• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Fantabulosity logo

  • All Recipes
  • Vintage Recipes
  • Holiday
  • Dinner Theme System
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Theme Night Dinner System
  • Dinner
  • Desserts
  • Holidays
  • Contact
  • About Jessica
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast

    By: Jessica · Posted: Jul 29, 2021 · Updated: Dec 16, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe 8 comments
    5 from 4 votes
    air fryer turkey breast recipe

    Cooking a turkey breast in the air fryer couldn’t get any easier! This juicy turkey breast is perfect for a busy weeknight or even a Thanksgiving meal!

    With simple ingredients, such as butter, salt, pepper, olive oil, and fresh herbs, it results in a juicy center with flavorful crispy skin! Such a great way to enjoy turkey without the hassle of a full bird! You may also love to see how to make a turkey breast in the Instant Pot!

    air fryer turkey breast on black plate with side dishes

     

    It never fails, when cooking a whole baked turkey recipe, it leaves a ton of leftover turkey, leaving us trying to find ways to use up the rest in other recipes and feeling tired of turkey after a few days, and possibly wasting a lot of great juicy meat.

    Although that’s absolutely ok, and using extra turkey to make things like turkey and noodles (instead of chicken and noodles) or turkey noodle soup recipe, is DELICIOUS… sometimes it’s nice to only have a smaller portion to cook.

    This is where cooking a bone-in turkey breast comes in really handy. You can get the most delicious parts of the bird and not waste any!

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe

    If you have an air fryer, then you know that the cooking time can be a lot faster for your favorite recipes, without sacrificing flavor. Well this air fryer turkey recipe can also be cooked in less time and is the perfect way to cook it, without getting a dry turkey.

    Jump to:
    • Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe
    • Should I Use Bone-In or Boneless Turkey Breast?
    • Ingredients
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Top Tips
    • Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • How to Store Leftover Turkey
    • What to Serve with Turkey Breast
    • More Air Fryer Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Should I Use Bone-In or Boneless Turkey Breast?

    When cooking turkey breast, the bone-in usually results in a more flavorful and more juicy bird. A boneless breast is easier for slicing or carving but can definitely be less flavorful.

    So for this easy air fryer turkey breast, we recommend a bone-in.

    Ingredients

    All you need for this recipe is:

    • Turkey Breast (With Bones)
    • Olive Oil
    • Unsalted Butter
    • Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • Fresh Sage
    • Fresh Rosemary
    • Fresh Thyme
    ingredients for cooking turkey breast in the air fryer
    Ingredients

    You can grab the full printable recipe card with instructions and ingredient quantities at the end of this post!

    Step by Step Instructions

    Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.

    Step 2: Remove any excess juices around the turkey and transfer to a baking tray or piece of parchment paper – somewhere that you can prep the turkey.

    Turkey breast ready for spices and herbs
    Place turkey on parchment paper to season and prep

    Step 3: Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. (This is helpful for the spices and seasonings to stick to the turkey before and during the cooking process.)

    Step 4: Use your hands to spread the butter just under the skin.

    Step 5: Then, drizzle the olive oil all over the top of the turkey.

    Step 6: Rub the top of the turkey skin with the salt & pepper. 

    salt and pepper on turkey
    Seasoned, buttered turkey breast

    Step 7: Next, sprinkle the turkey breast with the chopped fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme). Patting them down on the sides of the turkey breast, so, they stick.

    fresh herbs on turkey breast ready for air fryer
    Turkey breast with oils, spices and herbs – ready for cooking

    Step 8: Place the turkey breast into the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes.

    uncooked raw turkey breast in air fryer
    Raw turkey breast in air fryer basket

    Step 9: Flip the turkey over and reduce the temperature to 350 degrees cook for an additional 40 minutes.

    You may flip the turkey once more during the last ten minutes if you feel the skin doesn’t seem as crispy as you want. 

    The turkey is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. 

    Cooked turkey breast in the air fryer
    Fully cooked air fryer turkey breast

    Step 10: Remove from air fryer and make sure the turkey rests for 10 minutes before carving!

