Air Fryer Turkey Breast: Perfectly tender, moist on the inside, crispy outside, with an incredible spice rub. This air fryer turkey breast is a must for dinner any night of the week!
Air Fryer Turkey BreastRecipe
Turkey is a great choice for dinner. In our household, it is a staple on the menu. The protein is not only healthy but also budget-friendly. Plus, it’s incredibly flavorful and simple to make, especially in the air fryer.
The secret in getting the turkey breast super flavorful is all in the excellent spice rub. This rub doesn’t hold back and includes eight different herbs and spices.
The high temperature of the air fryer allows you to cook the meat to perfection by creating crispy skin on the outside and keeping the meat super moist and tender on the inside. All you have to do is flip the breast about halfway through the cooking time to get an even cook all around.
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Perfect for Thanksgiving, Weeknights, and any other holiday
Thanksgiving is the time where almost everyone likes to make and showcase their perfect turkey recipe. However, this recipe is not just perfect for Thanksgiving but it’s also perfect for weeknights or any other holiday.
This turkey breast recipe has all of your favorite Thanksgiving flavors, but you will be getting these flavors from lean cuts of meat instead! Don’t worry; neither you, your family, or your guest will even notice that they are missing out on anything!
What is thanksgiving without stuffing and gravy?! If you have not tried making your own stuffing yet or are unsure what stuffing recipe to use, I highly recommend this one! This simple dish is made up of tons of fresh chopped veggies; you will love every bite. Also, check out my delicious gravy recipe.
Quick and delicious- No mess, no fuss!
The turkey breast is one of the most delicate cuts, so cooks use it in dishes where it won’t be subjected to extreme heat or extremely long cooking times. One of the ways to cook this delicate cut is with an air fryer while still producing moist and juicy results—no muss, no fuss!
The recipe is straightforward enough that you can follow along even if you’ve never cooked anything with an air fryer before, so don’t be afraid to give it a try!
Air fryer choice
When choosing an air fryer, you want to look for one that can cook both small and large cuts of meat so you can use it all year long. You will need an air fryer that can hold up to 4 pounds of food for this recipe. I use the COSORI smart wifi air fryer. You can get it on Amazon.
How about Frozen Turkey breast?
If your turkey breast is frozen, thaw it first. This will take between 12 and 24 hours, depending on how thick it is (if you’re unsure, leave enough time for it to defrost thoroughly).
While letting your turkey sit at room temperature is important, don’t worry too much about letting air-fryers cook cold meat straight from the fridge—they do well with low-temperature cooking all around. However, before putting any food into an air fryer, make sure everything is completely dry; water will boil at higher temperatures inside an air fryer which can cause burning if not dried beforehand.
How long does it take to make the turkey breast?
The turkey breast will take a little over an hour to make. Prepping the meat should take about 10 minutes. Once the turkey breast is prepped, it should take about 50-60 minutes to cook in the air fryer. It is much faster than cooking a full turkey in the oven.
Does the turkey breast need to rest after it is done cooking?
Once the turkey breast is done cooking in the air fryer, it should rest for about five to ten minutes. This is the key to securing that juicy flavor. Let it rest on a cutting board and set a timer until it is ready to cut.
Is turkey a healthy protein?
Turkey is a very healthy choice when it comes to poultry. The meat is very lean, and like white meat, it is very low fat and high in protein. Because of this, it will leave you very full without that heavy feeling after a big meal.
How to make a Turkey Breast in the Air Fryer
To cook Turkey breast in an air fryer is pretty straightforward, however, it will require some care and attention to reach the internal temperature that is safe to eat. Follow these instructions, and you’ll be able to make your turkey breast in the air fryer without any trouble!
I recommend using an instant-read thermometer to make sure your meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before you take it out of the air fryer.
First, make the spice rub: Add all of the herbs and spices to a small bowl and mix to combine.
Next, Prep the turkey breast: Pat the turkey dry with a paper towel. This is an important step in ensuring super crispy skin. When the skin is all dry, rub the breast with olive oil and cover with the spice rub. Make sure to cover the turkey breast generously to ensure an even amount of flavor.
Cook away: Place the turkey in the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 350F. If you need to preheat your air fryer, do this before placing the turkey breast in the basket. Keep the turkey breast skin side up and cook for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, flip the turkey breast and continue the cook for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature hits 160°.
Resting time: Place the turkey breast on a cutting board and let it rest for five to ten minutes. Do not cut the breast beforehand, as all the juices will run out.
How long to cook a turkey breast per pound?
Most recipes recommend you cook your turkey breast anywhere from eight minutes per pound of weight up to 12 minutes per pound of weight, depending on how crispy you like your meat. However, with larger pieces of meat, 15-18 minutes per pound of weight is more likely.
What to serve With
Since this turkey breast has a versatile flavor, there are lots of options to serve with it. You can choose the classic combinations and serve baby potatoes or go with green beans. You won’t want to serve the turkey breast without gravy either!
Notes:
I found 350F a perfect temperature for cooking the turkey breast in an air fryer. That’s hot enough to give you crispy skin but not so hot that it burns or becomes tough.
Be sure to shake off any excess liquid after thawing your turkey breast. This will help ensure it cooks evenly and isn’t watery at all when you are done.
More turkey recipes
There are so many recipes that you can make with turkey. Here are some of my favorites to share with family and friends.
When you think of turkey, you probably think of Thanksgiving. But there’s no reason why you can’t have succulent turkey breast every night of the week—without having to set your oven on full blast or spend half your time basting your bird! By using an air fryer, you can prepare turkey quickly and easily without sacrificing flavor or losing any juicy meat to overcooking. Here’s how to cook a bone-in turkey breast in an air fryer so that it comes out juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked through.
Combine the thyme, sage, rosemary, parsley flakes, minced garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Pat turkey breast dry with a paper towel and rub all over with oil. Sprinkle the herb mixture over the turkey breast and rub generously all over.
Place the turkey breast in the air fryer basket, skin side up, and cook at 350° for 25 minutes. Flip to the other side and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160°.
Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
I found 350F a perfect temperature for cooking the turkey breast in an air fryer. That’s hot enough to give you crispy skin but not so hot that it burns or becomes tough.
Most recipes recommend you cook your turkey breast anywhere from eight minutes per pound of weight up to 12 minutes per pound of weight, depending on how crispy you like your meat. However, with larger pieces of meat, 15-18 minutes per pound of weight is more likely.
Be sure to shake off any excess liquid after thawing your turkey breast. This will help ensure it cooks evenly and isn’t watery at all when you are done.
