Don't be intimidated by cooking a turkey breast. This simple Roasted Turkey Breast recipe has crispy skin with moist, tender meat. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Sunday dinner.
Jump To:
- 🦃Ingredients
- 👨🍳How to Roast Turkey Breast in the Oven
- ⏰How long to cook turkey breast
- 🌡️What oven temperature to cook turkey breast?
- 🌡️What internal temperature is safe for turkey breast?
- ✔️Baking tips for the best results
- 🍴Serving and Related Recipes
- 🦃Buying and preparation of a turkey breast
- 🥣How to make turkey gravy
- ❓FAQs
- 🍽️What to do with leftovers
- Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
- 📖 Recipe
- Roasted Turkey Breast—The Easy Way
Let's not make an easy thing hard. Cooking a turkey breast is something even a novice cook can do using this simple recipe with step-by-step photos.
An oven-roasted turkey breast is a perfect alternative to a full-size turkey for smaller households or supplemental white meat at a larger holiday or a company meal.
🦃Ingredients
- Turkey breast—usually bone-in whole breast, but boneless or half breasts may be used.
- Butter or Oil
- Seasoning—usually kosher salt or a variety of other dry or fresh herbs like sage, thyme, or rosemary. Other things like garlic or dry rub may be used.
👨🍳How to Roast Turkey Breast in the Oven
- Thaw turkey breast if frozen, remove the backbone, and butterfly the ribs to set flat.
- Place in a prepared pan and brush with butter or oil, then lightly salt or season.
- Cook at 350° until an internal temperature of 165°.
- Rest tented for 15 minutes before carving and making the gravy while resting.
See photo instructions and the printable recipe card for detailed instructions. Use the jump table abpve to see more discussion and explanation.
⏰How long to cook turkey breast
The cooking time for turkey breast is 16-20 minutes per pound in a 350° oven. So a 7-pound breast will take about 2 hours.
Cooking time is very dependent on the thickness of the meat. Larger turkey breasts will be towards the lower end of that range. And smaller breasts will be at the longer end of that range.
Cooking Time in a 350° Oven (estimated for planning only)
- A 5-6 pound turkey breast will take 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes.
- A 7- to 8 pound turkey breast will take about 2 to 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- A 9 to 10 pound turkey breast will take about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes.
REMEMBER TO COOK TO A FINAL TEMPERATURE OF 165° AND NOT BY TIME ALONE. Residual cooking may raise the temperature a few degrees after removal from the oven. And don't forget to let the breast rest after cooking for at least 10 minutes before cutting.
🌡️What oven temperature to cook turkey breast?
The best oven temperature to cook a turkey breast is 350°. An oven temp of 325° can be used, but it will take longer, and the skin will not be as crisp. 375° is too high—you will cook the skin very rapidly and need to tent it with aluminum foil near the end of cooking to prevent over-browning.
Should I use convection? You are cooking to a final internal temperature, so you can use convection, but it is not needed. If using convection, use 325°, and watch for excessive skin browning.
🌡️What internal temperature is safe for turkey breast?
According to the USDA, the temperature of turkey breast or a whole turkey must reach 165° in the thickest part to be safe and fully cooked. That will give you a safe, moist, and tender turkey. Check with an instant-read thermometer.
Stop right at 165°. Some recommend stopping at 160° and assume the breast will reach 165° during the rest. It probably will, but I prefer to know I'm serving safe food. For more turkey safety points, see my Thanksgiving Food Safety post.
✔️Baking tips for the best results
- The breast needs to be in the middle of the oven for the best baking. So, the rack should be below the center of the oven.
- Optional—Rotate the pan 180° halfway through cooking—baste with oil or butter if you wish but not needed. Rotating will help accommodate any oven hot spots.
- Tent lightly near the end of cooking if the skin is browning too much.
- Cook right to 165° in the thickest part of the breast. For more turkey safety points, see Thanksgiving Food Safety and Food Help.
- After removal from the oven, tent lightly with aluminum foil for 15-20 minutes before carving. This allows the fluid to reabsorb into the meat cells and makes for moister and more tender meat—the perfect Time to make gravy.
🍴Serving and Related Recipes
In addition to the mandatory mashed potatoes and peas at our table, we serve Sausage Stuffing, Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Slaw, and Yeast Dinner Rolls. Cranberry sauce and other side dishes are typical, depending on your traditions.
For other turkey recipes, see Turkey Tenderloin and Grilled Turkey Breast with Brown Sugar Rub.
This recipe is featured in Thanksgiving Recipes, Christmas Recipes, and Easter Recipes roundups.
