Roast Turkey Breast - Spend With Pennies

Perfect for small gatherings or meal prep, turkey breast is easy to make.

Roast turkey breast is seasoned and cooked with onion, herbs, and broth until tender and juicy!

Roast Turkey Breast with brussels and mashed potatoes

The prep takes just a few minutes, and you only need a handful of ingredients.
The turkey comes out tender and super juicy.
Roast turkey breast is the perfect meal for a smaller crowd and is easy to slice and serve.
You’ll have room in the oven for your fave sides, like green bean casserole and stuffing.

turkey , onion , oil , fresh herbs , salt and pepper with labels to make Roast Turkey Breast

What Kind of Turkey Breast to Buy

You can roast either bone-in or boneless turkey breasts. I often buy a turkey breast wrapped in a net (photo above), but they do come without a net as well and can be tied with kitchen twine (photo below).

Buy a 2.5 to 3.5-pound boneless turkey breast or a 4 to 5-pound bone-in turkey breast for this recipe.

Seasonings: I love fresh herbs when possible—check the produce area for a pre-packaged fresh poultry herb mixture if you’d like. You can also skip the fresh herbs and used dried or try my turkey seasoning blend.

Variations

Besides onions, roast the turkey breast with sliced mushrooms, carrots, baby red potatoes, or cubes of butternut squash. The veggies will soak up all that flavorful broth and provide a bonus side dish.

How Much Turkey Per Person

Allow for ½ pound of boneless turkey breast per person. Make extra for larger appetites or leftovers.

turkey tied up with string to make Roast Turkey Breast

How to Roast Turkey Breast

Juicy and tender roast turkey breast is easy and delicious.

Brush the turkey breast with olive oil and season with herbs, salt, and pepper. Add onions to the dish.
Roast uncovered for 30 minutes. Add broth and continue to cook until a meat thermometer reaches 165°F.
Allow turkey breast to rest before slicing.

Cooking Times & Tips

Allow enough time for thawing; it can take up to 2 days for a 3 lb turkey breast.
Check the temperature early so it doesn’t overcook—the size and shape of the turkey breast can affect cooking time.
Remove the turkey breast from the oven at 160°F; it will continue to rise to 165°F as it rests.
Use those tasty turkey drippings to make gravy, and add extra storebought broth if needed.

Roast a turkey breast for 30-35 minutes per pound. Refer to the chart below:

Boneless Turkey Breast Weight	Cook Time
2 pounds	60 to 70 minutes
2 ½ pounds	75 to 85 minutes
3 pounds	1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours
4 pounds	2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes

My Favorite Sides for Turkey Breast

Here are our favorite classic sides to pair with a roast turkey breast!

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

roast turkey breast on a plate with brussels sprouts

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Herbed Roast Turkey Breast

Roast turkey breast is an easy way to enjoy turkey without having to roast a whole bird. This easy recipe comes out tender and juicy every time, making it the ideal dinner for any night.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Resting Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Remove the turkey breast from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Tie the turkey breast (if it’s not tied or in a net already). If it is already in a net, leave it in the net to cook. Dab the outside dry with a paper towel.
Brush the turkey breast with olive oil. Generously sprinkle with herbs, salt, & pepper.
Place the turkey breast in a small casserole dish and nestle onions (and extra herbs if desired) alongside the turkey.
Roast the turkey breast uncovered for 30 minutes. Add enough broth to cover the bottom of the dish, about 1 cup.
Continue roasting for 30 to 60 minutes or until the temperature in the thickest part of the breast reaches 165°F. Estimated cook times are listed below.
Remove from oven and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

Herbs: I use a combination of parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Most stores sell a “poultry pack” of herbs so you don’t have to buy them individually.
Cooking Times

2 lb Turkey Breast – roast for 60 to 70 minutes.
2.5 lb Turkey Breast – roast for 75 to 85 minutes.
3 lb Turkey Breast – roast for 90 to 105 minutes.
4 lb Turkey Breast – roast for 2 hrs to 2 hrs and 20 minutes.

Cooking time will vary based on shape and size of the turkey breast. Make sure the internal temperature of the thickest part reads 165°F. Check the turkey early to ensure it doesn’t overcook. Remove it from the oven about 5-10 degrees early as it will continue to cook as it rests. Remove from the hot baking pan to rest.
Drippings or juices can be used to make gravy, add additional chicken or turkey broth if needed. We use this recipe for gravy. Since there isn’t much fat in a turkey breast, we thicken it with cornstarch for this recipe.
Bone-In Turkey Breast: This method works with bone-in turkey breast. Preheat oven to 425°F and cook for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F. Cooking time will need to be increased slightly. (6lbs bone-in turkey breast will need about 2 to 2.5hrs).
Store leftover turkey breast in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Turkey

Cuisine American

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