Roasted Turkey Breast made with butter, herbs, salt, and pepper has tender juicy meat and CRISPY skin, and roasts in only 90 minutes!
It’s officially turkey season, and we’ve got you covered to prepare for Thanksgiving! Just in case you need some FAST last minute turkey ideas, check out Spatchcock Turkey, Easy Roasted Turkey Thighs, and Crispy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast.
Roasted Turkey Breast is a great choice when you have to cook for the holidays, but don’t have much time to prep and roast a whole turkey. This is also a great last minute option if you didn’t buy a whole turkey in time to defrost it properly. The holidays can get a little crazy for everyone, with family coming in and coordinating schedules, so use this recipe to save yourself some time.
It’s Thanksgiving morning, are you in a panic? This turkey breast recipe is your saving grace! Plus if you serve it along side Crispy Slow Cooker Turkey Thighs your family won’t even miss the whole bird!
Turkey breast is just as good as a whole turkey, and it’s ready in only 90 minutes. It’s also a great option if you need a little bit more to feed a crowd, but you don’t want to cook an entire second turkey. All you have to do is season some butter with herbs, salt, and pepper, then rub it under the skin, and get it in the oven.
The seasoned butter is a chef-approved restaurant trick that makes the meat so incredibly juicy and flavorful, your guests will think you had it catered. Plus you get mostly white meat, which is better for making turkey sandwiches the next day like this Moist Maker! Serve this easy Roasted Turkey Breast alongside classic sides like Baked Mac and Cheese or Easy Baked Sweet Potatoes. Use any turkey leftovers for a delicious Leftover Turkey Casserole, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
How to Make a Roasted Turkey Breast
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Set up oven so there is only the bottom rack. Add the turkey breast to a large roasting pan and pat dry with paper towels inside and out.
- Mash the butter, herbs, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set 2-3 tablespoons aside for later.
- Use the back of a spoon to lift the skin from the turkey breast and spread butter inside. Smooth the skin back down to spread the butter all over the breast. Be careful not to tear the skin as the butter will drip out when cooking.
- Roast for 90 minutes, or until the innermost part of the breast is cooked to 165 degrees (this is vital for food safety). Top with remaining butter and let rest for 20 minutes before serving.
More Easy Turkey Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
A turkey breast takes about an hour to 1 ½ hours to cook per 4 pounds of meat. So if you get an 8 pound turkey breast, your cooking time will be more like 3 hours. The most important thing is that you use a meat thermometer to check the innermost part of the turkey breast for food safety. It’s done when the temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Another visual indicator is that the juices will start running clear when the turkey is done.
You want to make sure you have about ½ to ¾ pound of turkey breast per person, so a 4 pound breast will comfortably feed about 6-8 people. If you’re going to have a larger group, you’ll want to find an 8 pound turkey breast, or just go for the whole turkey. But most importantly, make sure you have enough for leftovers. Leftovers are basically mandatory on Thanksgiving, right?
You don’t have to cover the turkey breast with tinfoil because it’s only going to take 90 minutes to roast, so the skin will be extra crispy by the time it’s done! Roast your turkey breast skin-side-up, to give it a chance to get really crispy when it’s roasting.
You should have more than enough pan drippings from this Roasted Turkey Breast for homemade gravy, too! Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a sauce pan and whisk in ¼ cup flour. Cook for about 2 minutes, then slowly whisk in the strained drippings from the Roasted Turkey Breast, along with 2 cups turkey or chicken broth. Continue whisking while cooking for 6-8 minutes until smooth and thickened. If you want to save some time, you can also prepare a Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy so that your Thanksgiving day runs smoothly.
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Key Ingredients in Roasted Turkey Breast
- Turkey Breast: Look for a boneless, skin on turkey breast that is 4-6 pounds. If you are expecting more than 6-8 guests, you may want to look for an 8 pound breast or double the recipe.
- Butter: We always suggest using unsalted butter for cooking, so that you can control the amount of salt in the recipe. You’ll use 1 cup, or 2 sticks of butter for this Turkey Breast Recipe. Allow the butter to soften by removing it from the refrigerator about 1 hour prior to preparing your turkey breast.
- Seasonings: In addition to salt and pepper, you’ll use fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme leaves to infuse tons of flavor into the Roast Turkey Breast. Adding the seasonings and herbs to the butter also helps the flavor to permeate the breast meat and make the skin extra crispy.
Slow Cooker Roasted Turkey Breast
You can make this super juicy Turkey Breast recipe with crispy skin in the slow cooker, too! To make Crispy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast, prepare the turkey with seasoned butter and place it skin side up in your slow cooker. Do not add any liquids to the crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours, until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees. If you have any issues with the skin crisping, you can brown under a broiler, six inches from the heat, for 1-2 minutes or let it cook with the top slightly opened for the last hour to let any steam escape.
Variations on Roasted Turkey Breast
- Seasonings: You can use other other flavors or herbs like sage and lemon with the butter to add extra flavor, or season the turkey breast with spices like Cajun Roasted Turkey. It’s entirely a personal preference.
- Garlic: Use a microplane to finely grate 2-3 cloves fresh garlic and mix into the butter mixture along with the herbs and seasonings.
