Turkey Breast Recipe (Air Fryer)
This turkey breast recipe is a tender air fryer turkey breast rubbed in a well-seasoned butter that accentuates the great taste of the turkey.
This is one of the easiest and most delicious turkey breast recipes you will ever make. It turns out tender, juicy, with a crispy skin, and tons of flavor, and is so easy to make.
Serve it with Corn Casserole and Candied Yams for an excellent meal.
Confession: This past Thanksgiving we made turkey in the oven (Oven roasted turkey) on the smoker (smoked turkey), and last minute I decided to toss a turkey breast into the air fryer to try it out. I used some of the leftover herb butter rub from the oven roasted turkey, and tossed it in. And oh my goodness. We LOVED it. It was the first turkey gone. And all the guests raved about it.
I was sad I didn’t have any leftover air fryer turkey to go with my leftover sweet potato casserole. But I did take the carcass and make Homemade Turkey Stock, so that was a win.
I am basically obsessed with the air fryer, I have been since I made these Coconut Shrimp, and saw how perfectly they turned out.
This turkey breast recipe can be done right in your air fryer in under an hour. This quick dish adds a great flavor and texture to your turkey breast. Make this air fryer turkey breast recipe on a night when you want a quick, yet hearty home cooked meal. Or even for your Thanksgiving dinner.
How Much Turkey Breast Do You Need Per Person?
This turkey breast recipe is so good that you will definitely want to have seconds. So will everyone else you are feeding, so how can you know how much to make?
Crispy, well seasoned turkey that is tender and juicy, this air fryer turkey breast will become a family favorite. When I am making dinner not only do I want it to be delicious, I also want it to a make a good amount.
I don’t want to spend time making a good meal and then not have enough for seconds. And I don’t want anyone to walk away from the meal feeling hungry.
You want to make sure you have planned accurately so you don’t have leftovers for days or worse you don’t have enough for everyone to get full.
The good thing about a turkey breast is that unless you are planning to feed multiple families, it produces quite a lot of turkey and should be enough for most families.
One breast will serve about 6-8 people. For our family of 6, this recipe usually provides some left overs, which is always a bonus.
The leftovers aren’t because this dish isn’t liked. Believe me, this dish is delicious!
The husband and I definitely go up for seconds, or dare I admit thirds? It’s just a kid’s serving size tends to be smaller than an adult serving size and because of that there tends to be leftovers. Which we make quick work of in sandwiches, enchiladas, and more.
What Temperature Should A Turkey Be Cooked To?
What temperature a turkey should be cooked to is a very important question.
Everyone wants tender, juicy cooked turkey and no one wants raw turkey followed by sickness.
Nothing is worse than waiting anxiously for that tender piece of meat and to cut into it and find that is raw. Raw turkey? I think I just lost my appetite.
Don’t let yourself be a victim of underdone meat. Or tough, dry, inedible meat either. One of my favorite recommended kitchen tools is an instant read thermometer used for testing the internal temperature of meat.
When checking to see if the turkey is done you want to check to see if an internal temperature of 165 degrees as been reached.
To check on this temperature, use a cooking thermometer inserted at the thickest part of the bird.
Why is it important to use the thermometer on the thickest part of the bird?
If you check for the temperature at a thin piece of meat, you risk having thicker parts be underdone still.
If the thickest part of the bird is done, then the rest of the meat will be done as well.
2 Steps To Make Sure Turkey Is Done:
- Stick thickest part of the bird with a cooking thermometer.
- Check to make sure the internal temperature of 165 has been reached.
Do You Cook A Turkey At 325 or 350?
In general a good rule of thumb for oven turkey is to plan to cook a thawed turkey for 15-20 minutes per pound at 325 in the oven. This translates into a 20 pound bird at 325 degrees cooking for about 2-3 hours.
However, I didn’t cook this turkey breast in the oven, instead I used a 5 Qt air fryer. And I set the temperature to 350 degrees.
How To Cook Delicious Turkey In The Air Fryer:
- Slather with your favorite herb butter rub.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Cook the turkey skin side down for 25 minutes.
- Turn over and continue to cook the turkey until the internal temperature is 160-165 degrees (30-40 minutes more depending on size).
- Let the the turkey rest for ten minutes (will come up to the 165 degree temp).
