How to Roast a Turkey Breast
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Learn How to Roast a Turkey Breast in the oven with this simple recipe! Find out how to season it and how long to cook a turkey breast per pound.
A Turkey for smaller gatherings
Whether your holiday meal gatherings are smaller or you’re just simply not in the mood to cook a whole turkey, this oven roasted turkey breast recipe is for you. It’s bone-in turkey breast, so it will give you the same Thanksgiving feels as an entire bird but with far less effort!›
Keep reading to find out how long to cook a turkey breast per pound and whether or not to cook a turkey breast at 325 or 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kitchen Tools
- Measuring spoons and measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cup
- Small mixing bowl
- Wire rack and baking sheet
- Instant read thermometer
- Sharp kitchen knife
- Sauce pan
- Spatula
- Strainer
- Gravy bowl or something similar to serve from
- Cutting board
What sides to serve with this?
This bone-in oven roasted turkey breast recipe is a pretty traditional holiday flavor, so it would pair quite well with your favorite holiday meal sides.
That could be green beans almondine or green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, stuffing or dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, a big salad, roasted brussels sprouts, mac-n-cheese – you name it, the list goes on!
Looking for a full Thanksgiving dinner menu? Check out this simple Thanksgiving dinner menu.
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Recipe Ingredients
- 1 split turkey breast bone in and skin on
- Unsalted butter
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Ground Ginger
- Sage, fresh
- Rosemary, fresh
- Thyme, fresh
Gravy Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- All purpose flour
- Turkey broth
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dried rubbed sage
How long to Cook a Turkey Breast Per Lb?
A very frequently asked question around turkey is: how long to cook a turkey breast per lb? The answer is simple! 20 minutes per pound at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, my turkey breast was 3 pounds, so I roasted it for 60 total minutes at 350F.
If you’re ever unsure whether your bird is done, an instant read thermometer really is a lifesaver in these situations. A cooked turkey is ready at 165 degrees F.
How to make this Bone In Oven Roasted Turkey breast
Step 1: prepare Ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350F and mince the garlic. Mix together the butter, minced garlic, salt, pepper, ginger, and fresh herbs in a small bowl.
Pat the turkey dry and rub the butter mixture all over the skin of the breast and under the skin of the breast. This may take you a bit of time but it is important to get the butter mixture under the skin.
Step 2: Roast the turkey
Place the seasoned turkey breast on a wire rack on a baking sheet. Place in the oven to roast at 350F for 20 minutes per pound. Again for example, my turkey breast was 3 pounds so I roasted it for 60 minutes.
After that time has passed, check the internal temperature of the breast with an instant read thermometer. If the internal temperature is 165F, remove the breast from the oven and allow it to rest.
If it is not yet 165F, continue cooking for additional 10 minute increments until the internal temperature registers at 165F in the thickest part of the breast.
Allow the turkey to rest out of the oven, then transfer to a cutting board. Once it is cool enough to tough, slice into slices.
Step 3: Make the gravy
Pour the drippings from the bottom of the baking sheet into a sauce pan. Use a spatula to scrape off an brown bits – those add flavor! Melt the butter with the drippings over medium-low heat.
Mix in the flour until you have a thick paste. Slowly pour in the turkey broth in small increments while mixing. Keep mixing until all of the broth has been incorporated.
Stir in the salt, pepper, and rubbed sage and increase the heat to medium. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle bubble and cook for 3 more minutes, until it has thickened slightly. Pour gravy through a strainer and serve with the turkey!
Step 4: Serve
Serve the turkey breast with the gravy and your choice of sides for a delicious feast!
Storage and reheating
Once fully cooled, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through.
This cooked turkey breast is PERFECT for leftover sandwiches!! I even add some of the cranberry sauce.
Check out these Great Side Dish Ideas to serve with this turkey breast
- Maple Cinnamon Roasted Kabocha Squash
- Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Green Beans Almondine
- Crispy Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts
- Kale Cranberry Quinoa Salad
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
How to Roast a Turkey Breast
The easiest recipe to roasting a split turkey breast. **Double this recipe to make two breasts at once**
Ingredients
Turkey Ingredients
- 1 split turkey breast bone in and skin on (mine was 3lbs)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped sage
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped thyme
Gravy ingredients
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 cup turkey broth
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp dried rubbed sage
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and mince the cloves of garlic. In a small bowl mix together butter, minced garlic, salt, pepper, ginger and fresh herbs.
