for a 12-lb whole turkey. It’s a versatile dish that can be enjoyed any time of the year and is incredibly easy to make. So go ahead and indulge in turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce in March if you feel like it!!

You can skip the prepared Thanksgiving dinner or even the Thanksgiving catering and make this easy dinner yourself.

Pin this recipe to your board and follow me on Pinterest

Jump to:

• So, is it called stuffing or dressing?????
• Easy Turkey Dinner How To's
• Ingredients For Turkey Roll Ups
• How To Make Sliced Turkey Roll-Ups
• Homemade Stuffing
• Why make this recipe
• What To Serve For Dessert?
• Equipment And Tools For Baking This Casserole
• More from One Hot Oven
• Recipe

So, is it called stuffing or dressing?????

One side of my family calls it stuffing, even though they never stuff the turkey, and the other calls it dressing. But to clear the matter up, stuffing is put inside some meat or a vegetable, and dressing is baked separately.  It doesn't matter because the recipe is the same no matter what you call it (and both taste amazing).

Easy Turkey Dinner How To's

What's included

• Turkey Rolls with stuffing and cranberry sauce
• Roasted carrots
• Mashed potatoes
• Gravy

The recipe for making this dinner has lots of options, so you can pick and choose how you want to make this casserole.

• It is best to use thick deli turkey slices for this recipe since they are easier to roll up than leftover sliced turkey. I used one pound of deli turkey, which was nine slices.
• You can use store-bought stuffing, like Stovetop stuffing or make your own. Below is the recipe for homemade stuffing. It's quick to make.
• So many cranberry sauce options. First, you don't have to use it if you don't have any or don't like it. If you want to use it, buy store-bought, use leftover cranberry sauce or make your own with this easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe.
• The gravy is a must for these turkey rolls; you have three options. Just make sure you have plenty to top the stuffed turkey rolls and the mashed potatoes.
  • Use ready-made gravy such as McCormick Turkey Gravy, Knorr's Gravy Mix, or make your own. Today, I am making homemade gravy because I have a lot of chicken stock to use.
• There is always enough room in the baking dish for some extras. Add your favorite veggies to roast. I put in fresh sliced carrots, but green beans would be good, too. You can also add a bag of frozen veggies.
•  Adding mashed potatoes for a side makes this turkey roll-up recipe a complete meal. Again, you can buy premade mashed potatoes, and Hormel Homestyle Mashed Potatoes are as close to homemade as you can get, or make your own mashed potatoes while the casserole is baking.
• Here is another option. Instead of mashed potatoes, peel and slice or cube some sweet potatoes and add to the baking dish with the turkey rolls for your vegetables.
• If you have leftover stuffing, make sure to add that to the baking dish if you have room.

Ingredients For Turkey Roll Ups

• Thick sliced deli turkey
• Cranberry Sauce - I used store-bought since it was right there in the deli, but here is a delicious recipe for homemade cranberry sauce.

Stuffing/Dressing

• Bread - I use multigrain, but white bread or cornbread or a mixture is delicious, too
• Chicken broth or turkey broth
• Egg - large
• Butter
• Onions, Celery, Sage, Parsley
• Salt & pepper

Gravy

• Butter
• Flour
• Chicken or Turkey  Stock - The stock has more flavor than chicken broth, but you can use broth.
• Half and Half, Cream or Milk
• Salt & Pepper

Side Dishes

• Carrots
• Mashed Potatoes

How To Make Sliced Turkey Roll-Ups

There are several steps to this dish, but they are all simple.

Step 1. Add olive oil or cooking spray to coat the bottom of a 13" x 9" baking pan and heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2. On one slice of turkey, spread a small amount of cranberry sauce on the turkey, about 1 teaspoon if you are using it.

Step 3. Add about ¼  cup of the stuffing mix at the bottom of the turkey slice, then roll up tightly. Place the roll seam side down in the baking pan.

Step 4.  Repeat with the remaining slices of turkey.

Step 5. If you have any stuffing left, place that at one end of the baking pan.

