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Super Juicy Roasted Turkey Breast with Garlic Herb Butter

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This Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Turkey breast is loaded with flavor, super easy to make, and baked to perfection. Learn how to roast turkey breast for an epic option for dinner or a special holiday meal. 

juicy garlic butter turkey recipe

I love roasted turkey, but sometimes I don’t need a full-size turkey. If you’re craving turkey, you can prepare a garlicky boneless turkey breast instead of cooking a whole turkey!

This recipe provides step-by-step instructions on how to roast a turkey breast. It’s so juicy, tastes just like garlic bread, and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare before baking!

Why You’ll Love This Turkey Breast Recipe

  • Perfectly Portioned: No more dealing with leftovers for days on end. This turkey breast recipe is ideally suited for small gatherings, ensuring you have just the right amount of tender turkey for your meal without any waste.
  • Flavor Explosion: Infused with garlic and herb butter, each bite offers a symphony of rich, savory flavors that’ll have you reaching for seconds.
  • Quick and Effortless: Ready in just 90 minutes, this recipe takes the guesswork out of turkey roasting. No flipping, no constant basting—just set it, forget it, and be ready to feast!
  • Never Dry: Say goodbye to parched poultry. This turkey breast promises tender, juicy meat with every preparation, ensuring your turkey is the talk of the table.
  • Versatile Delight: Whether it’s a festive holiday or a casual Sunday dinner, this turkey breast recipe fits the bill. Pair it with your favorite sides, and you have a gourmet meal any day of the week.
  • Crisp to Perfection: While the inside stays succulent and juicy, the skin crisps up to a beautiful golden brown, offering a delightful contrast in textures that’s truly irresistible.
  • Fewer Ingredients, Maximum Taste: You don’t need a long list of ingredients to make something spectacular. With just butter, herbs, salt, and pepper, this recipe lets the natural flavors of the turkey shine through, complemented by the aromatic herbs.

Roast Turkey Breast Ingredients

When it comes to cooking turkey breasts in an easy way, I love to keep things simple. I use my favorite herbs, garlic, and most importantly, a bone-in skin-on turkey breast for the best taste. 

garlic herb butter for turkey

Here are the only ingredients you’ll need to make the best keto turkey recipe: 

  • Turkey breast – bone-in, skin-on, brings the most flavor and keeps the white meat from drying out. Leave the turkey breast at room temperature for about 30 minutes before roasting.  
  • Butter – use either salted or unsalted. I used unsalted as a base for garlic herb butter used to flavor the meat.
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Herbs – Fresh herbs are the best, but in this case, I only had dried leaves, and the meat was incredibly flavorful, too. Use a mix of your favorites: sage leaves, rosemary leaves, thyme leaves, and parsley.
  • Seasonings: salt, black pepper, and paprika (optional)

Garlic Herb Butter For Turkey

To make this recipe, we need to prepare a seasoned herb butter that’s made with some fresh herbs, minced garlic, and delicious seasonings. In fact this garlic herb butter is perfect for anything not just for this recipe in particular. Spread it on a keto breast toast, on grilled steak or on corn on the cob. 

TURKEY BREAST WITH GARLIC HERB BUTTER in a baking pan

How to Roast a Turkey Breast?

Roasting a turkey breast is surprisingly simple and can be done in less than two hours, making it a fantastic option for smaller gatherings or a family meal. Here’s how to achieve that tender meat with a crispy skin every time.

Preparation Time

  • Thawing: If you’ve got a frozen turkey breast, start by thawing it properly. It usually takes approximately 24 hours in the fridge. Once thawed, you can store the turkey breast in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before roasting.
  • Garlic Herb Butter: Before roasting, prepare your garlic herb butter or any preferred seasoning. This will be essential in infusing the turkey with flavor.

Preheat the Oven

  • Start by setting your oven to a high temperature of 450°F (230°C). This high initial temperature will ensure that the turkey’s skin becomes beautifully crispy and golden brown.

Season the Turkey Breast

  • Coat your turkey breast with the garlic herb butter, ensuring an even spread. Don’t forget to get some of that flavorful mixture under the skin for maximum flavor infusion.

Roasting Time

  • Initial Roast: Place the turkey breast in the preheated oven and roast at 450°F for about 15 minutes. This will kick-start the browning process.
  • Reduce Heat: After the initial roast, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). This lower temperature will allow the inside of the turkey breast to cook thoroughly without overcooking or drying out the outer layers.
  • Roasting Duration: Depending on the size of your turkey breast, continue roasting for approximately 90 minutes. The exact time can vary, so it’s advisable to use a meat thermometer. The turkey is ready when the internal temperature at the thickest part reaches 165°F (74°C).

Resting Time:

  • Once cooked, remove the turkey breast from the oven and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes. This lets the juices redistribute, ensuring moist and flavorful meat when sliced.

Serve and Enjoy

  • Slice against the grain and serve with your favorite sides and gravy. Enjoy the fruits of your minimal labor—a perfectly roasted turkey breast with a delightful crispy skin!
juicy turkey roasted with herbs

How Much Turkey Per Serving?