🦃Buying and preparation of a turkey breast
We will discuss frozen skin-on bone-in turkey breast, although you can use boneless turkey breast or a half breast and cook it to the correct final temperature.
With frozen breasts, the label will tell you if your turkey breast is "pre-brined" or "injected." This is fine, and it will be moist and favorable if we don't screw it up.
Some packages will include things like the neck. You could have used them to make broth for gravy, but that gets you into the "spending all day in the kitchen" zone. Also, a "gravy package" is occasionally present. Please make your own with my simple instructions—fresh is better.
How much turkey to buy per person? ½ pound to 1 ¼ pound per person—a wide range, and both are correct. The number of servings is not the same as how much to buy. Many people eat more than one serving, and most want leftovers.
How to thaw a turkey breast? NEVER thaw turkey or any other meat at room temperature. It is not safe. The preferred method is to thaw in a refrigerator in the original package. Place the unopened breast on a tray in the fridge for 1½ to 2 days or until thawed—I usually do three days. If you have a breast over 8 pounds, it may take longer.
Quicker water method to thaw a turkey breast: Place the unopened breast in cold tap water for 3 to 5 hours. Change water every 30 minutes to keep the turkey in the safety zone of less than 40°F.
Should you brine a turkey breast? Almost for sure, no. But if you are sure you have an uninjected and not previously brined turkey breast, brining it is a good thing. You should never brine an injected turkey breast, or you will have a salt lick.
How to brine a turkey breast if indicated? If you are sure your turkey is not injected or brined, adding a simple brine of 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of salt, and ½ cup of sugar for 12 to 24 hours would be good. See How to Brine a Turkey for a complete guide for more details.
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🥣How to make turkey gravy
Of course, you want gravy, but there are few pan drippings, so a traditional roux method does not work. I suggest a slurry method in this recipe and combining pan drippings with chicken or turkey broth to make the gravy. See the details in the recipe. For more details at How To Make Gravy at Home.
❓FAQs
No, it is not safe. The stuffing would need to get to 165° to be safe, and the meat would be overcooked and dry.
No, turkey breast should be oven-roasted and uncovered. The skin must be exposed to a 350° oven for about 1 ¾ to 2 hours to brown nicely. That is the cooking time for a small 5 to 7 lbs breast.
If your breast is bigger, the meat will not be done when the skin is nicely brown. You may need to tent lightly with foil when the skin is brown—an easy fix.
No, never really on popup timers, which are inaccurate. You must use a meat or instant-read thermometer to be safe and get the best results.
No. Some breast meat may still be slightly pink when fully cooked, but it is safe to eat if the temperature reaches 165° with a reliable thermometer.
Some turkey meat will be pinker from an older bird with more myoglobin which can cause a soft pink color. Also, smoked turkey is frequently pink. There are other causes, but this is not science class—see the USDA for more discussion.
The most important thing is to not overcook the breast. So watch the internal temperature and don't go above 165°. The second measure is if the breast is not injected or previously brined, then brining will prevent most dryness.
🍽️What to do with leftovers
We always make extra gravy for leftovers. Cut up some turkey and reheat in the gravy (it may need a touch of water). Serve over leftover mashed potatoes, sausage dressing, or just by itself.
Also, we love Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini. Or make a pot pie, Double Crust Chicken Pot Pie—Quick and Easy.
Storing leftover turkey
You can refrigerate cooked turkey for 3-4 days. It can be frozen for about 3-4 months. The gravy made with flour can be stored the same way.
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Fully thaw the turkey breast before proceeding. Preheat the oven to 350° with a rack set at the lower third of the oven. Use conventional baking, not convection.
Remove any bags of things. Cut out the backbone if present—a heavy knife or kitchen shears are needed. If a popup timer is present, pay no attention but do not remove it.
Break back the rib sections to have a flat bottom to set on a rack. The weak point is about an inch from the breastbone on each side. Use a knife if needed. You can skip this if you are using a V-rack.
Cut back any extra skin, like the neck area—pat dry with paper towels.
Place a rack in an appropriate size pan. You can skip the rack if you don't have one. For a large 7+ pound breast, use a full roasting pan. For the smaller breast, a cake pan will do. Spray the rack and pan with PAM. Place the breast on the rack and spread the rib sections to stabilize the breast.
Give it a bush with vegetable oil or melted butter. You can give it a sprinkle of kosher salt at this point.
Place in oven. Leave it alone for 1 hour, rotate 180°, and optionally brush with oil or butter. Check the color at about 1 ½ hours to 2 hours; if the skin becomes too brown, tent lightly with aluminum foil while finishing roasting to prevent further browning.