- Pat turkey dry and rub butter mixture all over the skin of the breast and under the skin of the breast. It might take some time to do this but it is important to get some of the butter mixture under the skin.
- Place seasoned turkey breast on a wire rack on a baking sheet. Place in the oven to roast at 350F for 20 minutes per pound. For example, a 3lb breast will roast for 60 minutes.
- After that time check the internal temperature of the breast using an instant read thermometer. If the internal temperature is 165F, remove the breast from the oven to rest. If not, continue cooking for additional 10 minute increments until the internal temperature is 165F in the thickest part of the breast.
- Remove the breast from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a cutting board. Once the breast is cool enough to touch, slice into slices.
- To make the gravy, pour the drippings from the bottom of the baking sheet into a sauce pan. Use a spatula to scrap off any brown bits, those add flavor. Melt butter with the drippings over medium low heat.
- When the butter is fully melted, mix in the flour and mix until you have a thick paste. Slowly pour in the turkey broth in small amounts while mixing. Keep mixing until all of the broth has been slowly incorporated.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, and rubbed sage and increase the heat to medium. Allow mixture to come to a gentle bubble and bubble for about 3 minutes or until it has thickened slightly. Pour gravy through a strainer and serve with turkey slices.
Sydney says
Thanks for sharing this. I’ll probably make This for thanksgiving this year due to smaller crowd.
Madeline says
yay!! so glad!
JP says
Thank you for such a wonderful recipe. I greatly appreciate all the details you provide and am excited to follow it for our holiday dinner this year!
What are your thoughts on using a boneless turkey breast?
Madeline says
wonderful! And I think it will work just fine BUT will cook faster than bone in and is more likely to be dry quickly so keep an eye on it and remove from the oven as soon as the internal temp reaches 165F so that it doesn’t dry out!
Misti says
Do you recommend bringing the Turkey breast ahead of time?
Misti says
Brine
Madeline says
You don’t have to but you certainly can!
Olivia says
This was so helpful! Great, easy recipe. Made my first turkey breast and followed this exactly. Thanks Madeline!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Awesome! I hope you enjoyed!
Kate says
I have never made a roast turkey breast before and this recipe worked great! Came out perfect. Realized along the way i didn’t buy a “split” Turkey breast but an entire one! So just adjusted cooking time accordingly and flipped halfway.
★★★★★
Madeline says
So glad that worked, Kate! Glad you liked it
Kallie says
After finding out a few days before Thanksgiving that we would be quarantined I decided to give this a try for my small family instead of an entire turkey. Everyone loved it and said it was the best turkey they had ever had.
★★★★★
Madeline says
That’s awesome! Glad you loved it. But sorry about the quarantine.
Kaitlyn says
I tried this recipe for Christmas dinner as my family wanted “traditional” but there’s only 6 of us and we don’t need a whole turkey. It was absolutely delicious and not a dry bite!
★★★★★
Madeline says
that’s so great to hear, Kaitlyn! thank you!
Ann LeKander says
Wonderful recipe. The breast was moist and tender. Will make again.
★★★★★
Madeline says
thanks Ann!
June says
Yummy
★★★★★
Madeline says
thank you!
Joann L Jacobson says
So good I made it today I am a chef love to cook
★★★★★
Madeline says
yay so glad you enjoyed!
Charlet Kaye Pesavento says
I greatly appreciate your recipes and clear description’s along with videos. I want to follow you and learn more. Thank you.
★★★★★
Madeline says
So glad to hear it, Charlet! You’re welcome!
Tara says
Used this recipe today and the turkey breast was beautifully browned and the meat was not dried out! Thank you for sharing this.
★★★★★
Madeline says
Awesome! Thanks, Tara!
Katie says
Made this for my hubby and mine day after thanksgiving to have some leftovers. Super easy and came out great!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thanks for the review, Katie! I am so glad to hear you liked it.
Jacqueline R Rose says
This takes much longer than the recipe says. Our turkey breast was delicious, but it was nowhere near done at the 50 minute mark for a 2.5 lb. breast. Definitely use a thermometer.
★★★★
Madeline says
Thanks for the feedback, Jacqueline! Cooking time may vary from oven to oven.
Lauren says
I make this alllll the time and always comes out great. thx.
Madeline says
Yay! So glad, Lauren!