Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast is the perfect alternative to a full size turkey for small families. With its crispy skin and tender, juicy meat, your whole family is going to love this one!
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and dreams of cranberry sauce, pie, and turkey are dancing through our heads. Thanksgiving is the feast of all feasts, a time for family gatherings, a chance to rest and recharge, and what’s not to love about that? We know that the thought of a large Thanksgiving meal can be daunting, stressful, and, well…the opposite of restful. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Has anyone else ever felt pressured to roast a whole turkey just for tradition’s sake? We are here to tell you that you do NOT have to roast a whole turkey. Turkey breasts are totally satisfying and delicious with their crispy skin and juicy meat. Pair this with your favorite mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie for a Thanksgiving to remember!
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Can I use an oven bag to roast a turkey breast?Â
There is some debate on oven bags vs. traditional roasting. The idea behind an oven bag is that it should lock in moisture and flavor. Your turkey will also cook faster, you don’t have to worry about basting, and cleanup is a breeze! There are a lot of benefits to roasting in a bag, however if you prefer to roast a bird the traditional way sans bag, more power to you. It’s really just about personal preference.
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Turkey Skin: Optional?
We are big proponents of always cooking with bone in and skin on meat. The flavor can’t be beat, and there’s nothing quite as delicious as crispy skin. If you avoid excess fat for dietary reasons, or just aren’t a fan of the skin, you can always remove the skin before roasting.
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To Baste or Not to Baste:
Basting requires you to open the oven door repeatedly, losing a ton of heat! You do not need to baste, and we actually recommend not basting with this recipe. If you do decide to baste, you will need to plan on some additional cooking time.Â
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Boneless or Bone-in Turkey Breast
Turkey breasts are sold both boneless, and bone-in. Bone-in turkey breasts tend to be larger and contain both sides of the breast, while boneless turkey breasts are generally just one breast. This recipe will work with either, though a single boneless turkey breast will require a shorter cooking time.Â
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What should I do with leftover Oven Roasted Turkey Breast?
Leftover turkey is one of the best things about Thanksgiving! We doubt you’ll be able to stop yourself from eating this whole turkey breast with your family. However, if somehow you end up with leftovers, you should always use them in a sandwich the next day with some cranberry sauce, provolone cheese, and your favorite leafy greens. Mmmmm!
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious Thanksgiving inspired recipes:
Turned out great! The rub had great flavor.
This was such an easy recipe and it delivered one of the best Turkey Breasts I’ve ever fixed. My husband couldn’t get over how moist the breast turned out. I do have one thing that we changed. We checked on how done it was, 30 minutes early, and it was perfectly finished. I think the difference was that I used a banking bag. I’m definitely saving this recipe.
I was always scared to make turkey for Thanksgiving. But decided to just give this recipe a try. It turned out yummy beyond words. I will make this every Sunday dinner. My family said it was better than any restaurant meal.
I am 71 and therefore cooking for a long time. This is the best turkey breast recipe I have tried. Thank you!!
I made this the other night, it turned out fantastic. My family loved it and I will be making this again.
This recipe was so delicious! The seasoning was excellent. Easy and I will definitely be making it again!
Thank-you!
Made this in our smoker grill. It was amazing! So moist & flavorful.
Wow…so simple and delicious and a great way to get 24 grams of protein!! I mention that because as a senior, it is one nutrient that we tend not to consume enough. I roast a small one for myself and have Turkey sandwiches for a week+. Great way
to have a healthy, tasty afternoon lunch. Oh, I use no salt at all, and with all the seasonings and delicious olive oil, none is necessary. Thank you.
Be sure to cater the amount of spice rub to the size of the turkey breast. Even cutting the amount of salt by half resulted in a too-salty outcome for a smaller breast. 2 teaspoons of salt is a crime, which I imagine can only be forgiven in the case of a truly massive breast.
This recipe was AWESOME!!! Even my daughter, who despises turkey meat, devoured it! Thanks for a great recipe