Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Air Fryer Turkey Breast just might be the easiest and most delicious way to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. Juicy, full of flavor and golden brown, the air fryer does an amazing job of making turkey in under an hour. This post will tell you everything you need to know about making turkey in your air fryer, answer common questions and provide advice for storing and side dishes.

Air Fryer Turkey Breast

It’s no secret that I love my air fryer, as evidenced by the growing collection of air fryer recipes I’ve been sharing. Using the air fryer to make a turkey breast for Thanksgiving dinner is just another incredible way to put it to good use.

If you don’t have the need to make an entire turkey, and you prefer white meat, than making a turkey breast really is the ideal way to go. You’ll find it’s less work and less mess, with just the right amount of turkey. And look at that gorgeous golden skin! The air fryer really produces a picture perfect turkey dinner!

One of the best things about making turkey in the air fryer is that it frees up precious oven space on Thanksgiving Day, which leaves plenty of room to make other holiday must haves like Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows or the classic Libbys Pumpkin Pie.

How To Make Turkey Breast In An Air Fryer

Let’s discuss the ingredients you’ll need, and the steps you’ll take, to make a turkey breast in your air fryer. If you want to skip my discussion, tips and answers to frequently asked questions, just scroll to the bottom for the full printable recipe.

That said, this post is packed full of helpful information, not personal anecdotes. Reading what is shared here will help you be successful and answer any questions you might have now, or when cooking.

Ingredients

• Bone-in halved turkey breast – While this can be hard to find year round, during the holidays you should have no trouble finding turkey breasts alongside the full size turkey. They may also have them at your local butcher shop or meat counter. A 3-5 pound turkey breast is an ideal size for an air fryer.
• Butter– While I prefer a salted butter, you can use unsalted as well. Butter should be at room temperature.
• Garlic – While fresh minced garlic is best, you can also use jarred or frozen garlic if that’s what you have on hand.
• Salt & Pepper – Sea salt and fresh crack black pepper are my top choices, but any salt and pepper will work.

Directions

1. Pat the turkey breast with paper towels to remove any moisture.
2. Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the butter.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the butter and garlic. Rub the butter all over the turkey.
4. Place the turkey into the basket of your air fryer, so the skin side is facing down. Set it to 350°F for 20 minutes. Flip the turkey breast over and set the air fryer for an additional 20 minutes. After about 15 minutes and start checking the temperature of the turkey breast, do you want the internal temperature to be 165°F. If the turkey breast has not reached an internal temperature of 165°F, set it for another 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your air fryer.
5. Remove turkey from the air fryer and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Tips, Advice and Frequently Asked Questions

Prep and Cooking

What if I have a boneless turkey breast? You can make that! A boneless turkey will most likely have a net around it holding it together. It’s really easiest to cook with that in place, though it will take a little bit longer than a bone in breast. though with Plan about an hour for the cook time, and flip it every 15 minutes, just to help it cook evenly. Use a meat thermometer to tell you when it’s done.

Will there be enough? A good rule of thumb is to plan approximately 3/4 pound of turkey breast for each person. A 6-7 pound turkey breast will feed approximately eight people. A larger one more, a smaller one less. That said, for some people this may feel like too much, for others too little. Our family likes to go heavy on the side dishes, so we think 3/4 of a pound works perfectly.

Chill Out – If your turkey breast is frozen, it’s recommended by the USDA that it be thawed prior to cooking. A turkey breast will take on average about 24-36 hours to thaw in the fridge.

Make sure it’s dry – before cooking that is – It’s important to make sure the turkey breast is completely dry prior to spreading the butter and seasoning on it. If it has any moisture on it, the butter may not stay on the turkey.

Why cook the turkey facing down first? Starting off cooking it upside down will leave the meat juicy and prevent the skin from getting overcooked too quickly.

How can I tell if the turkey is fully cooked? I always advise using a meat thermometer, which will remove any doubt if your turkey breast is fully cooked. The USDA recommends that turkey breast be cooked to 165 degrees fahrenheit. Because every turkey breast is going to be a bit different in size and shape, there is no blanket time that will work for all. Let the thermometer be your guide in telling you when it’s done.

Give it a rest – Make sure to let your turkey rest for ten minutes prior to cutting into it. This will give you the juiciest results.

Serving and Storing

How do I make turkey gravy without the drippings? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Check out my gravy recipe.

How do you store leftover turkey? To help keep the turkey moist, I recommend tightly wrapping the turkey in foil or saran wrap, then placing into a Ziploc style bag, with the air all squeezed out, and store in the refrigerator. It will last for 3-4 days. It will also keep in the freezer for 2-3 months.

What air fryer do you use? I have a few I recommend. For this recipe I used a Ninja Foodie Air Fryer, but also really like the Cosori Air Fryer as well as the Gourmia Air Fryer.

What can I top this turkey with? Apple Cranberry Sauce is my top choice!

More Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

• Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes – It simply isn’t Thanksgiving without the mashed potatoes! Make up a batch of these potatoes a few hours in advance, and keep them toasty warm in the crockpot.
• Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows – While the turkey cooks in the air fryer, make a batch of these decadent sweet potatoes. The marshmallow topping is full of sweet nostalgia.
• Crock Pot Creamed Corn – This is the creamed corn to end all creamed corn. Even those who say they don’t like cream corn have declared their love of this dish.
• Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole – This easy casserole recipe is the ultimate in comfort food. Creamy and cheesy, you’ll be hard pressed to have any leftovers for the following day.
• Homemade Green Bean Casserole – This is a bit different than some green bean casserole recipes. There is no canned soup in this recipe, but you will find cream cheese and sour cream in it, making it rich and delicious.
• Green Beans Almondine – If you want green beans that are a bit less indulgent, go for this quick and easy recipe. Quick, easy and perfectly elegant.
• Mashed Butternut Squash – This sweet and nutty dish is easy to make and a perfect compliment to your turkey.
• Broccoli Casserole With Ritz Crackers – Creamy, cheesy and easy, this cheesy broccoli casserole has an irresistible buttery cracker topping. Even picky eaters will gobble this up.
• Easy Glazed Carrots – Picky eater approved, these carrots are always a hit. While we make them year round, they are a holiday must have.
• Homemade Dinner Rolls – Fresh hot rolls are a must for your Thanksgiving dinner. These are easy to make, even if you’ve never made homemade rolls before.
• Crack Potatoes – Simple frozen hashbrowns are combined with cream cheese, sour cream and ranch dressing, nobody can ever get enough of this easy side dish.

Save Room For Thanksgiving Desserts

• Libby’s Pumpkin Pie – You simply can’t go wrong with this classic Thanksgiving pie. Save time with ready made crusts when you make this easy pie.
• Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup – Classic pecan pie, but with the corn syrup swapped out. This is the recipe that made me fall in love with pecan pie.
• Pumpkin Roll – This fun dessert looks so impressive but is surprisingly easy to make. It’s stunning when sliced.
• Pumpkin Bundt Cake – A moist and delicious pumpkin cake with an amazing cream cheese frosting.
• Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars – These are a fun and easy twist on pecan pie. They are easy to transport, great if you need to bring dessert.
• Caramel Apple Pie – Looking for a pie that’s not pumpkin or pecan? Go with this yummy caramel apple pie.
• Turkey Cheese Ball – An adorable little turkey made from a deliciously easy cream cheese mixture.