Are you a fan of white meat turkey? Me too! Honestly though, I like both the white meat and the dark meat, but sometimes it’s just easier to roast a turkey breast rather than trussing, preparing and roasing a whole turkey. If I’m in the mood for dark meat, I make this Roasted Turkey Legs recipe instead! Sometimes, If I’m only cooking for a few people, I make roasted turkey tenderloin. You have options when it comes to roasting turkey! Whether you have a small guest list for Thanksgiving this year, or you’re just looking for a delicious roast turkey recipe to serve your family this weekend, you are going to love the moist, juicy, and delicious turkey that you get with this roasted turkey breast recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Roast Turkey Breast Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Roasted Turkey Breast: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Turkey Breast – You can use bone-in or boneless turkey breast here. The oven roasted turkey breast in the images here is six pounds, but they can be anywhere from 4 to 8 pounds. Garlic Herb Butter – We’re going to cover the turkey breast with softened butter that we’ve flavored with fresh herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme, and minced garlic. The butter protects the meat from drying out, helps the skin to get beautifully crispy, and, if you follow this recipe, will flavor the meat as well.
How Much Turkey Breast Do You Need Per Person?
Plan to need ¾ pound per person when shopping for a bone-in turkey breast. Some folks might only eat a half pound, and others will eat more, so this is a good middle estimate.
How To Cook a Turkey Breast
How To Make Gravy From Turkey Breast Drippings
A rich gravy made from the turkey pan drippings is optional but so delicious! Enjoy it on the side with mashed potatoes, or drizzle it all over the meat. You’ll find the ingredient amounts and detailed instructions for making turkey gravy in the recipe card below.
Recipe Tips
Dried herbs can be used in place of fresh, just use 1 teaspoon of each. Butter or Oil: You can choose to use either butter or olive oil when roasting a turkey breast. Both will help keep the meat moist, but I find softened butter easier to work with. To Season the Turkey Breast: I highly recommend getting the butter and herb mixture underneath the skin so that it seasons the meat, but try not to completely disconnect the skin from the meat while you’re doing it. A small, flexible silicone spatula makes this easier. Small Roasting Pan for Turkey: If you don’t have a small roasting pan, a 9×13-inch baking pan or lasagna pan can also be used. Here I’m using a stainless steel 14×11-inch roaster with a rack. Make gluten-free gravy: Skip the flour. Instead, cook the drippings and broth until boiling, then stir in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water.Make Stock: When you’re done with the turkey, use the bones to make a fresh, flavorful homemade turkey stock.
Storing Tips
Keep leftover roast turkey breast in an airtight container in the fridge. It should stay fresh for up to 4 days.
Turkey Breast Cooking Time
If you’re wondering how long to cook a turkey breast, I can help! First, you need to know the weight of your turkey. Check the label on the packaging, or use your kitchen scale to figure that out. Bone-In Turkey Breast Cooking Time: Plan to roast a turkey breast with bones for 20 minutes per pound. So a 5-pound turkey breast will take 100 minutes, or 1 hour and 40 minutes. A larger 8 pound turkey breast will take closer to 160 minutes, or 2 hours and 40 minutes. Boneless Turkey Breast Cooking Time: It takes a bit less time to cook a boneless turkey breast, but you should plan for about 16 minutes per pound. See this link for more detailed instructions for making a boneless roasted turkey breast.
What To Serve With Roasted Turkey Breast
If you’re roasting a turkey breast as an alternative to roasting a whole bird for a holiday, you should definitely check out our collection of thanksgiving recipes! Some of my favorite sides to serve with turkey are:
Buttery Herb StuffingCrockpot Green Bean CasserolePear SaladAsparagus CasseroleBoursin Mashed PotatoesCopycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Don’t forget dessert! If you need an easy Thanksgiving dessert, try my no-bake pumpkin pie, or no-bake pumpkin lush this year.
This roasted turkey breast recipe is the only one you need this holiday season! Everyone is going to love having dinner at your house. Be sure to Pin and save it so that you’re ready to go on Thanksgiving.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
