Perfect for small gatherings or meal prep, turkey breast is easy to make.
Roast turkey breast is seasoned and cooked with onion, herbs, and broth until tender and juicy!
Roast Turkey Breast Is A Favorite Because…
- The prep takes just a few minutes, and you only need a handful of ingredients.
- The turkey comes out tender and super juicy.
- Roast turkey breast is the perfect meal for a smaller crowd and is easy to slice and serve.
- You’ll have room in the oven for your fave sides, like green bean casserole and stuffing.
What Kind of Turkey Breast to Buy
You can roast either bone-in or boneless turkey breasts. I often buy a turkey breast wrapped in a net (photo above), but they do come without a net as well and can be tied with kitchen twine (photo below).
Buy a 2.5 to 3.5-pound boneless turkey breast or a 4 to 5-pound bone-in turkey breast for this recipe.
Seasonings: I love fresh herbs when possible—check the produce area for a pre-packaged fresh poultry herb mixture if you’d like. You can also skip the fresh herbs and used dried or try my turkey seasoning blend.
Variations
Besides onions, roast the turkey breast with sliced mushrooms, carrots, baby red potatoes, or cubes of butternut squash. The veggies will soak up all that flavorful broth and provide a bonus side dish.
How Much Turkey Per Person
Allow for ½ pound of boneless turkey breast per person. Make extra for larger appetites or leftovers.
How to Roast Turkey Breast
Juicy and tender roast turkey breast is easy and delicious.
- Brush the turkey breast with olive oil and season with herbs, salt, and pepper. Add onions to the dish.
- Roast uncovered for 30 minutes. Add broth and continue to cook until a meat thermometer reaches 165°F.
- Allow turkey breast to rest before slicing.
Cooking Times & Tips
- Allow enough time for thawing; it can take up to 2 days for a 3 lb turkey breast.
- Check the temperature early so it doesn’t overcook—the size and shape of the turkey breast can affect cooking time.
- Remove the turkey breast from the oven at 160°F; it will continue to rise to 165°F as it rests.
- Use those tasty turkey drippings to make gravy, and add extra storebought broth if needed.
Roast a turkey breast for 30-35 minutes per pound. Refer to the chart below:
| Boneless Turkey Breast Weight | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| 2 pounds | 60 to 70 minutes |
| 2 ½ pounds | 75 to 85 minutes |
| 3 pounds | 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours |
| 4 pounds | 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes |
My Favorite Sides for Turkey Breast
Here are our favorite classic sides to pair with a roast turkey breast!
Did your family love this Roast Turkey Breast recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below!
Herbed Roast Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 2 ½ to 3 ½ pounds boneless turkey breast
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil or as needed
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary or ½ teaspoon dried
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage or ¼ teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- salt and black pepper
- 1 small onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup chicken broth or as needed
Instructions
- Remove the turkey breast from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Tie the turkey breast (if it's not tied or in a net already). If it is already in a net, leave it in the net to cook. Dab the outside dry with a paper towel.
- Brush the turkey breast with olive oil. Generously sprinkle with herbs, salt, & pepper.
- Place the turkey breast in a small casserole dish and nestle onions (and extra herbs if desired) alongside the turkey.
- Roast the turkey breast uncovered for 30 minutes. Add enough broth to cover the bottom of the dish, about 1 cup.
- Continue roasting for 30 to 60 minutes or until the temperature in the thickest part of the breast reaches 165°F. Estimated cook times are listed below.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Video
Notes
- 2 lb Turkey Breast – roast for 60 to 70 minutes.
- 2.5 lb Turkey Breast – roast for 75 to 85 minutes.
- 3 lb Turkey Breast – roast for 90 to 105 minutes.
- 4 lb Turkey Breast – roast for 2 hrs to 2 hrs and 20 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Turkey
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Came out really awesome
Used chipotle seasoning
So juicy❤️thx
We basically followed your turkey breast recipe with a little exception. While defrosting we did a dry brine with herbs. Cooked a 3lb breast at 325° for 90 minutes with two cups of broth. Took it out at a temperature of 160°. Let stand for about 15 minutes. It was delicious and we could cut it with a spoon. Thank you!
I love your website. I am making this on Friday and making this turkey breast. I purchased a skinless one is that okay? Can’t wait to hear your thoughts
Yes for sure, skinless turkey breast will work just as well.
is a very good meal
how long to cook one side of turkey breast at 2 lbs. and oven temp. I am reading l5 min. to a lb. so it would be ready in 30 min.
A boneless turkey breast will need to roast for 30-35 minutes per pound. The shape of the breast (some are thicker and rounder while some are flatter) can affect the cooking time. We recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches a safe internal temperature before serving.
Excellent perfect recipe.