Roast until an internal temperature of 165° in the thickest part. This will be between 16-20 minutes per pound usually. Variability is caused by the breast's thickness, starting internal temperature, and your oven.
Remove from the oven and tent. The internal temperature will rise about 5 degrees when tented—tent for about 10 minutes before carving.
While the turkey rests, whisk 2 cups of turkey or chicken broth with ½ cup of flour. Add 2 cups more broth to the roasting pan and any drippings present. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
Decrease the heat to medium and slowly add the broth-flour mixture while continuously whisking. Add most of it and add more later if needed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Once thickened, cook an additional few minutes.
Slice the turkey breast and serve hot with gravy.
📖 Recipe
Roasted Turkey Breast—The Easy Way
Ingredients
- 5-8 pounds turkey breast - thawed
- 1 tablespoon oil - or butter
For Gravy
- ½ cup flour
- 4 cups broth - turkey or chicken
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Fully thaw the turkey breast before proceeding. Preheat the oven to 350° with a rack set at the lower third of the oven. Use conventional baking, not convection.
- Remove any bags of things. Cut out the backbone if present—a heavy knife or kitchen shears are needed. If a popup timer is present, pay no attention but do not remove it.
- Break back the rib sections to have a flat bottom to set on a rack. The weak point is about an inch from the breastbone on each side. Use a knife if needed. You can skip this if you are using a V-rack.
- Cut back any extra skin, like the neck area—pat dry with paper towels.
- Place a rack in an appropriate size pan. You can skip the rack if you don't have one. For a large 7+ pound breast, use a full roasting pan. For the smaller breast, a cake pan will do. Spray the rack and pan with PAM. Place the breast on the rack and spread the rib sections to stabilize the breast.
- Give it a bush with vegetable oil or melted butter. You can give it a sprinkle of kosher salt at this point.
- Place in oven. Leave it alone for 1 hour, rotate 180°, and optionally brush with oil or butter. Check the color at about 1 ½ hours to 2 hours; if the skin becomes too brown, tent lightly with aluminum foil while finishing roasting to prevent further browning.
- Roast until an internal temperature of 165° in the thickest part. This will be between 16-20 minutes per pound usually. Variability is caused by the breast's thickness, starting internal temperature, and your oven.
- Remove from the oven and tent. The internal temperature will rise about 5 degrees when tented—tent for about 10-15 minutes before carving.
Optional Gravy
- While the turkey rests, whisk 2 cups of turkey or chicken broth with ½ cup of flour. Add 2 cups more broth to the roasting pan and any drippings present. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
- Decrease the heat to medium and slowly add the broth-flour mixture while continuously whisking. Add most of it and add more later if needed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Once thickened, cook an additional few minutes.
- Slice the turkey and serve hot with gravy.
Your Own Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- For safety, never thaw at room temperature. Place the unopened turkey breast on a tray in the refrigerator for 1½ to 2 days or until thawed.
- Place the unopened breast in cold tap water for 3 to 5 hours to thaw faster. Change water every 30 minutes to keep the turkey cold under 40° for safety.
- You can brine if you are sure your turkey has not been injected or previously brined.
- Use a 350° oven. Lower the rack to have the breast in the center of the oven.
- Cooked turkey and the gravy are good refrigerated for 3-4 days and may be frozen for 3-4 months.
- Nutrition is calculated on ½ pound servings and ⅓ cup of gravy.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: First Published on March 25, 2018. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Jim Coggs
Hi Dr. Dan
Can you put stuffing under the breast?
Maybe cook a little longer?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Jim,
Welcome to the blog and good question.
It is all about safety which means temperature. So yes, as long as you get the stuffing to 165 in all areas. But you do not want to overcook the turkey. So, remove the breast when it is 165 and you can leave the dress in to reach the required 165 while the breast rests to absorb the fluid back into the cells.
I see two issues, first, the pan is tied up with the dressing so my gravy is either skipped or another method is needed. And the second is the dressing will be cooked under the weight of the breast, leading a compressed texture I probably wouldn't prefer.
Hope that helps.
Dan
Anita
I found this recipe last year and forgot to save it and Thank Goodness I came across it again this year. It's just me and my husband right now and even if we do get invited over to family I always like to make turkey that weekend and have our own dressing and gravy. Yes, it's Thanksgiving Day right now and the breast is going in the oven in about 30 minutes. This time I will try and cut the backbone properly. And thank you for the Penzley's tip. I have family that is in a city right now where they have a location. I am going to ask them to pick it up for me. Thanks Dr. Dan!