What to Serve on Thanksgiving with Roasted Turkey Breast
How to Store Roasted Turkey Breast
- Serve: If you have any leftover turkey, don’t leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Store: Slice the leftover turkey into small enough pieces to fit in a plastic food storage container. The juicy tender turkey will stay good for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: You could also freeze Roasted Turkey Breast for up to 3 months after cooking. Just be sure to let it cool to room temperature before carefully sealing it.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 10 leaves fresh sage
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 turkey breast , 4-6 pound, patted dry
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Set up oven so there is only the bottom rack. Add the turkey breast to a large roasting pan and pat dry with paper towels inside and out.
- Mash the butter, herbs, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set 2-3 tablespoons aside for later.
- Use the back of a spoon to lift the skin from the turkey breast and spread butter inside. Smooth the skin back down to spread the butter all over the breast. Be careful not to tear the skin as the butter will drip out when cooking.
- Roast for 90 minutes, or until the innermost part of the breast is cooked to 165 degrees (this is vital for food safety). Top with remaining butter and let rest for 20 minutes before serving.
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Photos used in a previous version of this post.
This wonderful recipe is SO easy. My guests were so pleased the first time I used this recipe that it has become my go-to every thanksgiving.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Susan and thank you for the five star review.
I made this tonight for Canadian Thanksgiving. It was very moist. Delicious!
Can I make this ahead of time? How would I store and then reheat so that it doesn’t dry out for Thanksgiving if I make it the day before.
I don’t know if this comment is going to get to you in time; however, yes, you can. Cut the turkey into small pieces and place in an air tight container with the juices. Reheat and enjoy.
Hi Sabrina, For 5-6 pound boneless turkey, do you recommend any changes in instuctions?
Instructions will be the same for a 4 – 6 lb. turkey breast! How did it turn out?
This was my first time cooking a breast rather than an entire turkey and it was delicious. We cooked a 5.5 pound turkey breast for 1h45. We took it out of the oven at 160 degrees and let it sit while we made gravy from the abundance of drippings. By the time we cut into the turkey it was 168 degrees and so moist. This recipe is a keeper.
Very good
It was my first time that I baked turkey in an oven and it was perfect! I did the same and covered it with aluminum sheets. At the end, I opened it and turned the grill on for a fee minutes. Also, I added some garlic powder to the butter. Everyone in my family loved it!
Thank you
I noticed in the pictures that your breast is boneless. In the stores available to me, I can purchase a whole bone in breast or a small half. Both are bone in. How did you purchase yours?
Excellent Recipe. Used for Thanksgiving dinner for 4. Tge flavors were delightful. Follow the recipe exactly for a juicy and yummy taste of Turkey!
My husbands exact quote was “if I knew Turkey tasted like this I would eat more of it! Easy, delicious recipe and baked to perfection!!! I made this to have our own Turkey to eat in our home since we usually travel to family for Thanksgiving. I think it may become a new tradition to do our own little Turkey breast from now on!!
Thank you for this recipe! It was delicious and I FINALLY made turkey that tasted good, in this case my family said best turkey day ever!? Crushed it!!! ? Happy Thanksgiving!!
Hello,
Is this baked on the lowest rack in the oven? Thanks for clarifying.
Hi! Yes it is.
Sorry can you please verify. The oven rack is positioned on the lowest possible option and that is where the bird cooks?
question for you: if I am making an 8 pound boneless turkey breast, do I double the amount of seasoned butter? (2 cups of seasoned butter instead of 1 cup). Also, if many of our guests eat dairy free, do you know if ghee or any of the plant-based butter alternatives give a good flavor/work in the same way that butter does?
Hi! I’m making this for about 18 people so I was thinking of doing a 10-12lb breast (for about 3ish hours on 325?) I have to cook beforehand- how do you recommend storing until it’s time to serve? I cannot immediately serve as I have to prepare it all. Also- if using dry herbs- how much of each should I have for a 10 lb breast? Thank you.
does it have to be unsalted butter?
I’m trying out this recipe today and I love how simple it is! All the herbs I have in my garden and I L O V E it when that happens! Thank you !!
I made it tonight almost exactly per recipe and it was delicious. It looked just like your picture, tasted amazing and was super moist and simple to make.
Thanks for the 5 stars, Pat.
Hi Sabrina, This recipe sounds amazing, and I can’t wait to use it for my (first-time) Christmas Day turkey breast! I have two questions: first, do you feel I should brine the turkey breast overnight; and second, is it necessary to use the rack that came with my new roasting pan? I am wondering why so many people say you MUST brine (when it seems like a real chore, in my opinion); and also why most roasting pans come with racks but most recipes don’t mention using a rack. Thanks very much! This recipe really seems so EASY and delicious ?
I think brining is a personal choice. You don’t have to do it but it can deliver a juicier bird. And with using the rack, it allows for the bird to cook more evenly but since this is just a breast, you’re good either way. Hope this helps clear things up. Good luck!
Hi Sabrina!
Made this for the second Thanksgiving in a row..last year, my fiancee said it was the best turkey he ever had, this year my mother and brother said it was they best they ever had! Thank you! Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday season!
