This roasted bone-in turkey breast recipe ensures tender and flavorful meat by using a dry brine first and then cooking it in the oven with fresh herbs, butter, and lemon until perfection. It is great for a simple dinner idea or a smaller holiday table when you do not want to cook the whole bird.
Roasted turkey breast is a perfect alternative for the traditional whole turkey when hosting a smaller company on Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It also cooks faster and does not take up the entire oven.
But you do not have to wait for a holiday to enjoy the turkey. I often prepare it for my family on a regular weeknight as well.
We often eat chicken, but sometimes it is great to change things up and include some turkey or duck in your next dinner menu.
Turkey meat is flavorful, makes great leftovers and it is great for changing up your menu.
If you prefer dark meat, I have easy recipes for roasted turkey legs and air fried turkey thighs.
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About the roasted turkey breast recipe
For this recipe, I use a simple dry brine and roast the turkey breast with poultry blend herbs, butter, and some lemon. I love baking it in a deep baking dish lined with parchment paper.
As the meat cooks, all natural juices infused with herbs, and spices, along with butter, and lemon, accumulate at the bottom of the dish.
The higher sides of the dish prevent the juices from evaporating too quickly or spreading far from the meat. This created the perfect environment that continuously bastes the turkey breast, making it juicier and more flavorful.
Ingredients
Below is an overview of the ingredients used in this recipe. See the recipe card at the end of this post for the ingredients quantities.
- Bone-in turkey breast: I used bone-in split turkey breast with the skin. If you are roasting the whole breast, make sure to double the amount of seasonings and butter.
- Dry brine mix: salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, ground coriander, and a little bit of nutmeg.
- Poultry herbs: it include fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, and fresh sage leaves.
- Butter: you can use butter or olive oil.
- Lemon: fresh lemon wedges are roasted next to the turkey for more flavorful meat.
Step-by-step directions
Below are the easy steps with the images for this delicious oven-roasted turkey breast recipe:
- Pat dry turkey breast with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, ground coriander, and a little bit of nutmeg.
- Rub the turkey with the brine mix, and place it in the fridge uncovered for up to 2 hours. (if bringing it longer, cover it with plastic wrap).
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper, and add a blend of herbs at the bottom of the pan.
- Bring the turkey breast to room temperature for about 20-30 minutes.
- Coat turkey breast with softened butter. Place turkey on top of fresh herbs, and add lemon wedges.
- Bake at 375 degrees f for about 60-80 minutes, basting the turkey a few times. It is ready when the instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the breast.
- Let the turkey breast rest for about 5-10 minutes before carving it.
Recipe tips for juicy turkey breast
- Season turkey breast generously and let it dry brine for at least one hour.
- Using a deep dish with higher sides, so the meat keeps basting continuously.
- For best results, let the turkey rest before carving for about 10 minutes, so the juices redistribute.
- Carve cooked turkey breast with a sharp knife against the grain for tender slices.
- Use the meat thermometer to ensure the turkey's internal temperature reaches 165°F
Make it a meal
Below are the side dishes to serve with the roasted turkey breast.
How to store and reheat cooked turkey?
Place any leftover turkey in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
I like to reheat turkey in a small pan with a little bit of broth over low heat. If you reheat it in a microwave, you can also add a little bit of water or broth at the bottom of the plate. This trick will keep the turkey meat from drying out.
You can also freeze cooked turkey for up to 3 months.
What is the best temperature for roasting turkey breast?
375°F is the ideal temperature for roasting bone-in turkey breast with skin. This temperature creates a beautiful crust and at the same time, it helps retain moisture by rendering the fat slowly.
Higher temperatures will cause fat to render too fast, leading to dry meat and uneven cooking.
Here are the approximate cooking times for roasting split turkey breast at 375°F. But you should always use the meat thermometer and take out the turkey when it reaches 165°F.
- 2-3 pounds: 1-1.5 hours
- 4-5 pounds: 1.5 - 2 hours
- 5-6 pounds: 2-2.5 hours
📖 Recipe
Roasted Bone-in Turkey Breast
Equipment
- 1 deep dish with high sides
Ingredients
- 1 bone-in turkey breast I used split
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 1 package poultry fresh herb blend (rosemary, sage, thyme)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Pat dry turkey breast. Rub it generously with the mix of 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder , ½ teaspoon black pepper , ¼ teaspoon ground coriander , ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg . Place it it the fridge for up to 2 hours uncovered.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a deep glass dish with some parchment paper.
- Take out seasoned turkey and bring it to a room temperature. Coat it with softened butter.
- Add fresh herbs at the bottom of the pan. Place turkey breast on top and add some lemon wedges there.
- Bake turkey breast uncovered in the preheated to 375°F oven for about 50-90 minutes, depending on the size. The turkey is cooked when the juices run clear and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let the turkey breast rest for about 5-10 minutes before cutting it, so the juices redistribute and the meat is more tender.
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