This succulent air fryer turkey breast will quickly become a family favorite by keeping your stomach happy and full this holiday season. This flavorful turkey recipe is juicy, easy to make, and perfect for the holidays.
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In the Fearless Dining home, we love to eat meat..., especially turkey! We enjoy eating all sorts of foods and aren't the ones to turn away from a protein dinner. (How can we with two growing teens?)
You can still slather this air-fried turkey breast with gravy and enjoy it with all of those popular Thanksgiving day side dishes.
If you are having a quiet holiday and don't want to cook a whole turkey, this air fryer turkey breast recipe is a great alternative! If you don't have an air fryer, don't worry because I include easy directions for oven baking too! Be sure to check out all of my easy Gluten Free Air Fryer Recipes!
Why This Recipe Works:
- Turkey is naturally gluten free, so it's not really anything you need to worry about when making this dish. (That being said, read the label to make sure your turkey breast wasn't brined or injected with any flavoring!!)
- You can get so many delicious flavors from using fresh herbs in this recipe.
- You can make this easy air fryer turkey breast in under 30 minutes.
- This air fryer turkey breast recipe is great all year long. The leftover turkey makes wonderful sandwiches, or you can serve it as a fancy dinner idea.
Top your turkey with this easy homemade gluten free gravy recipe. No pan drippings are needed.
Did you know you can grow your own fresh herbs in your kitchen window, so you have fresh herbs to use in this recipe? This is the best way to have fresh organic herbs on hand for your gluten-free cooking!
Are you ready to make this delicious air fryer turkey breast recipe?
Ingredient Notes:
- Turkey Breast - I was surprised to see you can buy fresh raw turkey breast all year long. Try to get the plain turkey breast that is not marinated. Store marinades are big sources of hidden gluten.
- Butter - I used unsalted, but either is fine.
- Fresh Herbs like thyme, sage, and rosemary - you can use dried herbs, but fresh is best.
- Garlic Cloves - use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder if you can. It adds deeper flavor!
- Lemon - I use fresh lemon slices, but bottled lemon juice will work.
Tips For Success:
- Be sure your turkey breast is plain and not pre-seasoned or marinated.
- Try a brine soak to lock in moisture and flavor! I absolutely love Rodelle brand turkey brine!
- Cooking time in the air fryer will vary widely depending on whether your turkey breast is bone-in or boneless and the size and thickness. Plan to check your turkey halfway through cooking.
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Step 1: The first step is to place your raw turkey breast on a plate. Melt the butter in a small microwave-safe dish. Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and mix.
Step 2: Rub the turkey with the melted butter and garlic combo. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top. The butter will help keep your turkey breast moist.
Step 3: Top with fresh herbs like sage, thyme, and rosemary. You can use dried herbs if you can't find fresh ones, but the flavors will blend in better using fresh herbs.
Preheat your air fryer to 350º F.
Step 4: Top with fresh lemon slices and place into the air fryer. Spray oil over the turkey breast. This is a great list of Oils For The Air Fryer. Some oils have a low smoking point, which can ruin food, so be sure to choose the best oil for air frying! If you use canola, be sure to check Is Canola Oil Gluten Free?
Step 5: Place in the air fryer basket and put the basket into the air fryer. Lock the basket if your model has a lock feature.
Step 6: Now, set your air fryer to cook your turkey breast. Every air fryer is a bit different. Cook at 350º F for 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature is 165º F.
*Note cooking time will vary depending on how large your turkey breast is, if it is bone-in or boneless, etc. Please check the temperature with a digital thermometer after 20 minutes.
I have several incredible gluten free turkey recipes on the blog you will love making!
Benefits Of Using An Air Fryer?
There are several benefits to using an air fryer when cooking. It's a wonderful kitchen gadget that everyone should try out at least. Here are some of the benefits of cooking with one:
- They are easy to clean. I love that you don't have to spend much time cleaning your air fryer, unlike a traditional fryer.
- You can make low-fat food that tastes fried. Air frying is a great option if you are trying to eat low-fat food. You aren't frying food in a vat of oil, so it tends to be healthier.
- Things cook more evenly. Because the air circulates all around inside the air fryer, it can heat your food more evenly. It can cook the top and bottom of your food without having to flip it over.
- Air fryers cook foods faster than oven frying. If you want food that's crispy and flavorful but doesn't have tons of time, consider an air fryer.
Oven Baked Directions:
To make this in your oven, preheat your oven to 350º F. Complete the above steps and place the turkey breast in an oven-safe pan. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Check the internal temperature. Total baking time will depend on if your turkey breast is bone-in or boneless and the weight of the turkey breast.
Recipe FAQ:
Cooked turkey breasts will last in the fridge for 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container (if you don't have constantly hungry teens!) You can also freeze it for up to 2-3 months. If you ever notice that the turkey breasts have become slimy or smell bad, then they aren't good anymore.
Otherwise, you can reheat it in the microwave, oven, or even in the skillet with a little oil. Just heat it until it's hot, then serve.
You will know your turkey is finished cooking when it has an internal temperature of 165º F.
The air fryer may not be large enough to cook a whole turkey unless you have a small one.
If you love cooking with fresh herbs, check out these amazing gluten free recipes with fresh herbs. You will also love this easy baked turkey legs recipe!
Serve These Sides With Turkey:
- Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Grandma's Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Cinnamon Brown Sugar Carrots
- Mashed Rutabagas
- Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower Bake
This recipe was updated from an older November 2019 post with more details.
Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw turkey breast * see note
- 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Place your turkey breast on a plate.
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe dish. Add minced garlic when it is melted.
- Rub the turkey with the melted butter mixture.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper on top.
- Top with sprigs of fresh herbs and lemon slices.
- Place the turkey breast into the air fryer basket.
- Set the timer to 30 minutes on 375º F.
- When the timer goes off, use a digital thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should be 165 F degrees.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- You can cook bone-in or boneless turkey breast in this recipe, but if you use a bone-in turkey breast, the cooking time will be longer.
- You can use dried herbs, but the flavor will not infuse as well using dried herbs.
- Many ask if you can cook a whole turkey in an air fryer and I would say only if you can find an air fryer large enough.
- Can you cook frozen turkey breast in the air fryer? Yes, you can, but note that the seasonings and garlic butter flavor will not penetrate the meat when cooking.
- This recipe is easy to bake in the oven if you don't have an air fryer. Season the turkey breast the same way and bake at 350º F for 30 minutes. Total baking time will depend if your turkey breast is bone-in or boneless. Make sure the internal temperature is 165º F with a meat thermometer.
- This roasted turkey will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Justine
So easy and flavorful! Perfect for a small intimate Thanksgiving or even just a weekday dinner with the husband. 🙂
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like it Justine 🙂
Nicole Dawson
This is a great idea! I have a few family members that aren't vegan and will be wanting their meat this Thanksgiving, so having this option is so helpful.
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Nicole.
Ashley F
We love to fry things but really hate dealing with the oil. So excited about the air fryer and all that can be cooked in it! This looks amazing!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad to have this option for you 🙂