This roasted turkey breast is coated in a savory garlic and herb butter, then baked to golden brown perfection. The perfect quick and easy option for a holiday meal or everyday dinner!
When I’m feeding a crowd for the holidays, I make a whole roasted turkey. When I’m entertaining a smaller group, I opt for something like roasted cornish hen or roasted turkey breast instead. This is the best turkey breast I’ve ever had, it’s tender, flavorful and juicy – no dry meat here! Don’t forget the Instant Pot cranberry sauce and homemade dinner rolls on the side!
I love a good roasted turkey, especially around the holidays. That being said, sometimes it’s just my family of 5 and we don’t want to cook up a whole huge turkey. This roasted turkey breast is the perfect option. It’s super flavorful, quick cooking, and festive for any holiday meal like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
For other variations on this dish, be sure to check out my smoked turkey breast and Instant Pot turkey breast recipes. If you have any leftovers, check out my favorite leftover turkey recipes like turkey casserole, turkey pasta carbonara, turkey tetrazzini and turkey salad.
Table of Contents
Roasted Turkey Breast Ingredients
To make roasted turkey breast you will need a turkey breast, butter, garlic, sage leaves, rosemary leaves, thyme leaves, parsley, kosher salt, black pepper and herbs for a garnish.
How Do You Cook A Turkey Breast?
To make this roasted turkey breast recipe, first make seasoned butter by mixing minced herbs, garlic and seasonings into softened butter in a small bowl. Rub the butter on the turkey breast coating the whole breast. Place your turkey in a baking dish or roasting pan. Roast the turkey at high heat to crisp the skin, then lower the heat to cook everything thoroughly. Baste the turkey occasionally with pan drippings. When the roast reaches the correct internal temperature, remove it. Let it rest, then serve the turkey breast.
Tips For The Perfect Turkey
- You can use a fresh or frozen turkey for this recipe. Just make sure to thaw the turkey before roasting it.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the thickest part of the breast reaches 165 degrees F before serving the meat.
- You can use a half turkey breast or a whole turkey breast for this recipe. However, a whole turkey breast will take longer to cook. You will want to double the butter mixture to coat a whole breast.
- If your turkey breast is larger or smaller than the size indicated in the recipe, you can adjust the cook time accordingly. Turkey breast cooks for approximately 20 minutes per pound.
- Garnish the roasted turkey breast with fresh herbs or even small fruit for a beautiful presentation.
- Bring out the best in your bird with turkey gravy!
Quick Tip
Rub the butter mixture on top of the turkey skin and under the turkey skin.
Recipe FAQs
Typically a bone-in turkey breast takes about 20 minutes per pound to cook in the oven.
Your turkey breast is done when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165 degrees F. Be careful not to go too far about 165 degrees or you risk your meat being on the dry side. I use an oven safe thermometer probe that stays in the turkey as it cooks so I can continuously monitor the temperature.
The general rule of thumb is to cook one pound of roasted turkey breast per person. If you want plenty of turkey for leftovers, aim for 1 1/2 – 2 pounds per person.
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Flavor Variations
If you’re not in the mood for garlic and herbs, try one of these other options to add some flavor to your roasted turkey breast!
- Mexican: Mix the softened butter with my taco seasoning which includes chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and oregano.
- Cajun: Mix the softened butter with Cajun seasoning.
- Bacon Wrapped: Wrap 6-8 strips of bacon around the turkey breast until completely covered. This works best if you remove the turkey skin first.
- Maple: Add 2 tablespoons of maple syrup to the butter mixture.
This roasted turkey breast is sure to be a huge hit with family and friends. It’s even great for an everyday dinner option on a chilly fall or winter night, comfort food at its finest!
Turkey Breast Side Dishes
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
1 hr 50 mins
Candied Carrots
25 mins
Southern Cornbread Dressing
1 hr 15 mins
Roasted Turkey Breast Video
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Roasted Turkey Breast with Garlic and Herbs
Ingredients
- 6 lb bone in turkey breast I use a half breast
- 5 tablespoons butter softened
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon sage leaves finely minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons rosemary leaves finely minced
- 1 tablespoon thyme leaves finely minced
- 2 tablespoons parsley finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- rosemary sprigs for garnish optional
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place the butter, garlic, sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley and salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine.
