How to Roast a Turkey Breast

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!

Recipe

How to Roast a Turkey Breast

★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

The easiest recipe to roasting a split turkey breast. **Double this recipe to make two breasts at once**

Recipe By: Madeline

Prep: 10 minutesCook: 1 hour 30 minutesTotal: 1 hour 40 minutes

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Servings: 3 servings 1x

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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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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. 
7. 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.
8. 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.

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.