    Air fried turkey breast cooked and on plate
    Golden brown turkey breast

    Top Tips

    When it comes to turkeys I always suggest checking the temperature with a meat thermometer. (We love using this instant read thermometer.)

    Make sure the thermometer is inserted in the middle of the breast meat & not touching any bone. 

    Can I cook a frozen turkey breast in my air fryer?

    You can, but it’s not really recommended. It will take a long time to cook and by the time the middle of the turkey is cooked to a safe temperature, it will create a very dry turkey breast. But it is possible.

    How long does it take to cook a turkey breast in the air fryer?

    For a 5-7 pound, bone-in turkey breast, it takes about 50 minutes to reach a safe, internal temperature of 165°.

    Do I have to brine a turkey before cooking it?

    It’s not mandatory, however placing the turkey in brine can help give it more tender meat, and make it more flavorful and keep it juicier. We use this chicken brine even for turkey breasts!

    Turkey breast cooked in air fryer, carved
    Juicy center of turkey breast

    Substitutions

    If you do not have fresh herbs on hand, you can use dried herbs if necessary, however, it really is better with the fresh.

    You can also use spices such as poultry seasoning, garlic, etc. if you prefer those flavors!

    Equipment

    This recipe will work for any brand or size of air fryer! However, make sure the turkey breast you choose will fit into your air fryer.

    Also, if you choose a very small turkey breast that fits in the Air Fryer basket use that. But if you have a larger turkey breast you can use the air fryer pot or base dish, placing the turkey directly in that! So depending on the size of your air fryer, it can be cooked in the basket or the base.

    air fryer turkey breast on plate
    Carved turkey breast with side dishes

    How to Store Leftover Turkey

    Although turkey breasts are usually smaller than a whole turkey, you may still have leftovers! If you do, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days after cooking.

    What to Serve with Turkey Breast

    This green bean casserole is a favorite to serve alongside a turkey breast! But a side salad and something as easy and healthy as this roasted broccoli is a perfect paring!

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    Love using the air fryer as much as we do? Then you’ll also love our other air fryer recipes, such as teriyaki chicken wings, garlic parmesan chicken legs, and burgers in the air fryer.

    Recipe

    Sliced turkey breast cooked in the air fryer.

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast

    Jessica Burgess
    Cooking a turkey breast in the air fryer couldn't get any easier! This juicy turkey breast is perfect for a busy weeknight or even a Thanksgiving meal!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 50 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 657 kcal

    Equipment

    • air fryer

    Ingredients

    • 5-7 lb turkey breast bone-in
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • .5 teaspoon salt
    • .5 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1.5 teaspoon fresh sage chopped
    • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
    • 1.5 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat air fryer to 400°
    • Remove any excess juices around the turkey and transfer to a baking tray or piece of parchment paper – somewhere that you can prep the turkey.
    • Pat the whole outside of the turkey dry with paper towels – this allows the spices and herbs to stick to the turkey better.
    • Use your hands to spread the butter just under the skin, getting in all of the places you can, without ripping a hole in the skin.
    • Then, drizzle the olive oil all over the top of the turkey.
    • Rub the top of the turkey skin with the salt & pepper.
    • Next, sprinkle the turkey breast with the chopped fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme). Patting them down so they stick.
    • Place the turkey breast into the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes.
    • Flip the turkey over and reduce the  temperature to 350 degreesand cook for an additional 40 minutes.
    • You may flip the turkey once more during the last ten minutes if you feel the skin doesn’t seem as crispy as you want. 
    • The turkey is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. 
    • Remove from air fryer and allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving!

