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Grace your holiday table with the best Air Fryer Turkey Breast out there! It’s quick, easy, and comes out juicy and tender every time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
In just 30-40 minutes, you can have the most succulent crispy-skinned air fryer turkey breast ever. You’ll never look back! There are some things I’ll never roast in the oven again, and a turkey breast is one of them thanks to this bomb air fryer turkey breast. The cherry on top: you can keep the oven free for other things, which makes this recipe incredibly useful for the holidays!
What to Serve With a Turkey Breast
- For the holidays, this Maple Orange Cranberry sauce is outstanding!
- There’s no denying that potatoes are the perfect pairing for a meaty main. My personal favorites are simple creamy mashed potatoes or crispy roasted mini potatoes.
- These air fryer green beans use the air fryer, but it’s no problem. You can toss them into the air fryer after removing your turkey, since it will have to rest! Hot Honey Roasted Carrots are another great option.
- My Instant Pot Rice Pilaf goes great with turkey if you prefer rice over potatoes.
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb turkey breast
- Chicken broth
- Large carrot
- Celery
- Leek or onion
- Olive oil or melted butter
- Rotisserie seasoning, or sea salt and pepper
- Fresh rosemary, sage, and/or thyme (I use a blend of the three)
Brining Your Turkey
To ensure an extra juicy and flavorful turkey breast, give my turkey brine recipe a go. You’ll love it!
How to Cook a Turkey Breast in an Air Fryer
In order to prepare my turkey breast, I did everything I’d normally do before roasting it, including brining. Brining is optional, but it’s a step I don’t skip when it comes to turkey since it promises a perfectly juicy and flavorful turkey every single time.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350º F.
- When ready, remove the air fryer basket and pour some chicken broth to the bottom of the air fryer basket base—just enough to cover the bottom.
- Place the sliced vegetables and fresh herbs onto the fryer basket, placing the turkey breast in the middle.
- Brush the top (skin side) of the bird with olive oil or melted butter, getting some of the oil or butter beneath the skin, then rub the entire bird with rotisserie seasoning or salt and pepper.
- Carefully flip the bird to skin side down, and place it in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 350º F. When done, remove the air fryer basket and carefully flip the turkey breast to skin side up with large tongs or two spatulas. Cook it in the air fryer for another 30 minutes.
- Remove, and check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer—you’re looking for an internal temperature of 160-165º F.
- When it’s ready, place it onto a cutting board or serving platter to rest for 15 minutes before slicing into it.
How Long to Cook a Turkey Breast per Pound
When you’re roasting a turkey breast in the oven, the rule is about 16-20 minutes per pound at 350º F. A 3-pound turkey breast, like I’ve used in this recipe, would take about 48 minutes give or take.
In the air fryer, I go for a little less time at 45 minutes. That’s 15 minutes skin-side down, and then about 30 minutes flipped to skin-side up.
Remember that these timelines are only supposed to give you a ballpark time to work with, though. Any poultry is ready once it reaches 160-165º F, so be sure to keep an eye on the internal temperature above all else.
Recipe Notes
- To guarantee a juicy, tender, and flavorful turkey breast every time, brine it! Even if you happen to overcook the breast, the brining process will help keep the meat juicy.
- If you do brine your turkey beforehand, be sure to rinse it off and pat it dry prior to seasoning it, or else it will be too salty.
- Include fresh herbs and sliced vegetables in the fryer basket to add aromatics and richness to the flavor.
- Add chicken broth to the bottom of the air fryer basket base to help retain moisture.
- Brush the top (skin-side) of the breast with olive oil or melted butter to get a nice golden crispy skin.
- For a more herbal flavor, you can add dried herbs to your seasoning
Have You Made This Recipe?
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More Great Air Fryer Recipes
- Maple Mustard Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts With Mustard Sauce
- The Best Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
- Thai Sweet Chili Air Fryer Salmon
Best Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe
Equipment
- 7 Quart Air Fryer (give or take on the size)
Ingredients
- 3 lb boneless turkey breast, skin on
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 large carrot, sliced in half lengthwise
- 2 ribs of celery, halved
- 1 leek, sliced in half lengthwise, You could also use an onion, sliced in half or quarters
- Fresh sprigs of rosemary, sage, and/or thyme (I use all three)
- 2 TBSP olive oil or melted butter
- 2 TBSP Rotisserie seasoning, Or 1 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp cracked black pepper, give or take
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350º F. When heated, remove the air fryer basket and pour some chicken broth into the bottom of the air fryer basket base.
- Put the sliced vegetables and fresh herbs onto the surface of the fryer basket, and place the turkey breast in the middle.
- With a basting brush or clean hands, cover the top (skin side) of the bird with olive oil or melted butter, getting some of the oil or butter beneath the skin. After that, rub the entire turkey breast with rotisserie seasoning, or salt and pepper if you're using that. Flip the bird to skin side down, and pop it in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 350º F.
- After 15 minutes, open up the air fryer basket and carefully flip the turkey breast to skin side up with large tongs or two spatulas. Cook it in the air fryer for another 30 minutes.
- When done, check the internal temperature of the turkey breast with a meat thermometer; you want an internal temperature of 160-165º F. Carefully remove the breast from the air fryer with the tongs and place it onto a cutting board or serving platter to rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Such a great way to cook turkey and space saving for Christmas too.
Absolutely!
Tender and juicy turkey every time! I’ll be cooking it in my air fryer all the time from now on.
I’ve decided the same, haha.
Love the presentation, and the turkey breast tastes perfect. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome :)
I never would have dreamed of making turkey in an airfryer. Thanks for the inspiration.
No problem!
This is perfect with just two of us and we arent fond of dark meat, this will be a delicious meal for two!
Great to hear, Claudia!
This air fryer turkey was so juicy and tender. I will never make my turkey breast any other way!
I’m with you, Tara!
I have already saved this recipe for Thanksgiving because I’ll be making a turkey breast! I can’t wait to make it it looks soo juicy!
Keep me posted, Cam :)
I appreciate that I’ll be able to free up my oven by making a turkey breast in the air fryer. Bookmarking this recipe for thanksgiving!
It’s so nice to have your oven freed up for other things!
This Air Fryer turkey breast looks so moist and tender. Love the seasonings used and how easy it is to make.
Thanks!
I LOVE not tying up the oven when I want turkey–genius!
Thanks!