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Thanksgiving is upon us, and it is always helpful to have a quick and tasty recipe in your pocket for the main course or for leftover turkey. Air Fryer Turkey Breast can be on the table in less than an hour, giving you plenty of time to pull together your holiday favorites!
Air Fryer Turkey Breast offers a simple way to prepare the perfect meal for your family this holiday season. It’s a flavorful cut of meat, enhanced by the quick, crisp cooking method of air frying, and delivers a delicious and tender result. Its versatility shines, making it an ideal choice whether serving a few or many!
Why I Love This Recipe
- It’s simple. Preparing a meal for loved ones doesn’t have to be complicated – easy does it and takes less time in the air fryer.
- It’s flavorful. Turkey breast is the quintessential flavor of Thanksgiving for good reason! You really can’t go wrong with the seasonings or the cut of meat in this recipe.
- Great for a smaller group: This air fried turkey breast will make a small portion for just a few people without having to cook a huge turkey. It’s perfect for 4 full servings, or make for 2 for larger servings.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Turkey breast: Turkey breast is a lean, tender cut of poultry with a mild flavor. You can sub another poultry if you want.
- Olive oil: Heart-healthy and versatile, olive is from pressed olives, has a rich flavor and many health benefits. Feel free to use another neutral-flavored oil if you wish.
- Garlic: Garlic adds depth to dishes with its distinct taste and aromatic qualities. You can use fresh, minced, or dried.
- Seasonings: Poultry seasonings, salt, pepper, and rosemary add layers of flavor to the turkey breast. Feel free to play with your own spice combinations!
How To Make Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Step 1: Prepare the equipment. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Cover the air fryer basket with a baking sheet or grease it with oil and set it aside. Gather mixing bowls.
Step 2: Prepare the marinade. In a medium bowl, stir together olive oil, minced garlic, poultry seasoning, salt, black pepper, and rosemary. Mix well.
Step 3: Dress the turkey. Spread the spice mixture under the turkey skin and evenly coat the entire turkey with the remaining spice mixture. If you have time let it marinade for 2 hours.
Step 4: Air fry the turkey. Place the turkey breast over the prepared air fryer basket and cook for 30-40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 5: Rest and serve. Remove the turkey breast, set it aside to rest covered with alluminum foil wrap for 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Tips To Make This Recipe
- Preheat air fryer: Ensure the air fryer is hot before placing the turkey for that perfect sear.
- Dry the Turkey: Ensure the turkey breast is thoroughly pat-dried before seasoning. A dry surface promotes better crisping and allows the seasoing to stay on it better.
- Baste during cooking: Brushing the turkey with juices helps keep it moist.
- Slide seasoned herb butter under the turkey’s skin for a burst of flavor and added juiciness.
- Cover with alluminum foil and allow the turkey breast to rest after cooking for about 7-10 minutes, letting juices redistribute for a moist result.
- Thaw a frozen turkey breast completely in the refrigerator before prepping.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Your dinner table is a blank canvas when it comes to what to serve alongside Air Fryer Turkey Breast. The traditional flavors of stuffing and cranberry sauce are a big hit, or you can roast root vegetables like Sweet Potatoes or Classic Mashed Potatoes, or Glazed Carrots. Don’t forget the greens – green beans, green peas and carrots, broccoli or any of your favorite veggies.
Storing and Reheating
Storing: Allow the turkey to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge. It should last about 3-4 days.
To reheat: It’s best to reheat the turkey in the air fryer at 325 F until warmed through. I recommend brushing the turkey breast with some brother to add moisture to it when reheating it.
Freezing: The turkey can be frozen for 2 months in an airtight container after cooling completely. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Smoking: Smoking the turkey breast adds a unique, savory flavor. Choose wood chips like hickory or applewood for a distinctive taste.
Slow Cooking: Prepare turkey breast in a slow cooker for convenience. It’ll be tender and infused with the flavors of accompanying ingredients.
Roasting: Slow-roasting in the oven is a classic method, ensuring a juicy and well-cooked turkey breast. Baste periodically for added flavor. Check out my Bonless Roasted Turkey Breast recipe for step by step instructions on how to cook turkey breast in the oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
This air fry turkey breast recipe is meant to be a quicker meal option so need to brine it but you can choose to brine it if you desire but it will add to the total time.
It’s recommended to thaw the turkey breast before air frying for even cooking.
Use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the turkey.
A typical serving size of turkey breast per person is 4 ounces, but I recommend 8 ounces per adult and 4 ounces per child, depending on the person’s appetite and you’re serving with it.
Basting the breast broth and marinade as it cooks helps keep it moist but most importantly do not over cook and always check the internal temperature. The cook time will differ based on the thickness of the breast.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
- Cheesy Green Bean Casserole
- Maple Walnut Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Parmesan Roasted Carrots
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe
- Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Thanksgiving is made easy with this Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe. Seasoned to perfection, this tender turkey breast will be the talk of your table this holiday season! Serve with your favorite seasonal side dishes and you’ve got a meal everyone will enjoy!
If you try this recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a star rating in the comment section below because I love hearing from my readers. Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 1 boneless turkey breast, skin-on, approximately 3 lbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasonings
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, or more to taste
- ½ teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F.
- In a medium bowl, stir together olive oil, minced garlic, poultry seasoning, salt, black pepper, and rosemary. Mix well.
- Spread the spice mixture under the turkey skin and evenly coat the entire turkey with the remaining spice mixture.
- Place the turkey breast over the prepared air fryer basket and cook for 45-50 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Flip over every 15 minutes.
- Remove the turkey breast, cover with alluminum foil and set it aside to rest for 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Notes
- Preheat your air fryer: Ensure the air fryer is hot before placing the turkey for that perfect sear.
- Dry the Turkey: Ensure the turkey breast is thoroughly pat-dried before seasoning. A dry surface promotes better crisping and allows the seasoing to stay on it better.
- Baste during cooking: Brushing the turkey with juices helps keep it moist.
- Slide seasoned herb butter under the turkey’s skin for a burst of flavor and added juiciness.
- Cover with alluminum foil and allow the turkey breast to rest after cooking for about 7-10 minutes, letting juices redistribute for a moist result.
- Thaw a frozen turkey breast completely in the refrigerator before prepping.