Thanks for coming back to let me know how much everyone enjoyed it, Marie.
If you don’t have fresh thyme, can you use dried?
Yes! I did this year when I made a turkey breast for our Thanksgiving dinner. Fresh was sold out. Happy Holidays!
Yes. Especially in a recipe that is roasted, versus served fresh like a salad. When cooking with herbs, there is a general rule of thumb to keep in mind regarding the ratio of fresh to dry: Because dried herbs are often more potent and concentrated than fresh herbs, you need less. That means the correct ratio is one tablespoon of fresh herbs to one teaspoon of dried herbs. I sub dried for fresh all the time because fresh is so expensive and typically there is a lot of waste.
I made this recipe for Thanksgiving as we didn’t need to cook a full turkey since were not having any extended family over due to the pandemic. It was a huge hit!
My husband who is a ham guy on Thanksgiving really enjoyed it, and both my 3 year old and 7 year old asked for seconds. They all asked me to make the turkey this way from now on (even if we end up going to Grandma’s)! Thank you for the delicious and simple to prepare recipe. It was truly wonderful watching them all enjoy it so much!
Thank you so much for the amazing review Katie! I am so glad the turkey was such a hit and you had such a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner! Happy Holidays!
Can you use dried herbs in place of the fresh?
Yes but use less since they are stronger.
10 lbs bone in breast. How long do I cook
You’ll want it to cook for 22 – 25 minutes per pound.
I made this today and it was a huge hit! I will always lift the skin of turkey now and insert herb butter before roasting. It was so moist and flavorful! Great recipe THANKS!
Susan, so glad you enjoyed it! thank you for coming back and leaving a review. Happy Thanksgiving!
My kitchen smells amazing! I followed the recipe as written, but I did chop the herbs instead of smashing them; I wanted them a bit smaller and more uniform in size before mixing them with the salt, pepper, and butter. I placed some celery, carrots, and onions on the bottom of my roasting pan and set my Turkey breast on top to add some more aromatics.
Wonderful! I hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving dinner!
Is there a longer roasting time if the breast is on the bone vs boneless turkey breast?
Yes. And the timing depends on if it is the whole turkey breast (2 pieces attached by bone) or half. If whole you’d need 2-2.5 hours, for a half it could be just an additional 15 minutes or so. I’d use a meat thermometer to be sure you don’t over or under-shoot it. Happy Thanksgiving!
It takes quite a bit longer than the recipe says with the bone in. We discovered that out when making the meal on Christmas Day ?
1st time making turkey! What is your advice if you have other things to bake at the same time (for timing). Does it have to be the ONLY thing in the oven? I have stuffing and a white sauce bean casserole to bake as well. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!
Just expect it will take a bit longer, when sharing the heat with other items it will slow things down a bit. Maybe 15-25% longer.
Hi Sabrina, I have 3 Bone In Turkey Breast (1.6#,2.5# & 2.8# each breast weight). So in total I have about 7 pounds of Turkey breast Bone In. Can you please tell me how long I should cook them together in 1 large roasting pan in my oven? Thank you sooo much!
They’re all too different in thickness for 1 time to be an effective measure. The almost 3 pound will need 30 minutes more than the 1.5 pound one. Best thing i could say is move the thermometer. Once the first one comes out in probably 45-50 minutes give the other two another 15-20 minutes until they hit the right temperature. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you sooo much! I’ll try that. I don’t know why I stress over the Turkey every year. Lol
My pleasure, happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for this easy & delicious recipe! This is my first time cooking a turkey breast and it worked so well! Makes my socially-distanced Thanksgiving so much easier ^_^ I used your turkey gravy recipe with a little bit of vegetable soup broth and it was perfect.
Angelica, thank you so much for the kind words! I’m so glad the recipes helped make a happier Thanksgiving celebration! Happy Thanksgiving!
Delicious! Perfectly moist and juicy.
Thank you so much Tiffany! Happy Thanksgiving!
I accidentally bought salted butter. Can I use it and just omit the kosher salt? Thank you!
There is about 1/4 teaspoon salt per stick of butter. So I wouldn’t cut the salt all the way here. Still go for ~ 1 teaspoon. It is 4-6 pounds of meat you’re seasoning. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello,I have a 7-8lbs turkey breast
Do you tent or cover yours with tinfoil
I didn’t need to with a smaller breast but with a bigger breast you may need to. I would watch it and if you see it getting too dark, cover it.
do you use the roasting rack of the roasting pan when making this recipe?
Nope, just roasted it as seen in the baking dish. Happy Thanksgiving!
I think I got the wrong turkey breast! So i have 2 2lb breasts but no skin! Should I cover them ?
I know that you have to wash the turkey breast inside and out, but do you need to salt the cavity of the turkey breast before cooking it ?. I will be putting melted butter, salt and pepper prior to baking it.
You can to enhance the flavor from the skin to the bone. Enjoy!
Could you suggest the amount of seasonings to use if I were to use dried spices instead of fresh spices?
You should need about 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon rosemary and about 3/4 teaspoon dried sage. Hope this helps!