Trader Joe’s put the turkey and stuffing inside puff pastry. Honestly, that is a pretty compelling argument for skipping the giant bird.
Its seasonal Turkey & Stuffing En Croute wraps seasoned boneless turkey breast and cornbread stuffing in all-butter puff pastry. You slice the whole thing across, so each piece gets turkey, stuffing and a crust around the outside.
The part to plan for is the thaw. This is a freezer find you need to think about the day before dinner, not an hour before everyone arrives.
What’s inside, and how many does it serve?
Trader Joe’s lists the 40-ounce package for $16.99. That is two and a half pounds of the assembled entrée, including the pastry and stuffing, rather than two and a half pounds of turkey alone.
The turkey is seasoned with herbs including rosemary, sage and thyme. The cornbread stuffing includes carrots, celery and onion, all tucked inside that pastry shell.
Trader Joe’s says it serves six to eight guests. Its nutrition panel divides the package into eight portions, so use that as a starting point when planning your sides and how much everyone will want. This is the centerpiece, not a complete Thanksgiving dinner in a box.
Give it a day in the fridge first
The brand’s product page calls for 24 hours of thawing in the refrigerator, followed by about an hour in the oven. Follow the cooking directions on your package for the actual oven setting, timing and doneness instructions.
That still leaves you free to make mashed potatoes, put together a vegetable side or do absolutely nothing involving stuffing a turkey. The pastry handles the presentation.
Where to find it
Look in Trader Joe’s freezer section. The retailer describes Turkey & Stuffing En Croute as a limited-time item for the October-through-December holiday season. The online listing does not guarantee that a particular store has it, and Trader Joe’s recommends checking with the store for current price and availability.
The listed allergens are milk, egg and wheat, so check the package if you are feeding anyone with an allergy.