Lee
I would like to make my turkey beasts the day before I need it. Any suggestions on how long to cook and then heat up when needed.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Lee,
Welcome to the blog.
Yes, you can. If you do a Google search, you will find some instructions. You will basically cook fully, cool completely, carve into larger pieces, sprinkle with some broth, cover tight and refrigerate. Reheat still covered at 325-350 to serving temperature. The skin will not do well but the meat should be good. If you don't carve ahead, heating the center of the meat will take about the same time as cooking.
The reheat will take about 45-60 minutes I suspect (I never did a full breast or bird ahead). I would only do this if I was traveling/taking it somewhere. Cooking fresh doesn't take a whole lot longer.
Hope that helps.
Dan
Gerry
Even tho I've done turkey breast before, this recipe had several good tips. Also I like the fact that the recipes in general are for two. I'm only one, but an extra helping for another nite's quick dinner is my idea of easy cooking.
Gail
I roasted a 6.5 lb turkey breast following these instructions, but it did not work out as well as I had hoped. I had defrosted the turkey in the refrigerator for about 1.5 days. Then I wet brined it using kosher salt according to the SeriousEats proportions (1.25 cups kosher salt to 1 gallon water) for 8 hours. I thoroughly rinsed off all the brining solution and then dried it well and air dried it in the refrigerator for another day. I took the bird out of the refrigerator 1.5 hours before I planned to roast it. I brushed the skin well with clarified butter, scattered onions and celery and shallots under the rack which held the bird and poured in some water to keep the veggies from scorching.
I then followed these roasting instructions. Based on the 5 lb. bird mentioned here which took 20 minutes per pound, I took it out after 1 hour and 45 minutes and the temperature was already at 185 degrees. I was so upset, thinking the meat would be tough and dry. However, the brining saved me. It was juicy enough when served and very tasty because we did not wait to let it rest and just carved it after waiting about 10 minutes. The skin was golden brown, very nice.
I think the instructions should be modified to start to take the temperature based on 15-16 minutes per pound total roasting time. [Part of this comment removed for food safety issues- DrDan]
I will follow this method again with the change I recommend and post back here again. Thanks for posting these instructions DrDan!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Gail,
Welcome to the blog. I do have a number of comments.
1) Almost all frozen turkey breast are injected or brined already. There are a few but not many (I have never seen one) So, you should not be brining an already injected/brined breast.
2) The breast is overdone at 185 but turkey is very forgiving especially if injected or brined.
3) The primary reason your breast was overdone is the 1.5 hour rest at room temperature. So you gave the turkey a "headstart" on getting up to temperature. So normally the refrigerated breast is 35-40 degrees when it goes in the oven. Assuming yours was about 55-60 degrees when it went in the oven, that is 15-25 degrees headstart on getting to temp. That accounts for the 20 degrees you were over.
4) I will play my doctor card here having seen lots of food poisoning in my time. FDA is correct.
5) I have removed some of your comments since I consider it dangerous if followed. I will leave your poor rating for now but this recipe and instructions were not followed. (you had rate twice, in the card and comment. One delete)
I hope I have convinced you not to follow the dangerous instructions you found on another site.
DrDan
Norma
This is the best, most straightforward instruction I have seen.
Thank you
K.D.
Thank you for sharing this information..I will be roasting our turkey breast, & these instructions seem like the BEST of all I have read..Will post the results on Friday. Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours🥰
Roberta
Amazing, simple instructions for cooking turkey. Everyone else seems to be going overboard with herbs and spices and brines and rubs and sauces. And there must be a dozen "new and improved" ways to roast turkey. This is the way my Dad and my Granny roasted their birds, and it's a trip down memory lane. Thanks!
Michael Clark
I like the way you explain how to cook the turkey, but my problem is I am cooking in an electric roaster, not an oven; Would you change the temp or any other procedure, or run it the same as for a regular oven? Thanks for any help you can provide.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Michael,
Welcome to the blog.
I have a roaster, so you have the other one. I had to say that. I have never really used the roaster to cook. I use mine to keep food (like my chicken for a hundred) warm in the safe food zone without cooking. I have a long discussion on them on that post.
Having said that, I would just think of it as an odd looking oven (it is) and do it about the same. I wouldn't rotate or baste since I don't want to lose all the heat. So a remote thermometer would be good. I suspect the skin won't be very good since all the moisture that is trapped.
If you do it, post about it. Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks for the interesting question and the rating.
Dan
Tim Meehan
Pure joy, love it! Great, practical advice. All worked like a charm. This is my third one and pretty sure your site is the one I used before. A lot of "junk" on the internet, but this was well worth it!!! I saved it to my phone because I'll probably forget by next time , lol single, old guy. Thanks, Tim
DrDan
Hi Tim,
Welcome to the blog.
