Herb Roasted Turkey Breast [+ Video]
Feeling a little nervous about cooking a whole turkey for Thanksgiving? Don’t! We love doing an herb roasted turkey breast and forgetting the stress!
What Herbs are Best With Turkey?
I like rosemary, lemon thyme and sage.
I use oregano occasionally because of it’s great health benefits.
And Sage, sage and did I mention sage? Lots of sage. It takes away the “sour” taste that turkey has all on its own and lets the turkey be its delicious self.
Are you like most American’s and feel nervous about roasting the big bird for Thanksgiving? I’ve done it quite a few times now and I still get nervous. Our fried turkey is still one of our favorites, and the smoked turkey was definitely just as easy, but sometimes you want that traditional turkey flavor, but worry about actually pulling it off successfully. Which is why I’ve chosen to post about herb roasted turkey breast versus the actual bird this year.
Is Herb Roasted Turkey Breast Gluten Free?
Fresh or dried leaves, such as basil, dill, parsley, rosemary and thyme, would be examples of herbs.
… Individual herbs and spices do not usually contain gluten, though a non-gluten anti-caking agent (e.g. calcium silicate, silicon dioxide or sodium aluminum silica) may be added.
So here’s what I like about the breast versus the whole bird. I love that it makes it easy to cook for as little as two people to a whole crowd. You can pop one small breast, or a couple of larger breasts in different pans into the oven without worrying about a whole turkey being too much or trying to fit multiple birds into one oven when in reality most people really only eat the breast anyway.
Watch the full video here:
Seriously, most people go for the breast. It’s their favorite part. Roasting a turkey breast is so darn easy and it allows everyone to have the juicy, white meat. Not to mention you don’t even have to worry about under cooking or not thawing the whole bird properly. Gosh, the big guy really is just so much more work and stress. This recipe is just salt, pepper, sage and thyme. That’s it. Oh, I guess a little olive oil, but that’s it. Anyone can do it and it tastes fantasterific.
Turkey Basics
Before we jump in to making this roasted turkey breast, I want to cover a few of the basics:
- Frozen turkey will need to thaw 24 hours per every 5 pounds.
- Safe internal temperature for a turkey is 165 degrees F in the breast.
So let’s assume you are going to roast a 3 pound turkey breast that is frozen and you want to have your meal on Thursday afternoon. Here is your brief timeline:
- Remove turkey from freezer to thaw in the fridge: 1 day ahead of time (Wednesday morning)
- Turkey roasts in the oven: 2 to 2.5 hours
- Turkey rests: 15 minutes
Can You Freeze the Left-Over Herb Roasted Turkey Breast?
Yes, as long as the turkey breast was completely cooked through, you can freeze it for another time!
Keep it tightly wrapped to prevent freezer burn.
How Do You Re-Heat Roasted Turkey Breast?
Place the Turkey Breast in a shallow pan with a small amount of liquid (water or turkey drippings).
Cover in foil and heat approximately 15 minutes per pound, until the internal temperature reaches 160*.
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
More Decadent MAIN DISHES You Must Try:
- Best Prime Rib
- Oven Braised Short Ribs
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Carolina Pulled Pork
- Korean Oven Braised Short Ribs
- Oven Braised Beef Roast
- Creamy Herb Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Smoked Tri Tip
- Easy Garlic Butter Steak
- Authentic Italian Bolognese Sauce
- Beef Ribs with Charred Pepper Cream Gnocchi
- All our MAIN DISH recipes!
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
Preorder our new book!
This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories.
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 3 lb Boneless Turkey Breast thawed
- 4 Sage Leaves fresh
- 1 Tablespoon Thyme chopped, fresh
- Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
Turkey Basics
- Frozen turkey will need to thaw 24 hours per every 5 pounds.
- Safe internal temperature for a turkey is 165 degrees F in the breast.
Turkey Timeline
- Remove turkey from freezer to thaw in the fridge: 1 day ahead of time (Wednesday morning)
- Turkey roasts in the oven: 2 to 2.5 hours
- Turkey rests: 15 minutes
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
- Place the turkey breast on a flat surface and gently lift the skin to expose the breast.
- Sprinkle evenly with the salt, pepper, thyme and the sage leave.
- Place the skin back down and drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake according to package instructions, but ours took 2 1/2 hours at 325.
- Allow the turkey to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Deep Fried Turkey
Smoked Turkey
Honey Herbed Glazed Turkey- Taste and Tell
