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.
Recipe: $15.29 | Per Serving: $2.55 | Servings: 6
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 recipe 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 This Recipe Works
- 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
Ingredient Notes:
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!
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
🧾 Substitutions
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.
🔪 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.
🍴 Recipe 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.
🍳Reheating
Air Fryer Method: Reheat the boneless turkey breast in the air fryer at 360°F for 5 minutes.
Microwave Method: Alternatively, reheat it in the microwave for a minute or two on a microwave-safe plate.
🥗 Side Dishes
Any Thanksgiving favorites like Dairy Free Deviled Eggs, Creamy Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes, or Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake would be ideal and lovely!
💭 Recipe 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 Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer Turkey Breast, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would 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
- Rub your turkey in cooking oil. We used avocado oil because it was on hand, but olive oil or similar would work just fine.
- Sprinkle the turkey with your spices and fresh herbs.
- Place the turkey breast in the air fryer, skin side up.
- Cook at 370 degrees F for 20 minutes.
- Flip the breast over and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
- 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.
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