Step 6. Add your choice of veggies to the other end of the baking pan.  Try to cut your veggies the same size so they bake evenly. I used ¼" sliced carrots that I mixed with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Step 7. Cover the turkey rolls with gravy (see the recipe below.) I reserved some gravy for the mashed potatoes.

Step 8. Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 30-45 minutes. The timing depends on the type of vegetables being baked and the veggies getting done.

Homemade Stuffing

Step 1. When making stuffing or dressing, it is best to use bread that has been left out overnight to dry out so it absorbs the stock better. Cut the bread slices into small cubes and place them in a large bowl.

If I know I am making stuffing, I do this step the night before and leave the bowl with the bread cubes sitting on the kitchen counter to dry out.

Step 2. In a small skillet or saucepan, melt the butter, then add the chopped celery and onions and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Step 3. Combine the bread cubes with the stock, egg, onion, and celery mixture, chopped sage and parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix completely to moisten the bread. You can use other types of herbs and seasoning in your stuffing if you like. Thyme and rosemary are always a good choice.

Gravy Ingredients

• Chicken or Turkey Stock/Broth
• Butter
• Flour
• Salt and Pepper
• Optional - add additional herbs and spices to your liking

Basic Homemade Gravy with Chicken or Turkey Stock

Step 1. In a medium-sized skillet, melt the butter.

Step 2. Have a wire whisk ready, and add the flour to the melted butter. Whisk in the flour until the mixture is smooth.  This is a butter-roux.

Step 3.  Cook and whisk the butter-roux for about 10 minutes over medium-low heat until the mixture is a medium brown color.

Step 4. When the roux is cooked, turn the heat to low and slowly pour in the stock, and whisk this into the roux until the mixture is smooth. Continue cooking at a simmer and whisking for another 10 minutes until the gravy is browned and thickened.

If, at this point, the gravy is not thick enough, you can mix a slurry of cornstarch and water and whisk it into the gravy to thicken it. If the gravy is too thick, add some additional broth or water.

Step 5. Add the half and half, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine and taste for the right amount of salt. You can also add cayenne pepper, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, or rosemary for added flavor.

Serving this casserole for Thanksgiving is the perfect way to enjoy a classic meal. Over the years, we have downsized our Thanksgiving dinner because we don’t have as many family members able to visit. Instead of having twelve family and friends for dinner, we now only have me, my husband, and our kids, if they are able to join us.

I admit that I miss the big family dinners, but even with just the four of us, I am still going to make the traditional holiday meal. However, this time I’ll add a new twist to make it an impressive dish.

If you do happen to make a big turkey and have leftovers make sure to make this Turkey Brocolli Casserole, it's delicioiusly cheesy.

Why make this recipe

• This whole dinner is simple to make and tastes just like the great big turkey dinner.
• Each component can be made how you like, so change things up. Make homemade or use store-bought.
• This meal is perfect for smaller families. Honestly, I have no reason to roast a great big turkey anymore, but we still want a turkey dinner.
• You can premake the whole casserole a day or two in advance and pop the baking dish in the oven the day of for the ultimate time savings.
• You can scale down this recipe if you don't need eight rolls
• Everything in this dinner can be reheated in the microwave and comes out just as tasty

What To Serve For Dessert?

• Cinnamon Madeleine's are the perfect bite-size dessert treat to go along with a turkey dinner.
• Bake a batch of Butter Pecan Blondies for a sweet and nutty dessert treat.
• This Pumpkin Sheet Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing is a family favorite and easy to make.
• For a rustic dessert, this Apple Skillet Cake pairs perfectly with this dinner; serve this cake right out of the skillet.

Equipment And Tools For Baking This Casserole

More from One Hot Oven

Make sure to pin for later!

Easy dinners with family are always the best!

Recipe

First published: Oct 24, 2020. Last updated: August 29, 2023, for better readability.

Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog.  Please leave a comment to say Hello or just let me know what you are baking these days, I always love hearing from fellow bakers. Have any questions or just want to chat about the recipe? Please visit my about page for information, and I’ll be happy to help!

About Jere'

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending.  Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.