Roasted Turkey Breast Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy. Roast turkey breast is simple to prepare and cook and easy to slice and serve. 
• Quick. Turkey breast cooks more quickly than a whole turkey!
• Delicious. It has crispy skin and tender, juicy, moist meat with tons of flavor!
• Simple recipe. My recipe uses only four ingredients: turkey, butter, salt, and pepper.
• Right-sized. It is the perfect size to serve a smaller group or a weeknight family meal.

How Many Pounds of Turkey Breast Per Person? 

A good rule of thumb is to plan based on the following:

• 1/2 pound of turkey for boneless turkey breast
• 3/4 pound if using a bone-in, plan for 3/4 pound of turkey breast

If you want leftovers, you may want to increase the amount per person or the number of servings to account for the amount of leftover turkey you would like. Great in Turkey Salad, Turkey Pot Pie, and more!

My recipe is for a 4 to 5-pound boneless turkey breast and will provide 8 to 10 servings.

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

You’ll need four ingredients for this crispy, juicy roasted turkey breast:

• turkey breast – boneless with the skin on
• butter – salted butter, melted
• salt and pepper

Optional ingredients: Recipe Variations are given later in this post. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let your turkey thaw completely in the refrigerator if it is frozen. Pat it completely dry with paper towels.

1. Preheat oven. When ready to roast, preheat your oven to 450ºF.
2. Prep turkey. Arrange your turkey breast in a medium (12-inch) skillet, brush the turkey all over with melted butter, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
3. Roast. Place the skillet in your preheated oven and roast until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF (at the thickest part of the breast when checked with an instant-read meat thermometer). This takes about 45 minutes to an hour for the 4 to 5-pound turkey breast in this recipe.
4. Rest before slicing. Then, remove the skillet from the oven and tent it with foil for about 15 minutes to allow the meat to rest.
5. Slice and serve. When ready to serve, transfer the breast to a cutting board and slice.

Make Ahead Instructions

• Prepare the recipe according to the recipe instructions.
• Allow it to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Serve cold or rewarm and serve.

Storage Tips

To store. Place the completely cooled turkey leftovers into an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Serve cold or reheat and serve.

To freeze. Place completely cooled turkey into an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight when ready to serve. Then serve cold or reheat and serve.

Recipe Variations

• Garlic Butter Roasted Turkey Breast – Use two cloves of minced garlic and mix with four tablespoons of softened butter (don’t use melted butter), salt, and pepper. Spread the butter mixture on the breast and bake as directed. 

• Herb Roasted Turkey Breast – Use one tablespoon of chopped fresh rosemary, one tablespoon of chopped fresh thyme, four tablespoons of softened butter (leave out the melted butter), salt, and pepper. Spread the butter mixture on the turkey and bake as directed.