Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast

This juicy, flavorful Roasted Turkey breast with garlic-herb compound butter makes a beautiful centerpiece for any holiday dinner table.

When I’m hosting a small holiday dinner, I don’t necessarily need to make a whole turkey. A roasted turkey breast is a great option for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or any dinner where you want to make an impression, but don’t need to have a big bird on the menu.

It’s also a good recipe to keep on hand if you’re having a very large crowd and need extra white meat to supplement. (Or, if you want to ensure that you have leftovers for sandwiches!)

This juicy and flavorful Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast is one of my family’s favorite recipes. Here’s a complete tutorial of how I make it, from market to table.

Buying a Turkey Breast: What to Look for at the Market

For roasting, I like to buy a whole, bone-in, skin-on turkey breast between 6 and 7 pounds. As a rule of thumb, plan on 1 pound per person, increasing to 1-1/2 pounds if you want leftovers.

Since we always want leftovers, this makes a roasted turkey breast a good option for up to 4 to 5 guests in my house.

Turkey breast can be prone to drying out, so buying the breast on the bone with skin is key to ensuring a juicy roast. You’ll find turkey breasts sold as either the whole breast, or larger half breasts. As long as they’re bone-in, skin-on, you can use them for this recipe.

Shopping Tip: Most grocery stores will stock whole turkey breasts around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. If you don’t see them, talk to the butcher. Some will be willing to special order one or break down a whole turkey for you. You can then use the legs, wings, and giblets to make your own turkey stock.

Pay close attention to the labeling on your turkey breast. If it’s marked “kosher,” “self-basting,” or “brine injected,” watch the amount of salt you’re adding to the recipe. Natural turkeys will not have been pre-salted or injected.

Read more about the types of turkeys you’ll find at the market and the differences between them in, “Turkey Talk: Natural, Kosher, or Injected?” from Serious Eats.

Making Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast

As with my favorite Roasted Chicken method, I like to let the turkey breast sit out at room temperature (70 degrees F) for about an hour before roasting. This will help it to cook more evenly.

I roast my turkey breast in a roasting pan, sitting on a rack, to allow for air circulation. A touch of liquid in the bottom of the pan (a mixture of dry white wine and stock) helps to keep the meat juicy. It also cuts down on smoking as the drippings collect.

Garlic-Herb Compound Butter

Compound butter is my favorite way to infuse meats that can be on the drier and blander side, like chicken or turkey breast, with flavor. For this recipe, I use a classic combination of herbs that embody the aromas of Thanksgiving: fresh sage, rosemary, thyme, and parsley.

To finish the butter, I like to add garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon zest for a little punch. In making this recipe numerous times over the years, we’ve found that raw garlic can be a bit too prominent a flavor for Thanksgiving, so I opt for garlic powder.

If you prefer a stronger garlic flavor, substitute 1-2 large garlic cloves for the powder. If going this route, press the cloves through a garlic press, or grate them on a microplane.

How to Get the Butter Under the Turkey Skin

With the top of the turkey breast facing you, gently slide your fingers between the skin and the meat, loosening the skin and creating a pocket.

It’s important not to tear the skin, or the butter will immediately melt out into the pan. You also want to try to leave the skin attached on the sides and bottom of the breast to keep the butter as contained as possible.

Use a spoon to distribute about 2/3 of the butter between the two breast halves. Then, use your hands to rub the outside of the skin to distribute the butter evenly across the breast meat.

Seasoning and Roasting

Before roasting, dry the outside of the turkey breast well with paper towels and rub the remaining herb butter onto the skin. If you don’t dry the skin, the butter won’t adhere. Season the breast with salt and pepper, and you’re ready to roast.

I start the roasting process with a 30-minute blast in a 425 degree F oven. This will help to develop a beautiful golden color on the skin.

After 30 minutes, I lower the heat to 325 degrees F and pour a little white wine directly over the turkey breast. The meat will only need to be basted a couple of times as it roasts to juicy perfection.

Tip: I like to roast a few garlic heads, lemon halves, and a quartered onion in the pan, surrounding the turkey. I use the lemon and garlic to garnish the platter when serving. This is totally optional.

How to Know When Your Turkey Breast is Cooked

To take your turkey breast’s temperature, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. Be sure that you aren’t close to or hitting the bone. When cooked, it should read 160 degrees F. (I like to probe it in a couple of places to be sure.)

Depending on the size of the breast, this can take anywhere from 60 minutes to 90+ minutes after the initial 30-minute higher heat blast.

As the turkey breast rests on a carving board for about 15 minutes, it will rise to 165 degrees F, the FDA’s recommended safe internal temperature for poultry.

Dinner is Served! Plating and Sides

To carve the turkey, use a sharp carving knife to detach each breast half from the breastbone and the ribcage. Once you’ve removed the breast meat, slice it against the grain into thin slices.

I like to arrange each fanned, sliced breast half onto my serving platter and garnish with fresh herbs. If you prefer to serve the turkey with a sauce, deglaze the roasting pan with 1/2 cup of chicken or turkey stock, strain the pan juices, season to taste with salt and pepper, and spoon over the turkey slices.

Side Dishes to Serve with Your Turkey Breast

• Haricots Verts with Lemon-Herb Brown Butter Sauce
• Cranberry Pecan Stuffing
• Brown Butter Whipped Sweet Potatoes
• Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
• Brandied Cherry Cranberry Sauce
• Parmesan Duchess Potatoes

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This post was originally published on Striped Spatula on November 25, 2019 and was updated in 2020 with new photos.