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This air fryer turkey breast is perfectly juicy and flavorful and cooks in under 60 minutes. The skin is wonderfully golden and crispy with a tasty, juicy center. It is made with 3 simple ingredients and is great for a smaller holiday gathering or for a delicious protein for dinner!
Once I tried this air fryer turkey breast I was hooked! It is so easy to make and comes out perfectly crispy and juicy, it’s been something I make all the time now! The air fryer allows this turkey breast to cook in under 60 minutes, much less time than the oven and gives it this nice golden crispy skin and juicy center that is so good!
I used a bone-in turkey breast but you can also use a boneless turkey breast. Using a bone in turkey gives it a bit more flavor but either one will work out great!
By now, you know that I love quick and easy recipes but they must be delicious and good for you too! Which is why this turkey breast made in the air fryer was a no brainer for me to share! I made it even easier by using only 3 simple ingredients, so that even if you don’t cook much, you can have success at making this turkey breast recipe!
Jump to:
- Why you’ll love this turkey breast recipe
- Ingredients For Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- How To Make Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Amy’s Tips For The Best Turkey Breast
- How Long To Cook Turkey Breast In The Air Fryer
- What to serve with air fryer turkey breast
- How To Store and Reheat Turkey Breast
- FAQs
- More Air Fryer Meat Recipes
- Easy Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Why you’ll love this turkey breast recipe
- Easy + simple – this turkey breast is easy to make with 3 ingredients and an air fryer.
- Healthy – turkey breast is lean and packed with protein making it a super healthy meal option other than chicken or fish.
- Affordable – a turkey breast here in NC is about $16 and will feed about 4-5 people, which is great!
- Versatile – one of the best features of turkey breast is that it easily absorbs any flavors you add to it so you can really season it any way you like. I kept it simple with olive oil and poultry seasoning, which was great!
- Perfect for a smaller Thanksgiving – if you are having a smaller gathering for the holidays, turkey breast is a great option!
Air fryer turkey breast goes great paired with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and green beans for a delicious holiday meal everyone will love!
Ingredients For Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Turkey breast – the star of the show is a bone in turkey breast, which is just the perfect size for the air fryer. I used a 2lb turkey breast but I tested this with different size turkey breasts and provided the cooking time suggestions down below. You can also use a boneless turkey breast.
- Olive oil – extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil or melted butter help the seasoning stick to the turkey breast and give it a nice golden, crispy skin.
- Rotisserie/poultry seasoning – I used a rotisserie chicken seasoning that was amazing. Poultry seasoning will also work great. See more seasoning options below.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
- Mixing bowls/pinch bowls
- Rubber brush
- Kitchen tongs
- Air Fryer
- Meat thermometer
Get the complete list of recipe ingredients, instructions and nutrition in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Here is a summary with step-by-step photos for how to make turkey breast in the air fryer.
- Dry the turkey breast well with a clean paper towel. Rub or brush the olive oil all over the turkey breast. Then rub the turkey breast with the seasoning blend.
- Cook the turkey for 18 minutes, flip then cook for 17 more minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Once the turkey is done cooking, remove it from the air fryer and allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes before you slice it since there will be some carry-over cooking time.
Amy’s Tips For The Best Turkey Breast
- Let it rest – turkey breast in the air fryer will have some carry-over cooking time, meaning it will continue to cook a bit while it cools, which is why using a meat thermometer and removing it from the air fryer once it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F is so important.
- Size matters – for this recipe I used a 2lb bone in turkey breast. If you are using a smaller or larger turkey breast then the cooking times will vary. I provided a cooking times chart below as a guide but please keep in mind that air fryers also vary.
- Don’t overcook – nobody likes a dry turkey so you really want to make sure to get the cooking time right. Seasoning the turkey breast with oil or butter, cooking it properly and allowing it to rest all contribute to a nice juicy turkey breast.
- Flip the turkey – to ensure the skin gets crispy on all sides and the turkey cooks evenly, make sure to flip halfway through cooking. Even if you are using a basket air fryer. If you are using a rotisserie-style air fryer then it is not necessary to flip it.
How Long To Cook Turkey Breast In The Air Fryer
Here is a cooking chart with cooking recommendations for cooking turkey breast in the air fryer. Note: Make sure your turkey breast fits in your air fryer before cooking it. I used a 2lb bone in turkey breast that I cooked in a 6-quart air fryer.
- 2-3lb bone in turkey breast – 18 minutes first side, flip then 17 more minutes
- 3-5lb bone in turkey breast – 20 minutes first side, fip then 18 more minutes
- 3-5lb Boneless turkey breast in the air fryer – 360°F for 45-60 minutes turning over every 10 minutes to avoid burning.
What to serve with air fryer turkey breast
Turkey breast goes with so many things, here are some delicious sides to serve it with for a complete meal.
- Biscuits – Greek Yogurt Biscuits, Gluten Free Herb Biscuits or these Easy Air Fryer Biscuits.
- Salads: Kale Pomegranate Salad, Brussels Sprouts Salad, Quinoa Chopped Salad, Butternut Squash Salad.
- Stuffing – Sausage Apple Stuffing
- Potatoes – Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, or traditional Mashed Potatoes.
- Sauce – Cranberry Sauce
How To Store and Reheat Turkey Breast
- Storing: If you have leftovers, allow the turkey to cool completely then store the turkey breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: You can easily freeze cooked turkey by allowing it to cool completely, then slice it and store it in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: You can reheat the turkey quickly on the stovetop in a pan, in the air fryer or in the microwave until fully heated through. If you are reheating turkey from a frozen state, then allow it to defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
FAQs
To keep your turkey from drying out, avoid overcooking it. Use a meat thermometer and cook until the internal temperature reaches about 160°F, then let it rest before slicing. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat tender and moist.
There are lots of easy ways to season an air fryer turkey breast. Rub it with olive oil or melted butter to help the seasoning stick and the skin crisp up. Then add your favorite fresh (rosemary, sage, thyme) or dried herbs and spices like rotisserie, poultry, garlic, onion, Italian seasoning or mix and match for a flavorful finish.
More Air Fryer Meat Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Did you try this easy air fryer turkey breast recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!
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Easy Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Ingredients
- 2–3lb bone in turkey breast
- 1.5 tablespoons olive oil or softened butter
- 1–2 tablespoons rotisserie or poultry seasoning
Instructions
- Use a clean paper towel to dry the turkey breast really well then rub the oil or butter all over the turkey. Season the turkey with the seasoning blend and rub it all over using your hands.
- Preheat the air fryer (if it has a preheat function) to 350°F. Once the air fryer is ready, spray the air fryer basket with non aerosol olive oil spray to prevent sticking then add the seasoned turkey breast to the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook for 18 minutes, then use kitchen tongs to flip it over and cook it for 15-17 more minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (which you can test using a meat thermometer).
- Once the turkey is done, remove it from the air fryer and allow it to rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing it.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Size matters: A 2-3 lb bone-in turkey breast will take about 35 minutes to fully cook. For every pound over 3lbs add 5 minutes to the cooking time.
- Don’t overcook the turkey: Make sure to cook the turkey breast until the internal temperature reaches 160°F when checked using a meat thermometer.
- Allow it to rest: It is important to allow the air fryer turkey breast to rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing it to ensure it stays juicy and moist.
- Store leftover turkey – allow the cooked turkey to cool then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat turkey from the fridge in a pan on the stovetop or in the air fryer or microwave until fully heated through. Defrost frozen cooked turkey breast in the fridge overnight until reheating.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Air Fryer Recipes
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Did you try this easy air fryer turkey breast recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!
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