- Loosen the skin of the turkey breast. Spread half of the butter underneath the skin of the turkey, and the other half of the butter on top of the turkey breast.
- Place the turkey in the baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until skin has just started to brown.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting occasionally with pan juices.
- Check the temperature of the turkey by inserting a thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. The turkey can come out of the oven when the thermometer registers at least 160 degrees.
- Cover the turkey with foil and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until thermometer registers at least 165 degrees F.
- Garnish with rosemary and serve.
Notes
- Rub the butter mixture on top of the turkey skin and under the turkey skin.
- You can use a fresh or frozen turkey for this recipe. Just make sure to thaw the turkey before roasting it.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the thickest part of the breast reaches 165 degrees F before serving the meat.
I’m going to try this recipe this year! Did you use your dry-brine recipe your turkey first when using this recipe?
I use this recipe: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/turkey-brine-recipe/
I’m making this for thanksgiving and can’t waih! Do you cook it on a roasting rack or directly on the baking pan?
I cook it on a rack in a deep roasting pan as shown in the photos!
Can I make the butter part of this recipe beforehand so all I have to do is coat and cook? Also, if I’m making for 12-14 ppl and cooking multiple breasts at a time, any suggestions how to cook all and get them evenly cooked?
Yes that’s fine to make the butter in advance. Have you considered a whole breast instead of a half breast? You may be able to find a whole breast that’s large enough to feed your crowd.
This is so easy and good that I make it all year long!
I made this last year. It turned out amazing, big hit. My only problem was getting the butter mixture to stick to the outside of the turkey. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
It takes a little patience, you can coat your hands or a spatula with cooking spray so that the butter will stick to the turkey and not your hands. Also make sure your butter is soft!
Love turkey and making this tonight. As I am a single person I have a boneless skinless turkey breast. AM planning on adding the suggested vegetables pot, carrots, onions to roasting pan.
I almost gave up on roasting turkey breasts because I’ve never had a recipe that yield results to please me. I tried this one with skepticism, and must say I love the results SO much. This is such an excellent recipe for a moist, flavorful, delicious turkey…it will now be my future “go to ” recipe.
Can I use skin/ bone in turkey thighs? What would I do differently?
Definitely 5 stars as well as something you can make year round … essentially followed recipe adding a little chardonnay, roasted garlic and homemade “mojo” … Major crowd pleaser. Outstanding pan juices for the gravy.
Made this tonight for dinner… It was wonderful.. We are not big turkey eaters here… But this recipe has changed our attitudes about eating turkey all year round … We are now considering trying other flavors as well. Thanks again !!
This was the best! I did put more veges around it..Carrots, potatoes, Mexican bulb onions and I was generous with the herbs. So, So, So Good!!! EASY!!!
I made this last night for passover – i had to use the electric roaster, since the turkey didnt fit in my crockpot! Came out absolutely perfect, and id make it again any day of the week! Now i have bones to make an amazing soup later!
I love turkey and this is a year round solution! Yum!
I love turnkey and I know it is just not for Thanksgiving !! It is one meal I never think to make year round.
I’m not much of a turkey person, myself, but I have to admit this does look awfully tasty. I may have to just give this a shot, it sounds too delicious to not give it a go.
Yum! This looks so good for thanksgiving or a family dinner. I will definitely keep this in mind to make. Thanks for sharing
I have never cooked just a turkey breast before. But I know that they sell them. Looks pretty amazing there. Maybe I will do that this Thanksgiving for my daughter. She prefers just the breast meat anyway.
Learned something new today! Glad I came over your site, Now I learned a new recipe. Thanks!
This is so much better than my plain ol’ turkey. One day, I’ll have to just flavor it up instead of sticking with just plain.
That looks like a satisfying, not too difficulty recipe. I have 3 kids too and dinner can be a challenge, but we always love to eat together and share good food. This one is on the list
I will not hide that I love meat. This recipe looks extremely tasty. It contains products that I love and I will certainly try it out.