    Notes

    When it comes to turkeys I always suggest checking the temperature with a meat thermometer. (We love using this instant read thermometer.)
    Make sure the thermometer is inserted in the middle of the breast meat & not touching any bone. 
    Can I cook a frozen turkey breast in my air fryer?
    You can, but it’s not really recommended. It will take a lot longer to cook and the outside may burn/dry out before the middle of the turkey is cooked but it is possible.
    How long does it take to cook a turkey breast in the air fryer?
    For a 5-7 pound, bone-in turkey breast, it takes about 50 minutes to reach a safe internal temp of 165°.
    Do I have to brine a turkey before cooking it?
    It’s not mandatory but it can help give it more tender meat inside and can give it more flavor. But this recipe is delicious even without it! If you do want to soak it in a brine, we love using this chicken brine recipe, even for turkey.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 657kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 122g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 321mg | Sodium: 1460mg | Potassium: 1388mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keywords air fryer turkey breast, air fryer turkey breast recipe, easy air fryer turkey breast recipe, juicy turkey breast, thanksgiving meal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Two pieces of air fryer tofu on a toothpick.
      Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Recipe
    • Bratwursts cooked in the air fryer, resting on a plate.
      Air Fryer Brats
    • Close up of cooked air fryer carrot slices.
      Air Fryer Carrots
    • Easy air fryer recipes collage.
      25+ Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners
    Subscription Form

    Get 5 Days of Delicious & Easy Dinner Recipes!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. M. Robinson says

      October 22, 2023 at 8:46 pm

      I’m going to try this recipe as I have a 8lb. turkey breast, as a practice for turkey Day, only I want to coat it in honey & brown sugar. Let ya know how it turns out.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        October 23, 2023 at 9:59 am

        Sounds great! I hope you love it as much as we do!

        Reply
    2. Jennifer says

      July 29, 2021 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      I tried this the other night and it came out perfectly!! So delicious!! Couldn’t have asked for a better recipe to follow!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        July 29, 2021 at 11:11 pm

        Yay!! I’m so glad that you liked this turkey breast recipe! It’s so easy and definitely a favorite for Thanksgiving!

        Reply
    3. Natalie says

      July 29, 2021 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      It’s almost that time where we will be eating turkey all month long. I love using it in so many dishes & this is the easiest, quickest way to make it!! It’s so juicy & has tons of taste!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        July 29, 2021 at 11:13 pm

        YES! Absolutely… that’s what I love about this recipe. It’s a smaller bird (just the breast) so it’s not hard to make multiple all month long if you want. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    4. Lily says

      July 29, 2021 at 2:03 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a delicious meal prep recipe, I made this turkey and used it with different recipes. I added the turkey to a bowl and made some of it into a burrito, it was amazing!!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        July 29, 2021 at 11:12 pm

        That’s fantastic! I’m so glad to hear that the air fryer turkey worked for you, and what a great idea to meal plan with it! Thank you so much for sharing!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jessica Burgess of Fantabulosity, slicing an avocado.

    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

    I’m here to teach you how to make quick and easy recipes, using simple ingredients, that your family will love.

    More about me →

    Summer Recipes

    • Close-up of pinwheel sandwiches stacked on top of one another.
      Pinwheel Sandwiches
    • Chicken macaroni salad in a bowl.
      The BEST Chicken Macaroni Salad
    • Chicken salad with grapes and apples, sitting on bread.
      Chicken Salad with Grapes and Apples
    • Serving of banana pudding on small plate.
      Quick & Easy Banana Pudding

    Popular Recipes

    • bread pudding in baking dish
      Bread Pudding Recipe: Easy Old Fashioned Recipe (With Video!)
    • Burger baked in the oven, steamed in aluminum foil, and placed on white plate.
      Burgers in the Oven
    • Oven Baked Steak with Butter and a side of potatoes
      How to Cook Steak in the Oven
    • Strawberry brownies on white marble cutting board.
      Strawberry Brownies Recipe
    • Cheeseburger Sliders
      Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls
    • Baked BBQ Pork Steaks on white plate
      Pork Steaks in the Oven

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Featured In

    About

    • About Jessica
    • Contact
    • Collaborate
    • 5 Days of Delicious Dinners

    Easy Recipes

    • All Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts

    How to Cook

    • Oven-Baked
    • Stove-Top
    • No Bake
    • Slow Cooker

    Privacy Policy |Accessibility Copyright © 2025 Fantabulosity | Terms & Conditions | FTC

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.