Delicious, tender, and quick, my Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Breast sizzles with flavor! You’ll love the crispy skin and buttery, garlicky flavor brightened with herbs and spices.

sliced air fryer turkey breast drizzled with gravy and arranged on a white platter with sage leaves placed on the sides of the turkey breast

Change up your turkey cooking method with our Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe! Imagine savoring a turkey that’s not only juicy and tender but also cooks in record time. This recipe combines a turkey breast with the amazing flavors of butter and garlic, enhanced with herbs and spices, all crisped to perfection in an air fryer. Ideal for both special occasions like Thanksgiving and casual weeknight dinners, this method revolutionizes traditional turkey preparation. It’s not just about saving time; it’s about boosting flavor and texture to new heights.

Why We Love This Turkey Recipe

Time Efficiency: This air fryer recipe cuts the cooking time in half compared to traditional oven roasting, making it a convenient choice for busy cooks.
Ideal for Smaller Gatherings: Opting for a turkey breast is a great choice for smaller parties or family meals. It provides ample servings without the overwhelming size of a whole turkey.
Crispy, Golden Skin: Thanks to the air fryer’s convection-like cooking, the turkey skin turns out perfectly crispy and browned.

sliced air fryer turkey breast arranged on a white platter with sage leaves placed on the sides of the turkey breast

Air Fryer Turkey Breast Ingredients

Turkey Breast: This recipe is for one boneless turkey breast, 2 to 3 pounds, with the skin on.
Salt and Pepper: I use about ¾ teaspoon of each, but you can adjust to your taste.
Butter: Melt half a stick of butter to make the herbed butter mixture.
Garlic: 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed.
Paprika: I like to use a tablespoon of sweet paprika to season the breast.
Herbs: Any chopped fresh herbs that you like can be used here! I used fresh rosemary and thyme.
Parsley: Chopped parsley gives that classic fresh herbal note.

How to Make Juicy Turkey Breast in the Air Fryer

This recipe is super-duper simple and can be made in less than an hour! You can use the time while the turkey cooks to make a side dish or two!

A spoon stirring through a mixture of cooking oil with garlic and paprika.

Buttered and seasoned Turkey breast in an air fryer basket.

Prep the Air Fryer and Turkey. Preheat your air fryer to 375˚F. Take the turkey breast out of its packaging and pat it dry with paper towels. Season the turkey with salt and pepper, and set aside.
Make the Herbed Butter. Melt the butter, and then stir in the garlic, paprika, chopped fresh herbs, and parsley.
Butter and Air Fry the Turkey. Brush the butter mixture all over the turkey breast, and place it into the air fryer basket, skin side up. Cook for 20 minutes, turn, and cook for 20 more minutes, or until the internal temperature of the turkey breast registers at 160˚F.
Serve. Take the turkey breast from the air fryer and place it on a cutting board. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

wide view of sliced air fryer turkey breast arranged on a white platter with sage leaves placed on the sides of the turkey breast

Recipe Tips And Variations

Bone-In Turkey: If you’d rather use a bone-in breast, look for a small one (about 4 pounds) that will fit into the air fryer, and cook it for about 20 minutes on the first side, and 30 to 40 minutes on the second side.
Cook Times Are Approximate: When it comes to doneness, I always recommend using an Instant Read Thermometer. It’s important to cook your turkey to a safe internal temperature of 160˚F, and that may take longer or shorter, depending on the turkey, the size and make of your air fryer.
Brine It: If you have time, I highly recommend brining your turkey breast for a few hours in a salted liquid. See my tutorial on How to Brine a Turkey for all the details!
Carving: If the turkey is boneless, you simply need to cut the meat into slices against the grain. If you go with bone-in turkey, cut the meat away from the breastbone and the ribs before slicing against the grain.
Using Frozen Turkey: Frozen turkey is great, but I don’t recommend putting the turkey breast into the air fryer while it is still frozen. Most likely, the turkey would eventually overcook on the outside while the inside might still be raw. Instead, thaw your turkey breast in the refrigerator before cooking.

Serving Suggestions

To serve this turkey breast as a main course, you can pair it with this cheesy Sweet Potato Gratin. I personally adore it with these Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and this fancy Mushroom and Orzo Pilaf.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

To refrigerate leftover turkey, place it in airtight food storage containers, or zip-top bags and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To freeze, place leftovers in freezer bags and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat, place the turkey in a covered skillet over low heat, with a splash of broth or water to keep it moist. Reheat until just heated through.

More Turkey Recipes

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Resting Time 10

Total Time 1

Ingredients

▢ 2 to 3 pound boneless, skin-on turkey breast
▢ salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste (I use about ¾-teaspoons of each)
▢ 4 tablespoons butter, melted
▢ 4 cloves garlic, minced
▢ 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
▢ 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herb mix, I used rosemary and thyme
▢ ½ tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Preheat the Air Fryer to 375˚F.
Pat dry the turkey breast with paper towels and season it with salt and pepper.
Melt the butter, then stir in the garlic, paprika, chopped fresh herbs, and parsley. Brush the butter mixture all over the turkey breast.
Transfer the turkey breast to the air fryer basket and position it skin-side-up.
Cook for 20 minutes; flip and continue to cook for 20 more minutes, or until the internal temperature of the turkey breast registers at 160˚F.
Remove the turkey from the air fryer and transfer it to a cutting board. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
Carve and serve.

Equipment

Notes

Bone-In Turkey Alternative: For a bone-in breast, choose one that’s around 3 to 4 pounds and can fit in the air fryer. Cook for 20 minutes on one side, then 30 to 40 minutes on the other.
Cooking Time Varies: Always use an Instant Read Thermometer for accuracy. Aim for an internal temperature of 160˚F, and note that actual cooking time may vary with your turkey and air fryer model.
Carving Tips: For boneless turkey, slice against the grain. With bone-in, first remove meat from the breastbone and ribs, then slice it.
Handling Frozen Turkey: Avoid air frying a frozen turkey breast. Thaw it in the fridge first for best results.

Nutrition

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer turkey breast, how to cook turkey breast, turkey breast recipe

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