The best roast turkey breast recipe isn’t cooked in the crock pot, but is roasted in the oven with wine, lemon, and butter for a moist turkey breast every time.
Cooking a full-blown turkey for a crowd is usually reserved for just one time a year—happy Thanksgiving! But if you’re having a smaller gathering, or even just for two, knowing how to cook a turkey breast instead is a really good idea. And really, Thanksgiving isn’t the only time to talk turkey. Sure, it’s a popular protein over the holidays, but when roasting a turkey breast is as easy as cooking a chicken, it should totally be considered as a dinner contender any time of year.
My turkey breast recipe yields a perfect oven-roasted turkey breast— juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and ready to gobble down. Whether it’s served with all the fixins’ for Thanksgiving, in my favorite turkey pot pie, or even as an awesome grilled cheese turkey sandwich, this recipe won’t steer you wrong.
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What’s in This Roast Turkey Breast Recipe?
When it comes to cooking turkey breasts, I’ve found that keeping things simple is the way to go. There’s no need for brining or a dry rub, just a handful of fresh herbs and aromatics.
The only ingredients you’ll need for this roast turkey breast recipe are:
- turkey breast (best with bone-in and skin on)
- butter (salted or unsalted, I use salted but it’s your choice)
- white wine—always use the same quality you would drink (I use pinot grigio). If wine isn’t your thing, chicken stock or broth, or even plain old water will add moisture to the oven and the bird.
- lemon
- garlic cloves
- fresh thyme—fresh sage and rosemary would be great additions as well (or feel free to use those instead of the thyme if you prefer)
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
see more: 31 Days Of Comfort Food Favorites To Make Now
How to Prep This Turkey Breast
I use the same technique to cook turkey breasts as I do when roasting chicken. And just like my whole roast chicken or my best baked chicken breasts, it’s a recipe that’s easily adapted for boneless turkey breasts too.
Keep the skin on and bone in for max flavor and moisture. Cooking meat on the bone helps keep the poultry from drying out. The skin holds in the moisture as well.
Add softened butter under the skin for flavor. Gently work your fingers under the skin and pry it away from the turkey meat before sliding the softened butter under the skin. Press the butter onto the top of the skin as well. As the turkey cooks, the butter melts into the meat and helps brown the skin.
How to Cook a Turkey Breast
Cooking a roast turkey breast is an excellent idea whether you’re looking for an easy dinner any night of the week, or having a smaller Thanksgiving gathering.
Add aromatics and wine for steeping in the flavor. Before or after buttering, place the turkey breast on a high rimmed baking sheet, and pour the wine over the turkey. Use a decent white wine, something you’d be happy to drink. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon to the turkey and scatter fresh thyme leaves and a few cloves of garlic to the wine for even more succulent flavor. If the liquid evaporates as the turkey cooks, add more wine, water, or chicken stock to the pan so the aromatics don’t burn.
Always season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Even if you skip all of the steps above, always season with these. Kosher salt has a flatter surface than table salt, and is less acrid with a mellower taste.
Roast at a high temp then rest. Cook the turkey at 400°F to seal in the juices and brown the skin. Allow the turkey to rest for 10 minutes before slicing for the hot juices settle back into the meat. The turkey will continue to cook as it rests, eventually reach the 160°F recommended internal temp.
see more: 21 Easy Recipes for Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey
How Do You Keep a Turkey Breast From Drying Out?
The secret to a juicy bird that doesn’t dry out is to roast it at high temperature in a 400°F oven. Cooking at high heat seals in the juices while creating a skin that’s crisp and browned.
How Long to Cook a Turkey Breast Per Pound
- I usually cook two bone-in turkey breasts trimmed into two split breasts totaling 3 pounds (1 1/2 lbs each).
- If you can’t find the smaller, split breasts, look for a 6 1/2-7 lb breast and split the breast in two.