- Carve and enjoy.
I love this air fryer turkey breast recipe with the crispy skin, and deliciously juicy meat. Plus it is so fast– turkey can be done in about an hour.
Try This Incredible Turkey Breast and Other Great Air Fryer Recipes!
This air fryer turkey breast is covered in a deliciously, spiced butter rub and cooked to perfection, making this turkey breast recipe a winner of a dinner. You could brine the turkey as well before cooking for additional flavor and juiciness.
The air fryer provides a great cook on this dish along with so many other foods as well. Trust me you are going to love cooking with the air fryer.
Here are a couple other great air fryer recipes to try. Sweet Potato Fries (Air Fryer + Oven) and Air Fryer Wings (The Best Ever), or how about breakfast with these Air Fryer Egg Cups?
Wait no longer to eat a delicious meal made right in the air fryer. It will definitely be a game changer for your meal routine.
Your family and friends will love this air fryer turkey breast recipe and most importantly as the chef you will love how easy it is to make.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 pound turkey breast on the bone with skin (ribs removed)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Butter RUB:
- 2 Tbs butter
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Mix butter mixture together in a small bowl, and gently spread it under the turkey breast skin
- Rub 1/2 tablespoon of oil all over the turkey breast. Season both sides with salt and then rub in the remaining half tablespoon of oil over the skin side.
- Preheat the air fryer 350F and cook skin side down 20 minutes, turn over and cook until the internal temperature is 160F using an instant-read thermometer about 30 to 40 minutes more depending on the size of your breast.
- Let is rest 10 minutes before carving.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Lexee says
WOW! Absolutely amazing!!
Valentina says
This turkey breast looks so juicy and delicious! Thanks for a great recipe.
Maureen Hendershot says
I have a 10 lb.. Turkey breast, how long do I cook it in my hair fryer?
Rachael says
I would plan on just over an hour, but use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temp and cook until it reaches 165 degrees. Start with 30 minutes, then flip and do 30 more. Measure the temp and add time as needed to reach 165 degrees.
Jamie says
This was so easy for a weeknight meal! We’ll definitely be making this again!
Becky Hardin says
I have to try this ASAP! I bet the turkey breast is so moist and has tons of flavor.
Suzy says
Love the way this turns out! So juicy and tender!
Susan says
What brand of air fryer are you using? I think the wider air vents are a great idea vs the little holes most have.
Bruce Robbins says
A 20lb turkey in 2-3 hours? Check your math. 5-6 hours is more like it. Just don’t want people to misunderstand.
15min x 20 lbs = 300 min /60min=5hrs.
Rachael says
Yes, I was saying depending on how you cook it, it will take several hours, where an air fryer turkey breast only takes about an hour to cook!
Toni Berg says
What kind or brand of air fryer did you use?
Sharon says
Going to give this a try for Thanksgiving I have a NuWave 10 quart was wondering if you cook with the vent open or closed
Rachael says
Shoot I do not have one that has a vent! But I would maybe do the first half closed and second half open. I tried to look it up and I am not sure. So I would maybe do a test run. I am so sorry for not having a better answer.
Ashley Siadek says
I’m confused because it says to use turkey rub is it more of the butter rub? Leave it to me to need to ask the night before.
Rachael says
Just the salt. That is confusing. Sorry. I will fix.
Holly says
Is this frozen or thawed.
Rachael says
Thawed, thanks for asking.
Gail Webster says
I just printed your recipe and instructions! Thanks… my husband and I will be trying this before Christmas. A big turkey in the oven takes up all of the room! No room for sides. My family will only eat the turkey breast anyway. This would be such a time saver!!! I would have never have thought to use my air fryer. Thank you!!
Rachael says
My pleasure! Enjoy.
Shirlee says
Your. Recipe for the turkey breast looks awesome. Just bought a new air fryer, can’t wait to try it! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Kat says
What about 7 pound? How long would you suggest in the air fryer and would it be the same temp to cook at??
Rachael says
I am not totally sure, I would simply use an instant read thermometer and check it. Then add time in small increments.
Lori says
What about a turkey breast that is already fully cooked/smoked that you buy frozen from the store that way?
Rachael says
You would want to fully defrost it and then pay close attention, much shorter cook time.