Air Fryer Turkey Breast

This air fryer turkey breast is extra juicy, and tender, and takes a fraction of the time if baked in the oven! 

Have you tried cooking lean cuts of meat in the air fryer? When done correctly, it tastes absolutely amazing and cooks fast.

We’ve done chicken breast, pork chops, and even an entire chicken. Recently, we tried air frying a turkey breast, and honestly, I don’t think we’ll ever use an oven again! 

Why this recipe works

• Extra juicy and tender. Using an air fryer ensures the meat is cooked perfectly every single time- no over-cooked bits!
• Healthy. One of the leanest meats out there. It is packed with immune booster properties like selenium and zinc.
• Festive. Cut the stress out of Thanksgiving and Christmas by cooking this up in the air fryer.

What I love most about this recipe is that it is a much easier and more convenient option than cooking up an entire turkey! Besides, the breast meat is always the best part!

Ingredients needed

If you are familiar with roasting poultry, then you’ll notice the ingredient list is almost identical. Here is what you’ll need:

• Turkey breast. Choose a turkey breast that has skin. The skin will retain the juices and you can discard it once the turkey is cooked.
• Garlic. Chopped finely.
• Salt and pepper. To season.
• Poultry seasoning. The secret ingredient that takes this meat to another level. 
• Rosemary. Just a sprig of rosemary for a touch of flavor. 
• Butter. Melted

How to air fry turkey breast

Besides prepping the meat itself, there isn’t much else that goes into air frying it. Ready to cook some up? 

Step 1: Mix butter with garlic and rosemary

Melt your butter and add it to a mixing bowl along with the garlic and rosemary. Whisk it up well till everything is thoroughly combined.

Step 2: Season the Turkey breast

Take the remaining half of the butter mix prepared earlier and put on the turkey breast till it is all covered. Season with salt and pepper before drizzling the remaining butter on top and rubbing on the poultry seasoning, so it sticks to the turkey breast.

Step 3: Air fry the turkey breast

Lay the turkey breast with the skin side down into the air fryer basket. Let the turkey breast air fry at 180C/350F for 20-25 minutes. Once it reaches an internal temperature of 160F. It is cooked and ready to eat.

Step 6: Rest and serve 

Once out of the air fryer, lay it on a serving plate and let it rest for 5 minutes before you begin carving.

Air fryer turkey cooking time

Air fryer turkey breast cooking time depends on the size and weight of the meat. Here is the cooking reference:

• 1 pound breast meat: 17-20 minutes 
• 2 pounds of breast meat: 30 minutes 
• 3 pounds of breast meat: 45-50 minutes 

Tips to make the best recipe

• Use fresh Turkey. Like anything, fresh turkey breast will turn out way better than a frozen one.
• Let the mixture sit. If you let the melted butter and herb mixture sit for a while, the flavor of the herb really comes out. For this, 10 minutes should do the trick. 
• Use hands. Sure, it is a little bit messier but trust me on this. Using your hands to rub the butter and seasonings on the turkey instead of utensils makes all the difference.

Storage instructions

To store. Use foil or saran wrap to cover up turkey breast slices before refrigerating. It retains the juices and keeps them moist for up to 3 days.

To freeze. Put the turkey breast slices in freezer-safe bags, and after getting out all the air, you can freeze them for up to 6 months.

To reheat. When ready to consume again, just grease up the air fryer basket and put the turkey in till heated to desire.

More air fryer recipes to try

• Chicken thighs
• Steak
• Hamburgers
• Pork tenderloin
• Fried chicken

Frequently asked questions