Air Fryer Turkey Breast -

5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Make a perfectly juicy and flavorful turkey breast in the air fryer with this easy recipe! Using simple ingredients and a quick cooking method, this turkey breast is ideal for small gatherings, holiday meals, or a cozy weeknight dinner. With tender meat, crispy skin, and just the right seasoning, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s ready in about an hour.

Prep Time15

Cook Time1

Total Time1 15

Course: Air Fryer, Holiday Recipes, Main Course, Turkey

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fried turkey, air fryer thanksgiving recipes, air fryer turkey, air fryer turkey breast, how to cook turkey in the air fryer, juicy air fryer turkey, thanksgiving air fryer turkey breast, turkey air fryer

Servings: servings

Calories: 472kcal

Author: Valerie Skinner

Equipment

air fryer
Meat Thermometer
Tongs
Aluminum Foil
Small brush or spoon for applying herb butter
Paper Towels
Kitchen shears

Ingredients

1 5 lb Turkey Breast bone in skin on
4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
2 tbsp Fresh Sage chopped
1 tbsp Poultry Seasoning
2 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Garlic Powder

Instructions

Prep the Turkey Breast: About 15 to 20 minutes before cooking, take the defrosted turkey breast out of the fridge. Let it sit at room temperature to help it cook evenly in the air fryer. This is a key step for achieving a tender, juicy turkey.
Season the Turkey: Remove the turkey breast from its packaging and pat it dry thoroughly with paper towels. Trim any excess skin near the neck area if needed. Using your hands or a brush, apply the herb butter (recipe below) generously beneath the skin, over the skin, and across the entire surface for even seasoning.
Set Up the Air Fryer: Place the turkey breast in the air fryer basket with the breast side facing down. Mold a piece of foil around the top of the turkey to protect it from burning and make sure it isn’t touching the heating element.
Cooking the Turkey Breast: Set the air fryer to 350°F. Cook for 30 minutes. After the initial cooking time, use tongs to carefully flip the turkey breast over. Re-cover the top with foil and continue cooking for another 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the skin reaches your desired level of browning.
Check for Doneness and Rest: Check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the turkey breast with a meat thermometer—it should read at least 165°F. Once done, remove the turkey breast from the air fryer, place it on a plate, and tent it with foil for 10-15 minutes. This resting period helps retain juiciness for a perfectly tender turkey breast.

Herb Butter Recipe For Turkey Breast

Let butter sit out at room temperature long enough for it to soften.
In a small bowl, add softened butter, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder and freshly chopped sage.
With a heavy spoon, mix well until fully combined.

Notes

Make sure you check the size of your air fryer. The air fryer I used is 8qts which fit the 5 pound turkey breast perfectly. Make sure your will fit the size of your turkey breast. If it ends up being too big, create a makeshift basket that elevates the turkey breast with aluminum foil or a heat safe trivet.

Dry with paper towels. Making sure your turkey breast is fully dry will help the herb butter stick to the meat and not sweat off during cooking.

Let come to room temperature. Adding cold meat to a hot cooking setting will cause the meat to seize up and become less tender and juicy.

Add foil on the bottom for easy clean up. There will be some oil and drippings coming off the turkey breast that that will fall to the bottom. For easier clean up, add a piece of aluminum foil to catch the drippings for easier clean up.

Nutrition