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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.

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!
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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.

Quick and easy herb roasted turkey breast for those who don't like dark meat or don't want a whole turkey ohsweetbasil.com

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:

 

Quick and easy herb roasted turkey breast for those who don't like dark meat or don't want a whole turkey ohsweetbasil.com

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

If you don't want to cook an entire turkey for Thanksgiving make sure you make this herb roasted turkey breast. We love it and it's such an easy way to cook turkey! ohsweetbasil.com

More Decadent MAIN DISHES You Must Try:

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

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Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

By Sweet Basil
Prep5 minutes
Cook2 hours 30 minutes
Total2 hours 35 minutes
Servings6
Quick and easy herb roasted turkey breast for those who don’t like dark meat or don’t want a whole turkey ohsweetbasil.com
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Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Ingredients 

  • 3 Pounds Boneless Turkey Breast, thawed
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Thyme, chopped, fresh
  • 4 Sage Leaves, fresh
  • Olive Oil

Instructions 

Turkey Basics

  • Frozen turkey will need to thaw 24 hours per every 5 pounds.
    3 Pounds Boneless Turkey Breast
  • 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.
    1 Tablespoon Thyme, 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt, 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper, 4 Sage Leaves
  • Place the skin back down and drizzle with olive oil.
    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.

Recipe Notes

left overs can be refrigerated for 3-4 days, or frozen for 2-3 months

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 230kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 49g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 122mg, Sodium: 855mg, Potassium: 556mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 101IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 36mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!
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!
Herb Sage Roasted Turkey Breast is way easier than cooking the whole bird and still just as juicy and delicious ohsweetbasil.com
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Herb Sage Roasted Turkey Breast is way easier than cooking the whole bird and still just as juicy and delicious ohsweetbasil.com

 

About The Author

Carrian Cheney

Carrian Cheney is the creative force behind ‘Oh, Sweet Basil,’ a food blog she co-authors with her husband, Cade. She creates fresh, family-friendly recipes that encourage togetherness in the kitchen.

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49 Comments

  1. Shelby says:

    How many people does a 3lb boneless turkey breast feed??

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      It depends on adults/kids and how much they eat but generally around 3-4 people

      1. Crystal says:

        Looks Delish. But 1 lb per person ? The fat per serving seemed off when I read it. 

  2. Jayne says:

    HELP! ASAP!

    Hi, I love this recipe – I made it awhile back and it was a huge hit with my hubs! Quick question, I was going to make it again tonight but I accidentally bought a Chicken Breast instead of a Turkey Breast … Can I sub in chicken ? Any changes to cook time etc? Aren’t chicken and turkey pretty much the same? Thanks! Jayne

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      Oh good! I’m so glad! You can absolutely sub with chicken and the rest is all the same still. 🙂

  3. Emily Scott says:

    Hi. That food looks really delicious! I am looking at cooking it this weekend. I have one question. How many tablespoon, teaspoon, or cups of Olive oil? Thanks

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      only around 1-2 tablespoons depending on the size of breast that you buy. I drizzle it on and if it doesn’t cover it then I add a little more.

  4. Nutmeg Nanny says:

    This turkey looks like perfection 🙂 I bet it tastes amazing!

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      thank you my darling! Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  5. Anna says:

    This looks so amazing! Must try!!! <3

  6. Cookin Canuck says:

    What a gorgeous turkey breast, Carrian! And sage is my favorite holiday herb, so I love that this recipe has a good dose of it.

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      Thanks Dara! It’s been so long! We really need to get together!

  7. Manhattan Image and Style says:

    Amazing! I love the pictures and this recipe! Thank you for sharing!! 🙂

    Feel free to visit my blog as well if you wish! <3

    Diana

    http://www.ManhattanImageandStyle.com

    New Blog Post: 7 Ways to Spice Up Your Look

  8. Jenny @ BAKE says:

    wow I love the colour you’ve got on that turkey, not too pale, not too dark! you have some very lucky guests this year! I love your herb combination too!

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      Thanks Jenny! I am so particular about color on food. I like an even golden color always.

  9. Shauna says:

    This looks amazing but I can’t find the actual recipe for the Herb Roasted Turkey Breast. Do you have a specific recipe to follow? Thanks!

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      Hi Shauna, I can see the recipe. It may have been a browser error. Will you check again and let me know just in case?

      1. Shauna says:

        I can see it now! Thank you so much! Can’t wait to try it. 🙂

  10. Cindy says:

    These look delicious