Easy Oven Roasted Turkey Breast

Searching for the perfect recipe to serve for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? My simple recipe for Oven Roasted Turkey Breast is juicy and easy to make.

This Oven Roasted Turkey Breast recipe is a great alternative to roasting a whole bird when you have a smaller group or don’t want a ton of leftovers. It only takes a few minutes of prep time and cooks so much faster than a full size turkey.

While the ingredients are simple, the flavor of this Oven Roasted Bone-In Turkey Breast is absolutely delicious! It pairs perfectly with popular Christmas and Thanksgiving sides like mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.

Ingredients

• 2 peeled and chopped carrots
• 2 chopped stalks of celery
• 1 peeled and quartered onion
• 12 cloves of garlic
• 6 pound fresh bone-in, skin-on turkey breast
• 3 tablespoons of room temperature unsalted butter
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder

Equipment

• Measuring spoons
• Knife
• Cutting Board
• Roasting pan
• Carving knife
• Aluminum foil

By the Numbers: How to Roast a Turkey Breast

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to cook a bone-in turkey breast for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner.

Step 1: Preheat Oven.

Since this recipe comes together quickly, the first thing you want to do is to preheat your oven to 325˚ F.

Step 2: Prepare the Roasting Pan.

Chop your celery, carrots and onion and peel the garlic, then place them in the bottom of the roasting pan.

The pan should be just big enough to hold the turkey breast like the one pictured. If you use one that’s too big, the veggies will be too spread out and everything won’t roast evenly.

Step 3: Prepare the Turkey Breast.

Next, take the butter and rub it all over the turkey breast. Make sure you get both the inside and outside of the breast.

Once it’s nice and coated with butter, you can sprinkle sea salt (or kosher salt), fresh ground black pepper and garlic powder over the entire turkey breast. Make sure to get both the inside and the outside. The salt helps to crisp up the turkey skin so don’t skip it.

After it’s seasoned, place the turkey breast into the roasting pan, skin side up, on top of the chopped vegetables. The veggies serve both as a rack and as extra flavoring.

Step 4: Roast the Turkey Breast.

Place the roasting pan, uncovered, into your oven and roast the turkey breast for about 2 ½ hours. It’s done when the thickest part of the breast registers an internal temperature of 165˚ on a meat thermometer. The skin should be a nice golden brown when it’s done.

If your turkey breast is larger or smaller than mine, it may need more or less time, so keep an eye on it.

Step 5: Tent the Turkey Breast.

After the turkey breast is done cooking, remove it from the oven and transfer it to a heat-resistant cutting board (like a bamboo cutting board, not plastic).

Make a tent from aluminum foil and place over the turkey breast. Let it rest for 30 minutes before serving to lock in the juices.

Step 6: Serve the Turkey Breast.

Once it’s rested for 30 minutes, it’s time to slice and serve your roast turkey breast with your favorite side dishes.

Tips for Making & Serving Oven Roasted Turkey Breast

Answers to all of your questions about making the best oven roasted turkey breast, including tips and substitution ideas.

What’s the cooking time for a smaller/larger turkey breast?

The general rule of thumb is that it takes about 20 minutes per pound at 350˚ F to cook at turkey breast to 165˚ F. When you roast it at a high temperature, you’re more likely to end up with dry turkey.

I like to cook my turkey breast on a slightly lower heat as I find it leads to juicy meat, so I cook mine for about 25 minutes per pound of meat at 325˚ F.

And if you’re looking to cook a whole turkey instead, be sure to check out my Whole Turkey Recipe, which is roasted with fresh herbs like sage, thyme and rosemary.

Do you eat the vegetables in this recipe?

The vegetables in the bottom of the pan add flavor and act as a roasting rack for the whole turkey breast). However, they still taste great and are totally edible.

The nutrition information provided in the recipe card above is calculated for eating both the turkey meat and veggies.

Is there a dairy free option?

If you want a dairy free recipe, you can substitute extra virgin olive oil for the butter.

Best way to get crispy skin?

If the skin of the turkey breast has softened while tenting, you can put the turkey breast into the broiler for about 2 minutes to crisp it up.

What sides to serve with roasted turkey breast?

Be sure to make my other delicious gluten free recipes to serve with your tasty turkey:

• Cranberry Sauce
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Gluten Free Gravy
• Bacon and Brussels Sprouts
• Gluten Free Stuffing

And of course, all of the Thanksgiving traditional sides pair great too, like roasted sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, gluten free stuffing, sweet potato casserole, salads and more.

What to do with the leftover bones?

Whenever I make a whole turkey or turkey breast, I always save the bones to make turkey stock.

You can follow the same steps as in my Chicken Stock Recipe to make turkey broth. Don’t skip the step about skimming off the fat when using turkey bones as they tend to be greasier than chicken bones.

Will there be pan drippings?

If you’re hoping to make homemade gravy with turkey drippings to pair with your holiday dinner, you’ll find there aren’t a lot with a turkey breast. That’s because most of the pan juices come from the dark meat, not the white meat.

What to do with leftover turkey?

If you have any leftover white meat, you can make pretty much any recipe you’d make with leftover chicken. Some of my favorites are:

• Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
• Gluten Free Club Sandwich
• Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
• Chicken Enchiladas
• Chilaquiles Breakfast Casserole

How long does it take the defrost a frozen turkey breast?

The best way to thaw a turkey breast (or any meat for that matter) is in your fridge. Place the sealed breast onto a plate or other tray that can catch any moisture and defrost in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days, depending upon the size of your breast.

How long to cook a boneless turkey breast in oven?

Roasting a boneless turkey breast takes about 10-12 minutes per pound. While it’s faster to bake a boneless breast, I find they often don’t turn out as juicy as bone-in breasts.

That’s why I typically make my Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast Roast recipe instead of oven roasting them.

How long does roasted turkey last in the fridge?

Cooked turkey is good for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

How to reheat oven roasted turkey breast?

Place your sliced turkey into a baking dish with some turkey stock or pan drippings and cook in the oven at 350˚ F for about 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165˚ F.

Can you freeze oven roasted turkey breast?

Yes, fully cooked turkey can be frozen for up to 3 months. The best way to freeze it is the same method I use for freezing tomato paste.

Cut the turkey into bite sized pieces, spread onto a sheet pan and freeze for one hour. Transfer the frozen turkey pieces into a freezer bag or other freezer safe container and keep frozen for up to 3 months.

The reason I like to freeze it in bite-sized pieces is because it’s easy to measure out and use for recipes that way. Just make sure to carefully reseal your bag so you don’t end up with freezer burn!

Where to buy a turkey breast?

If you can’t find a turkey breast at your local grocery store, check out the Bone-In Turkey Breast from Gold Belly. They’re all natural with no fillers and can be delivered right to your door!

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