I learned many years ago to be straight forward and complete. I try to make things like this recipe so visitors can see themselves do the recipe before they actually do it. So it is almost like doing it a second time.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Eloise
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. The Turkey breast filled my entire home with such a delicious aroma. I made this for our Sunday dinner it was the star of the meal.
DrDan
Hi Eloise,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad it worked well for you and thanks for the note.
Dan
Mary Lou
This is sooo good. I made the mistake of cooking past 165 and it was still juicy. The hardest part for me was taking out the backbone-I didn't have a tough enough scissor or the right knife. If you buy a fresh breast have the butcher do it.
DrDan
Hi Mary Lou,
Welcome to the blog.
I have a couple of pairs of very sharp kitchen shears that work great but they are "heavy". Those light ones just won't do it.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Connie
The step by step instructions, with photos, are very helpful. I have cooked many a turkey breast, but never thought about removing the backbone and flattening the breast. The solution for gravy without the benefit of drippings is appreciated. I look forward to more recipes.
FIVE stars, but can not locate where to enter them. MERRY CHRISTMAS
DrDan
Hi Connie,
Welcome to the blog.
I like step by step photos. Readers can just take their time and understand the instructions. I don't do videos since I don't see them as useful in the long run.
Glad you find the tips useful. The rating is by clicking the star you want in the the recipe card.
Thanks for the note, enjoy your turkey and Merry Christmas to you.
Dan
Kathy
Would you recommend an unbridled turkey breast for people on a low sodium diet and if so, how can I keep it moist?
DrDan
Hi Kathy,
Welcome to the blog.
The first part of your question is really medical. How much of a sodium restriction are you are on. This will vary by why you are on the diet and other medical issues. Your doctor will have a recommendation for you. I, a retired pediatrician, really can't answer it for you.
Brined turkey will add about 350-400 mg of sodium to the serving. A 4 oz serving of Butterball turkey breast (frozen, pre-injected) is 410 mg. Roasted turkey breast without brine or injection is 71 mg per my reference.
So sorry no solid anwser for you. It is hard (around me at least) to find a non-injected turkey breast. Even the fresh ones are frequently injected.
Hope that helps somewhat.
Dan
Celeste
Where's the "like" button? Great article. : )
DrDan
Hi Celeste,
Welcome to the blog.
Thanks for the compliment. The rating is in the "recipe card" area. Click on the star you want (obviously the star on the right for a 5 :) ).
Have a great holiday.
Dan
Marilyn Lund
i have not made this yet but plan to, will let you know when I do I just found your web site. This is the first time I found a simple basic recipe with good instructions and no ingredients I don't have and never heard of. I am looking forward to being part of this group and am excited to check out other recipes.
Thank You
Marilyn Lund
DrDan
Hi Marilyn,
Welcome to the blog.
I try to do simple and basic recipes. Once you master that, you can go fancier.
Let me know if you have any questions. And thanks for the note.
Dan
Sandi Hemming
I am thinking of begging my husband for two golden pups. One for each of us. Thank you for the wonderful pictures of your beautiful dogs!
I am new to your blog. I just purchased the All-Clad Prep and Cook. I’ve read about similar cookers around the world (some so expensive I thought I would never get one. We’ve had ours for about a month. I find their cookbook mostly things I’ll never make. So I’m signing up for every blog using one. Thank you for helping we newbies!
DrDan
Hi Sandi,
Welcome to the blog. And Molly (my wife's dog) and Lilly (my dog) say thanks and you should do it. There is nothing like have your sister adopted with you.
I hate those cookbooks that come with things that are recipes for things that you never have heard of or even think of cooking, They just need to fill the book I guess. But occasionally you will find a gem in the weeds.
I doubt you will find many recipes (at least on blogs) specifically for a Prep and Cook. The market would be "limited". It is hard enough for blogs to get traffic for general use recipe without limiting to such a small audience. But you may find some that would work. Good luck with your search.
Dan
Michele @ Queenbeebaker
I love turkey! This looks so delicious and easy. Cannot wait to try your instructions.
Judy
You have made such a difference in my life. I was sick of cooking. Now I check your blog often for straightforward, delicious recipes. Thank you. Best wishes to you and your garlic loving wife.
DrDan
Hi Judy,
I'm blushing and you just can't see it.
I hope you continue to enjoy my offerings. I try to be simple and straightforward with everything and to present it with some joy and love.
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.
Thanks for the wonderful note.
Dan