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.
Thanksgiving means turkey (or at least it does in this house). So every year we create a delicious feast centered around a cooked bird and then we use up the leftover turkey meat throughout the week, by the time the holiday has officially passed, we're tired of turkey. But we look forward to it yearly!
This air fryer boneless turkey breast is a recipe you'll look forward to as well. The results are phenomenal, crispy golden skin, juicy tender meat, and of course, the delicious seasonings too!
Air fried turkey breast is so easy to make, and it keeps the oven free for other things, like Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes and Applesauce Custard Pie.
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.
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🥘 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.
Avocado oil (or olive oil)- We've been on a bit of a "health challenge" lately, so avocado oil is on hand here, but if you only have olive oil, it's perfectly fine to use that instead!
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!
Salt and Pepper- You will want to use these basic seasonings to help flavor the meat.
For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make air fryer turkey breast with these simple step-by-step 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 pieces 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.
Let rest for 5-10 minutes before carving.
🧾 Substitutions
Avocado oil. You can use any cooking oil, but we like avocado oil because it's a healthy cooking oil and can withstand higher cooking temps than olive oil. Olive oil is another heart-healthy cooking oil and can be used in place of avocado oil.
🍴 Recipe Tips
Let the meat rest
Make sure you let the air fryer Thanksgiving turkey have time to rest before being carved. Letting it rest means the juices get reabsorbed into the meat.
This is what keeps all of the juices in so that the meat doesn't dry out or create a puddle on the cutting board.
Other cuts of meat
You can try this recipe with a turkey breast tenderloin or a turkey breast roast if you wanted to make an air fryer boneless turkey breast roast. Just make sure to get it as close to 3 pounds as you can or adjust the cooking time as necessary. Smaller will cook faster, larger will take longer.
🍳Reheating
You can reheat this boneless turkey breast in the air fryer at 360F for 5 minutes or you can reheat it in the microwave for a minute or two on a microwave safe plate.
🥗 Side Dishes
Any Thanksgiving favorites like Deviled Eggs, Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes, or Mini Spinach Artichoke Dip Bread Bowls would be ideal and lovely!
💭 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.
More great Thanksgiving recipes to check out soon
- Turkey Tamales
- Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
- Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Creamy Turkey Dumpling Soup
- Oven Roasted Cajun Turkey Breast
- Juicy Oven Roasted Dry Brined Turkey
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless turkey breast, thawed ($13.72)
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil ($0.26)
- 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 ($0.10)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ($0.05)
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 pieces 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.
Notes
Substitutions
- Avocado oil. You can use any cooking oil, but we like avocado oil because it's a healthier alternative and can withstand higher cooking temps than olive oil. Olive oil is another heart healthy cooking oil and can be used in place of avocado oil.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure you let the air fryer Thanksgiving turkey have time to rest before being carved. Letting it rest means the juices get reabsorbed into the meat. This is what keeps all of the juices in so that the meat doesn't dry out or create a puddle on the cutting board.
- You can try this recipe with a turkey breast tenderloin or a turkey breast roast if you wanted to make an air fryer boneless turkey breast roast. Just make sure to get it as close to 3 pounds as you can or adjust the cooking time as necessary. Smaller will cook faster, larger will take longer.
- 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.
Reheating
- You can reheat this boneless turkey breast in the air fryer at 360F for 5 minutes or you can reheat it in the microwave for a minute or two on a microwave safe plate.
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