Air fryer turkey breast is one new method for getting Thanksgiving on the table quickly and without the hassle of a large bird! You're going to love this simplified holiday recipe.
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Thanksgiving in our household always revolves around turkey, with leftovers enjoyed throughout the week. The amount we cook depends on the guest list and available deals.
Sometimes we opt for Dry Brined Turkey, while other times it's a Cajun Turkey Breast Recipe. Now, with an air fryer in our kitchen arsenal, we've added a new favorite: Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast.
This Air Fryer Turkey Breast yields phenomenal results: crispy golden skin, juicy tender meat, and flavorful seasonings. Plus, air frying frees up the oven for sides like Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes, Mini Spinach Artichoke Dip Bread Bowls, and Applesauce Custard Pie.
The best part? Leftover turkey means more delicious meals like Creamy Turkey Dumpling Soup, Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup, and Thanksgiving Tamales.
Jump to:
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's fast! Cooking turkey can usually take hours, depending on its size and the method in which you choose to cook it. With the air fryer, we get a 3-pound cut of meat cooked in under an hour!
- It's perfect for smaller gatherings. While it's nice to have the table filled, sometimes having a smaller meal is more economical or makes sense when there aren't many guests.
- It's novice-friendly! Not everyone feels comfortable cooking a large turkey in the oven (and who could blame them). A turkey can be tricky, heavy, and involve a lot of emotional stress or pressure. This recipe is a great way to relieve the stress of it all and still get that classic holiday taste on your plates.
🛒 Ingredients
Boneless turkey breast- You'll need a boneless turkey breast for this recipe. Note that the cooking time will vary based on the size of the meat you purchase, so try to stick with what's listed in the recipe card or account for a slight time adjustment.
Fresh Herbs- For added flavor, you'll want to use fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme. This is great if you have a little herb garden growing!
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Avocado oil. You can use any cooking oil, but we like avocado oil because it's a cooking oil that can withstand higher cooking temps than olive oil. Olive oil is another cooking oil and can be used in place of avocado oil.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Choose frozen instead of fresh. Frozen boneless turkey breasts are almost always cheaper than fresh and cook up just as well once thawed.
Use dried herbs when needed. Fresh herbs add great flavor, but dried sage, rosemary, and thyme are much more affordable and shelf-stable. Use 1 teaspoon dried for every 1 tablespoon fresh.
Stretch leftovers into multiple meals. One air-fried turkey breast can yield enough meat for soups, sandwiches, casseroles, and more. Great for meal planning and reducing waste.
Skip specialty oils. Avocado oil is great, but olive oil or even canola oil works perfectly in this recipe and is usually much cheaper.
🥄 Instructions for Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Step 1: Rub your turkey in cooking oil. We used avocado oil because it was on hand, but olive oil or similar would work just fine.
Step 2: Sprinkle the turkey with your spices and fresh herbs.
Step 3: Place the turkey breast in the air fryer, skin side up.
Step 4: Cook at 370 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Step 5: Flip the breast over and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
Step 6: Check the internal temperature of the breast with an instant read cooking thermometer. Mine was at 140 degrees F, so I added another 5 minutes of cooking time to bring it up to 165 degrees F.
Step 7: Let rest for 5-10 minutes before carving.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Letting the Meat Rest. After air frying the Thanksgiving turkey, allow it time to rest before carving. Resting allows the juices to reabsorb into the meat, keeping it moist and preventing it from drying out or creating a puddle on the cutting board.
- Other Meat Cuts. You can also try this recipe with turkey breast tenderloin or a turkey breast roast to make an air fryer boneless turkey breast roast. Ensure the meat is close to 3 pounds or adjust the cooking time accordingly, smaller cuts cook faster, while larger ones take longer.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Keep leftover Air Fryer Turkey Breast in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze sliced turkey in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Reheat slices in the air fryer at 360°F for about 5 minutes, or warm individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Make Ahead: You can season the turkey breast 24 hours in advance. Keep it covered in the fridge, then air fry just before serving for the freshest results.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Any Thanksgiving favorites would be ideal and lovely, but be sure to also check out our Dairy Free Deviled Eggs, Creamy Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes, and Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake.
- Sourdough Pumpkin RollRecipe $3.78 / Serving $0.38
- Mini Spinach Dip Bread BowlsRecipe $9.54 / Serving $0.40
- Cheap Thanksgiving Menu (Under $50)
- Honey Baked Spiral HamRecipe $10.35 / Serving $0.52
❓ Air Fryer Turkey Breast FAQs
Turkey meat is considered safe when the cooked temperature reaches 165 degrees F in the center or thickest part. This is the same temperature for a chicken as well.
You should estimate that there will be 1 pound of meat per person. A 3 pound breast will feed about 2-4 people. That said, keep in mind that offering other side dishes and meat sources at your holiday dinner can stretch the turkey a little further as well.
No! Always wash your hands, not the meat. In fact, patting the turkey breast with a paper towel before adding the spices and herbs can actually help them to hold onto the skin better, resulting in a tastier skin.
Bake for 45-60 minutes, roughly 10-15 minutes per pound, or until a food thermometer reads 165°F. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
This holiday season, consider preparing your turkey in the air fryer! It offers a hassle-free approach with superior outcomes, promising crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. Opting to cook only the breast also guarantees great results without any risk of dryness.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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- How to Make Meat Roses
- No Bake Pumpkin CheesecakeRecipe $5.52 / Serving $0.46
- Cranberry Orange SauceRecipe $3.26 / Serving $0.54
🐝 If you tried this Air Fryer Turkey Breast, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless turkey breast, thawed - ($13.72)
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil - ($0.38)
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped - ($0.49)
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped - ($0.49)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves - ($0.16)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, not table salt - ($0.01)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper - ($0.04)
Instructions
- Season. Rub the turkey breast all over with the avocado oil. Sprinkle evenly with the sage, rosemary, thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Air Fry. Place the turkey breast in the air fryer basket, skin side up. Cook at 370°F for 20 minutes.
- Flip. Turn the turkey breast over and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
- Check. Check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. If needed, continue cooking in 5 minute increments until the turkey reaches 165°F.
- Rest. Remove from the air fryer and let rest before slicing.
Notes
- Oil Swap. Olive oil or another neutral cooking oil can be used in place of avocado oil.
- Doneness. Turkey must reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- Resting. Allowing the turkey to rest helps keep the meat juicy.
- Reheating. Reheat in the air fryer at 360°F for about 5 minutes or microwave individual portions for 1 to 2 minutes.
Nutritional Information
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