Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast

4.8
(299)

This turkey breast recipe is easy to make and perfect for our 2-person household at Thanksgiving, and we always have leftovers. It can easily be scaled up to feed a larger gathering with larger appetites!

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Oven roasted turke breast in yellow casserole dish
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 35 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 50 mins
Servings:
2

Feeling the pressure to roast a whole bird this Thanksgiving? We're here to tell you that roasting a turkey breast gives you the same great flavor, while saving you money, fridge space, and effort.

A turkey breast is generally sized to feed two to three people with leftovers, so it's the perfect choice for a scaled-down celebration.

This oven-roasted turkey breast is slathered with an herb butter both underneath and on top of the skin, yielding juicy, flavorful meat and a crispy skin. Be sure to save the drippings for the accompanying turkey gravy!

How to Buy Turkey Breast

Bone-In or Boneless Turkey Breast?

We're partial to bone-in turkey breast because it yields more flavorful, juicier meat. Bone-in turkey breasts tend to be larger and can be sold as a half breast or a full breast (two halves joined at the bone). Boneless turkey breasts typically feature just one breast. You can use boneless in this recipe if you want (we'd still recommend skin-on), but you'll likely need to decrease the cooking time to accommodate for its smaller size.

How Much Turkey Breast Per Person?

As a rule of thumb, plan to purchase 1 ½ pounds of turkey per person with leftovers or 1 pound of turkey per person without leftovers.

This recipe calls for a 3-pound turkey breast, which will easily feed two to three adults, although you can scale it up or down as needed. For more, check out our handy turkey serving size chart.

How Long to Roast a Turkey Breast

In general, you'll want to cook a bone-in turkey breast for about 20 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C), or until it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

To temp the turkey, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, not touching the bone. Be sure to allow the turkey to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving so the juices have to settle into the meat.

How to Use Leftover Roasted Turkey Breast

If you do end up with leftovers, there are countless ways to repurpose roasted turkey breast. Add it to casseroles like this Easy Turkey Tetrazzini or sandwiches like this Thanksgiving Sandwich. Browse our entire collection of leftover turkey recipes.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"So much easier than cooking the whole bird, and not a scrap was leftover," says reviewer Peter Downing.

"Hands down the easiest, moistest and tastiest turkey I've ever eaten. Didn't change a single ingredient!" says army cook. "Everybody at our Thanksgiving table raved about it!"

"I also roasted it over some veggies: an onion, celery and parsnips. Everything including the gravy was delicious!" says reviewer msteingold.

Editorial contributions by Melanie Fincher

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 2 servings

  • ¼ cup butter, softened

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

  • ½ teaspoon salt-free garlic and herb seasoning blend (such as Mrs. Dash)

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 (3 pound) turkey breast with skin

  • 1 teaspoon minced shallot

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 1 splash dry white wine

  • 1 cup chicken stock

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons half-and-half (Optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  2. Mix 1/4 cup butter, garlic, paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic and herb seasoning, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl.

    herb butter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Place turkey breast with skin-side up into a roasting pan. Loosen skin with your fingers; brush 1/2 of the butter mixture over the turkey breast and underneath the skin. Reserve remaining butter mixture. Tent turkey breast loosely with aluminum foil.

    butter-rubbed turkey breast

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Roast in the preheated oven for 1 hour; baste turkey breast with remaining butter mixture. Return to oven and roast until the juices run clear and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast, not touching bone, reads 165 degrees F (65 degrees C), about 30 more minutes. Let turkey breast rest 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

  5. While turkey is resting, transfer pan drippings to a skillet. Skim off excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in skillet. Place skillet over low heat; cook and stir shallot in turkey grease until opaque, about 5 minutes.

  6. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet with shallot and whisk in white wine, scraping any browned bits of food from skillet. Whisk in chicken stock and flour until smooth. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened. For a creamier, lighter gravy, whisk in half-and-half.

    turkey pan gravy

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Serve hot and enjoy!

    perfectly seasoned roast turkey breasts sliced and on a white platter ready to serve

    DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

753 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

1355 Calories
45g Fat
15g Carbs
210g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 2
Calories 1355
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 45g 57%
Saturated Fat 23g 114%
Cholesterol 624mg 208%
Sodium 1075mg 47%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 210g 420%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 93mg 7%
Iron 6mg 35%
Potassium 1896mg 40%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.