Air Fryer Turkey Breast

5 from 2 votes

Air fryer turkey breast is juicy and flavorful with extra crispy skin. Use a whole, bone-in breast, or opt for a boneless turkey breast to feed a smaller crowd and save room in the oven.

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Prep Time30

Cook Time50

Total Time1 20

Servings: servings

Author: Molly Thompson

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
2 teaspoons EACH: fresh chopped sage, rosemary, and thyme
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
5 cloves garlic minced
1 3-5 lb bone in skin on turkey breast *see notes for boneless
1 lemon sliced into wheels

INSTRUCTIONS

Before you begin: thaw the turkey breast overnight in the fridge. Use a dry brine if desired.
Let the turkey sit at room temp for 30 mins. 10 minutes before you’re ready to cook, preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 5 minutes.
While it’s preheating, combine the butter, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
3/4 cup unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons EACH: fresh chopped sage, rosemary, and thyme, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 5 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Pat the turkey breast dry with a paper towel. Carefully loosen the skin from each piece of the breast meat and spoon 1/2 of the butter mixture evenly into both then spread it out evenly under the skin. Save the remaining butter for the top of the turkey.
1 3-5 lb bone in skin on turkey breast
Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray then place the lemon slices in an even layer at the bottom of the basket. Add the turkey breast, skin-side-down, on top of the lemon slices and air fry at 350°F for 20 minutes.
1 lemon
Carefully flip the turkey breast over and spread the remaining half of the butter mixture on top using a spatula. place it back in the air fryer and continue to cook for an additional 20-25 minutes, until the internal temp of the thickest part of the breast reaches 155°F. Do not overcook. Pause and check the turkey every 10 minutes to avoid burning. Flip the turkey breast to its side or cover with foil to avoid brown too much.
Carefully remove the turkey breast from the air fryer and place it on a cutting board or platter. Tent it with foil and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving.

Recipe Equipment

Air Fryer (5-8 Quart)

Notes

Air fryer size. Check the height of your turkey breast before buying. The meat should be below the top of the basket.

Turkey size. Get the right size turkey. Plan for just over 1.5 pounds of turkey per person to allow for the holiday meal and to send guests home with leftovers.

Cook it upside down first. This helps keep the meat juicy and helps prevent overcooking the skin.

Start with a dry bird. Be sure to pat it completely dry and let it rest, covered, at room temperature. Putting a very cold bird into any heat will result in a less evenly cooked turkey.

Use a meat thermometer. Use the temp over the exact cook time. Every turkey and air fryer is different, so be sure to check the turkey breast to know when it's done.

Nutrition

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