- If cooking one 3 lb, bone-in breast half, the cooking time will be longer.
see more: 50 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Boneless Turkey Breast Cooking Time
Cooking split, boneless turkey breasts at 400°F, I estimate about 12 minutes cooking time per pound for boneless turkey where two 1 1/2 lb cutlets should cook in 30 minutes or when it registers 150-155°F internal temperature when tested with a meat thermometer.
If cooking a rolled turkey breast with skin on (shaped and tied into a roast) allow 20 minutes cooking time per pound. Tied into a roast, the meat is more dense and takes longer to cook. Begin checking the temperature at about 45 minutes, knowing it may take 1 hour to cook.
Bone-in Turkey Breast Cooking Time
For a single, 3 lb bone-in turkey breast, allow 17-20 minutes per pound at 400°F, or 45-60 minutes until the thickest part of the meat registers 150-155°F.
- Begin checking the temperature for doneness at about 45 minutes.
- Again, two split bone-in breasts that total 3 lbs will cook faster than a single 3 lb bone-in breast.
- Tent the bird with aluminum foil if the skin begins to brown too much.
- If you cook the bone in split turkey breasts at the lower temperature of 350°F, roast for 20 minutes per pound.
What to Serve With Juicy Turkey Breast
- Heavenly Funeral Potatoes Recipe
- The Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Dinner Rolls
- How to Make the Best Potato Salad
- The BEST Traditional Stuffing
- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
- The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese
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How to Cook THE BEST Roast Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 1 3 pound bone-in turkey breast , with skin on
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 head of garlic sliced in half lengthwise
- 1 cup white wine
- 4-6 sprigs of fresh thyme
- kosher salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. Rinse the turkey breast and pat dry. With your fingers, carefully separate the skin from the turkey meat, then spread the softened butter under the skin.
- Place the turkey breast in a roasting pan or on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour the wine over the breast, then juice the lemon over the breast. Season with the kosher salt and pepper then scatter the garlic cloves and thyme in the wine.
- Roast the turkey for 30 minutes for boneless breasts or 45-60 minutes for bone-in breasts or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the breast reaches 150-155°F. If needed, add more wine to the pan as the turkey cooks so the aromatics don't burn.
- Cover with foil and rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing, the internal temperature will rise to 160°F as it rests. Reserve pan drippings for gravy if desired.
Notes
Boneless Turkey Breast Cooking Time
Cooking split, boneless turkey breasts at 400°F, I estimate about 12 minutes cooking time per pound for boneless turkey where two 1 1/2 pound cutlets should cook in 30 minutes or when it registers 150-155°F internal temperature when tested with a meat thermometer. If cooking a rolled turkey breast with skin on (shaped and tied into a roast) allow 20 minutes cooking time per pound. Tied into a roast, the meat is more dense and takes longer to cook. Begin checking the temperature at about 45 minutes, knowing it may take 1 hour to cook.Bone-in Turkey Breast Cooking Time
For a single, 3 pound bone-in turkey breast, I give it 17-20 minutes per pound, or 45-60 minutes until the thickest part of the meat registers 150-155°F. Begin checking the temperature for doneness at about 45 minutes. Again, two split bone-in breasts that total 3 pounds will cook faster than a single 3 pound bone-in breast. Tent the bird with aluminum foil if the skin begins to brown too much.Nutrition
Roasted Turkey Recipe Ideas
- Curry Turkey Pot Pie
- Grilled Brie, Turkey, Cranberry & Avocado Sandwich
- Roasted Turkey Breast with Lemon And Oregano
- Turkey Pot Pie Soup
- Spinach Salad with Turkey, Apples and Butternut Squash
- Turkey and White Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Grapes
GET THE THANKSGIVING PREP GUIDE: Get your FREE Thanksgiving plan, timeline, recipe and menu inspiration, plus all the tips & tricks you need to pull off the best Thanksgiving yet. AND! FREE printable.
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