Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast
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Add as Google Trusted SourceThis air fryer boneless turkey breast cooks in 40 minutes with crisp skin, juicy meat and 34 grams of protein per serving. Fresh garlic-herb butter adds plenty of savory flavor.
The first time I made a turkey breast in the air fryer for dinner, it turned out so well that I knew I needed to share the method. My version uses a 3-pound boneless, skin-on turkey breast with fresh garlic-herb butter rubbed underneath the skin, so the seasoning gets right into the meat instead of sitting only on the outside.
It’s a great option for a smaller Thanksgiving dinner when a whole turkey would be too much, especially with my slow cooker mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.
Table of Contents
“We had this tonight and it was very good. It was moist and very flavorful. We had this with your thanksgiving salad and some homemade cranberry sauce”
Why I Love This Air Fryer Turkey Recipe
- No brining required: The garlic-herb butter adds moisture and flavor without an overnight prep step.
- Keeps the oven free: It’s especially helpful during the holidays when casseroles, stuffing and desserts are competing for oven space.
- Simple ingredient list: You only need the turkey breast, butter, garlic, fresh herbs and seasonings.
- Leftovers won’t go to waste: Slice the extra turkey for sandwiches or turn it into my leftover turkey salad.
Ingredients Needed
- boneless, skin-on turkey breast – this recipe is designed for a smaller turkey breast roast that fits comfortably inside an air fryer. The skin protects the meat while cooking and browns in the circulating heat.
- butter – forms the base of the herb mixture and helps the seasonings spread underneath and over the skin.
- kosher salt and black pepper – season the turkey throughout. Check the turkey packaging for added salt or brine before seasoning.
- garlic – adds plenty of savory flavor to the herb butter.
- fresh sage, thyme and rosemary – give the turkey its classic holiday flavor. Look for herbs that are vibrant and fragrant without wilted or darkened leaves.
Substitutions
- Dairy-free option: Swap the butter for your favorite plant-based butter. Olive oil should also work, but I haven’t tested it.
- Dried herb swap: Fresh herbs give this turkey the best flavor, but dried herbs work when that’s what you have. Use 1 teaspoon each of dried sage, thyme and rosemary.
How to Make Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast
Step 1: Add the softened butter, salt, pepper, garlic and fresh herbs to a small bowl. Mix together to combine.
Step 2: Pat the turkey breast dry with a paper towel. This helps the skin to get nice and crisp in the air fryer!
Step 3: Using a teaspoon or your fingers, loosen the skin and rub the herb butter mixture under the skin and all over the turkey breast.
Step 4: Preheat air fryer to 350°F for about 3-4 minutes. Place turkey breast into the air fryer, skin-side up and cook for 40 minutes, flipping the turkey breast over halfway through. You want the internal temperature of the turkey breast to be 165°F.
Brittany’s Tips!
- Check the fit first: This recipe was developed with a 3-pound turkey breast. Before seasoning, place the unwrapped turkey breast in the cool air fryer basket to confirm that it fits comfortably without touching the heating element.
- Trust the thermometer: Air fryer models and turkey breast thicknesses vary, so begin checking a few minutes early. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and cook until it reaches 165°F.
- Slice against the grain: Look at the direction of the muscle fibers and cut across them rather than alongside them. This shortens the fibers and gives you more tender slices.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Turkey Breast
This turkey breast works just as well for a smaller holiday meal as it does for Sunday dinner. Here are some of my favorite pairings:
- Classic holiday plate: Add my sweet potato casserole if you love marshmallows, or my healthy sweet potato casserole for a crunchy pecan topping.
- Seasonal vegetables: Roasted acorn squash brings caramelized edges and plenty of fall flavor.
- Something fresh: Balance the richer dishes with my colorful Thanksgiving salad.
- A bright finishing touch: Spoon cranberry salsa over the sliced turkey for a sweet, tart and slightly spicy contrast.
Storing Leftovers
- In the refrigerator: Let the turkey cool briefly, then store it in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. I recommend slicing only what you need because the remaining breast will retain more moisture when left whole.
- In the freezer: Slice or shred the turkey and freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Freezing individual portions makes it easier to thaw only what you need.
- To reheat: Thaw frozen turkey overnight in the refrigerator. Warm it gently in a covered skillet or microwave with a splash of broth or water to prevent it from drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions
I haven’t tested this recipe with a bone-in turkey breast, so I recommend using the boneless, skin-on breast called for in the recipe. Bone-in breasts differ in size, shape and cooking time, and they may not fit comfortably in the basket.
Rub the herb butter underneath the skin, begin checking the turkey a few minutes early and use a meat thermometer rather than relying only on the cooking time. Remove it once the thickest part reaches 165°F, then let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
I recommend thawing the turkey breast completely in the refrigerator before cooking it. A frozen or partially frozen breast will cook unevenly, and the herb butter will not spread properly underneath the skin.
This recipe was written for one turkey breast. If two breasts cannot fit comfortably without touching or blocking the airflow, cook them in separate batches. Crowding the basket can lead to uneven cooking.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 3 pound boneless, skin-on turkey breast roast
- 2 Tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
- 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Mix together softened butter with salt, pepper, garlic and fresh herbs.2 Tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground pepper, 3 cloves garlic, 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage, 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme, 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- Pat turkey breast dry with a paper towel. Using a teaspoon or your fingers, loosen the skin and rub the herb butter mixture under the skin and all over the turkey breast.3 pound boneless
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F for about 3-4 minutes. If your air fryer has a roast setting, use that.
- Place turkey breast into the air fryer, skin-side up and cook for 20 minutes, flip turkey breast over and cook for another 20 minutes or until the turkey breast is cooked through and the internal temperature of the turkey breast is 165°F.
- Transfer to a cutting board, let stand for 10 minutes. Slice and serve.
Notes
- This recipe was developed for a 3-pound boneless, skin-on turkey breast. Cooking time will vary with a different size or shape.
- Check the package before seasoning. If the turkey has been brined or contains an added salt solution, reduce the kosher salt as needed.
- Check the thickest part with a meat thermometer and cook until it reaches 165°F. Let the turkey rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Equipment
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
Can I do three turkey breasts all at the same time in our oven air fryer? Would they need more time?
Hi Raquel – I have only tested this recipe with one turkey breast because that’s all that could fit in my air fryer, so I’m not sure what the cook time would be for a bigger air fryer to fit three. You’d likely just need to keep an eye on them. Let me know if you end up trying it and how it turns out!
We had this tonight and it was very good. It was moist and very flavorful. We had this with your thanksgiving salad and some homemade cranberry sauce
Woo! That makes me so happy to hear. I’m so glad this turkey breast turned out for you 🙂
Made this for Sunday dinner and it was juicy all the way through. The air fryer really did the trick.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Andrew. Thanks for coming back to leave a review. 🙂