When planning your festive meal, it’s crucial to know how much turkey breast to serve per person, so you don’t end up with too little or an overwhelming amount of leftovers. Here’s a guideline to help you:

  • Regular Serving: If you’re serving roast turkey breast as the main protein in a meal that includes various side dishes, you should account for approximately 3/4 to 1 pound of turkey breast per person. This means a 6-pound turkey breast should serve about 6 people comfortably.
  • Generous Serving or Leftovers: If you love having leftover turkey for sandwiches, soups, or salads during the week, or if you’re hosting big eaters, it’s better to allocate 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of turkey breast per person. This ensures that everyone has plenty to eat, and you’ll have a good amount left for subsequent meals.

How Long to Roast Turkey Breast in the Oven?

Bone-in Turkey Breast:

  • At 450°F (230°C): Roast for about 15 minutes to achieve a golden, crispy skin.
  • After the initial 15 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). Continue roasting the turkey breast for approximately 2 hours. Given that a bone-in turkey breast generally requires about 20 minutes per pound, a 6-pound turkey breast will need about 2 hours at the reduced temperature.

Boneless Turkey Breast

  • At 450°F (230°C): Roast for about 15 minutes.
  • Lower the temperature to 350°F (175°C). Boneless breasts cook a bit faster, so estimate about 15 minutes per pound. For a 3-pound boneless breast, that’s roughly 45 minutes at the reduced temperature.

Do I Need to Baste My Turkey Breast While It’s Roasting?

While many whole turkey recipes suggest basting, it’s often unnecessary for a turkey breast. The smaller size and shorter cooking time typically mean you can skip this step without sacrificing juiciness or flavor.

How Do I Ensure My Turkey Breast Doesn’t Dry Out?

To prevent a dry turkey breast, make sure you don’t overcook it. Using a meat thermometer is key. Once the thickest part of the breast reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), it’s done. Letting it rest after roasting also helps in retaining its juices.

Can I Roast a Frozen Turkey Breast?

It’s recommended to fully thaw your turkey breast before roasting to ensure even cooking. If you must roast from frozen, expect it to take at least 50% longer than the recommended roasting time for a thawed turkey.

How do I Get a Crispy Skin on My Turkey Breast?

Start by roasting your turkey breast at a higher temperature (like 450°F or 230°C) for a short time before lowering the heat. This initial blast helps the skin become crispy. Patting the skin dry and rubbing it with butter or oil can also assist in achieving that perfect crispness.

How to Season a Turkey Breast?

While there are countless ways to season a turkey breast, a popular method is using a mixture of softened butter, garlic, and herbs (like rosemary, thyme, and sage). Rub this mixture both on top of and under the skin for a flavorful roast.

How Do I Store Leftover Roasted Turkey Breast?

Store leftover turkey breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

Turkey Breast Side Dishes

Some of my favorite side dishes for a Thanksgiving dinner:

juicy garlic butter turkey recipe

Super Juicy Roasted Turkey Breast with Garlic Herb Butter

5 from 2 votes

Prep time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Yelds 6 servings
Author Ioana Borcea from LowCarbSpark.com

Description
 

This Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Turkey breast is loaded with flavor, super easy to make, and baked to perfection. Learn how to roast turkey breast for an epic option for dinner or a special holiday meal. 
Keto during holidays?
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Ingredients
  

  • 5-6 lb bone-in turkey breast skin on

Garlic Herb Butter

  • 5 tbsp butter softened
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh sage leaves finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp rosemary leaves finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp thyme leaves finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp parsley finely chopped
  • 1 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Remove the turkey from the fridge and leave it out while making garlic herb butter.
  • Preheat oven to 450°F/ 230°C. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl mix the softened butter, minced garlic, finely chopped sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
  • Loosen the skin of the turkey breast using a teaspoon or your fingers. Use 2/3 of the butter under the skin, and smear the rest on top of the turkey breast. Use your hands to make sure it spreads evenly.
  • Place the turkey in the baking dish lined with parchment paper (for easier cleaning). Bake for 15 minutes or until the skin starts to look crispy.
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F/180°C and cover the turkey with foil. Roast for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
  • You'll know the turkey is completely cooked when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 165°F /74°C.
  • Rest the turkey covered with foil for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Garnish with rosemary and serve with the melted butter and roasting juices from the pan.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving.
Calories
556kcal
Total Carbs
4g
Net Carbs
3g
Protein
75g
Fat
28g
Fiber
1g
Sugar
1g

How do we calculate the nutrition info?

These nutrition facts listed are determined using nutrition information from the USDA Food Database. Our nutrition facts are accurate, but if you are using different products, please make your calculations. Net carb count is calculated by subtracting both fiber and sugar alcohols because they don’t raise blood sugar.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword roasted turkey breast
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Ioana

Ioana is a food and travel lover. Her greatest passion is developing mouthwatering recipes that are comforting, easy to make, and budget friendly! She firmly believes that cooking should be fun! About me...

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About me

Hello! My name is Ioana Borcea, and I'm here to provide you with mouthwatering recipes. This blog is all about sharing my favorite tested easy to make, delicious low-carb & keto, nutrient-dense recipes.

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