This Air Fryer Turkey Breast is quick and easy to prep, comes out super juicy and flavorful and makes for the perfect holiday entrée if you’re having a smaller celebration!
I love my air fryer for pretty much anything these days, but did you know it makes the best turkey breast, too? It turns out so juicy and flavorful, with crispy skin.
This is the perfect recipe for a smaller celebration – you are limited in size by the air fryer, so you can’t cook the biggest turkey breast inside. But it keeps the oven free for side dishes and is very little work!
Ingredients you’ll need
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Turkey: I got a split turkey from a family friend, so I chose to use a bone-in half breast here. You can use a boneless breast for easier carving, but I wouldn’t recommend a whole breast – it’s nearly impossible to fit into an air fryer. I recommend a half breast no larger than 3 pounds if you have a larger air fryer (mine is a Cosori with 5.8QT).
- Herbs: You can use fresh or dried. If using dried, use just 1 teaspoon. Feel free to use any garden herbs you enjoy, I recommend any mix of rosemary, thyme, sage and parsley. If you’re using fresh, just make sure you’re chopping them very finely.
- Garlic powder: I prefer using powder over fresh garlic here, because fresh garlic burns a little more easily when used on a large piece of meat in the air fryer.
How to air fry a turkey breast
Before you start, preheat the air fryer to 350°F (just let it run at 350°F for 5 minutes, if yours doesn’t come with a preheat option).
1. Mash the softened butter, herbs and seasoning together in a small bowl.
2. Loosen the turkey skin (make sure it stays intact!) and spread half of the butter below the skin. Spread the remaining butter all over the turkey, mostly on top but also a little on the bottom.
make garlic herb butter spread all over turkey breast
3. Place the turkey breast, skin side UP, in the hot air fryer basket. Air fry for 30 minutes. Check on the internal temperature, then keep air frying at 350°F in 5-10 minute increments, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
place in air fryer basket air fry until 165°F inside
4. Remove the air fryer basket from the air fryer, allow the turkey breast to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Recipe tips
- Make sure to season the turkey breast all over and underneath the skin for best results.
- Do not overcook the turkey, or it will dry out (even in the air fryer…). I highly recommend checking it regularly after 30 minutes of cooking time. The shape of your turkey, exact size, bone-in or boneless AND your specific air fryer model all impact the exact cooking time. Just make sure you cook it to 165°F internal temperature.
- Do not skip the 10 minutes of resting time. It help to retain the juices while slicing, and yields a more tender turkey.
Serving ideas
With such an easy main dish, I highly recommend going all out with the presentation! I love placing the turkey breast on a plate with fresh herbs, some sliced orange and either fresh cranberries or pomegranate. I know cranberries are the most traditional, but since they’re not really tasty to eat raw… I do love the pomegranate.
For side dishes, try some of my family’s favorite classics:
- Homemade Dinner Rolls (the BEST!)
- Green Bean Casserole from Scratch (or sautéed green beans for the purists)
- Baked Sweet Potato Slices OR Twice Baked Sweet Potato Skins OR Sweet Potato Casserole OR Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Crockpot Honey Glazed Carrots
- Perfect Mashed Potatoes (OR Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes)
Tips for leftovers
If you have leftovers, remove them from the bone (if using a bone-in turkey breast). Place the meat in an airtight container, seal the lid tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
You can use leftover, shredded turkey breast in many recipes, like Leftover Turkey Pot Pie, Turkey Tetrazzini, Turkey Noodle Casserole or Leftover Turkey Soup!
More smaller Thanksgiving mains
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram. Sign up for my email list, too!
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Recipe details
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh herbs OR 1 teaspoon dried; see notes
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground paprika
- salt & ground black pepper to taste
- 1 (3-lb) turkey breast (half breast highly recommended, bone-in or boneless are both fine)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- Make compound butter: Place butter, herbs and seasonings in a small bowl. Using a fork, mash together until aromatics are evenly distributed.
- Season turkey: Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Carefully loosen skin (make sure it stays intact, but make some room underneath). Spread half of butter mixture under skin. Spread remaining butter mixture all over surface of turkey, mainly on skin part.
- Air fry: Place in hot air fryer basket. Air fry at 350°F for 30 minutes. Check temperature, then air fry at 350°F in 5-10 minute increments until internal temperature reaches 165°F (a 2.5-lb, bone-in half breast takes around 40-45 minutes in total).
- Rest: Remove basket from air fryer, allow turkey to rest for 10 minutes before carving (do not skip resting, resting helps to yield more tender meat).
Notes
Ingredient notes
- Turkey: I got a split turkey from a family friend, so I chose to use a bone-in half breast here. You can use a boneless breast for easier carving, but I wouldn’t recommend a whole breast – it’s nearly impossible to fit into an air fryer. I recommend a half breast no larger than 3 pounds if you have a larger air fryer (mine is a Cosori with 5.8QT).
- Herbs: Use any garden herbs you enjoy, I recommend any mix of rosemary, thyme, sage and parsley. If you’re using fresh, just make sure you’re chopping them very finely.
Recipe tips
- Do not overcook the turkey, or it will dry out (even in the air fryer…). I highly recommend checking it regularly after 30 minutes of cooking time. The shape of your turkey, exact size, bone-in or boneless AND your specific air fryer model all impact the exact cooking time. Just make sure you cook it to 165°F internal temperature.
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