Looking for a smaller Thanksgiving meal? Try this easy roasted turkey breast recipe. It’s flavorful, juicy, and you don’t need a whole turkey!
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Why we love this recipe
There are various reasons you might need to cook a glorious golden buttered turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. Maybe you want some back-up turkey to go with a big bird? Maybe you are having a small crowd?
Whatever your reason, here’s your delicious answer – and it doesn’t even need be Thanksgiving in order to make it.
This roasted turkey breast recipe is one of my all year long faves, because it is super simple and completely dependable. Slather your turkey breast with butter, tuck in a few fresh herbs, pop it in the oven for an hour or so and voila! Tender, perfectly roasted turkey.
And bonus points: That butter we slathered on is going to quickly simmer up into a delectable sauce to drizzle over your perfectly roasted turkey. Let’s make it!
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Turkey: You need a fully defrosted bone-in turkey breast for this recipe – look for it near the chicken in the meat section of your supermarket.
- Herbs: We love fresh rosemary and thyme for this recipe, but fresh sage and oregano would also be great! Look for fresh herbs in the produce section of your supermarket.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
Here’s how you make this recipe
STEP 1: Line a 9 x 13 casserole dish with foil (this is going to make clean-up SO much easier!).
STEP 2: Take that perfectly sized turkey breast and rub it inside and out with softened butter. Work some gently under the skin, and inside the cavity. Butter everywhere. It’s necessary. Now grab that fresh rosemary and thyme and make a nice little herb nest for your turkey on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Scatter a few more sprigs on top for good measure.
STEP 3: Now pop it into a nice hot oven – depending on the size of the turkey it’s going to take about an hour – it’s always good to check it with an instant read thermometer though. You are looking for 160 degrees at the thickest part of the turkey breast.
STEP 4: When your turkey breast is done, let it sit for a few minutes under foil while you make a quick butter gravy (I know, more butter. It’s butter heaven here.) Pour the pan drippings into a small pot and pop a couple of tablespoons of butter in there. Stir it just until the butter melts, grind a little fresh pepper into it and pour it into a little pitcher.
Now serve up that roasted turkey breast surrounded by a few more sprigs of herbs.
It’s as glorious as any full-fledged bird – and when your happy eaters drizzle some of that butter sauce over their slices of tender juicy turkey…well, turkey might not just be for Thanksgiving anymore.
Oh, and on the off chance that you have any turkey and side dish leftovers, give this Thanksgiving Leftovers Soup a whirl!
Recipe FAQs
You can, but we do recommend a bone-in turkey breast as the bones help to keep the turkey breast tender. If you prefer a boneless turkey breast, we love this slow cooker turkey with stuffing recipe…the gentle heat of the slow cooker keeps it nice and juicy!
You can use either! We like salted butter for a little extra flavor.
The very best way to know is to use a meat thermometer…stick it into the thickest part of the turkey without touching the bones. You are looking for a temperature of 160.
Nope! If you prefer gravy, pick up your favorite pre-made kind (we think that Trader Joe’s turkey gravy is pretty dang good!)
After you let it rest for 5 or 10 minutes, simply carve it into slices the same way you would do with a whole bird.
Pop your question (or comment, or suggestion!) in the Comments section under the recipe card and I will respond pronto.
Want to round out your meal?
Other turkey recipes we love!
We want to know what you think! 🤔
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
PrintEasy Roasted Turkey Breast
For Thanksgiving or anytime when a whole turkey is just a little too much, try this recipe for butter roasted turkey breast!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- One 2 to 3 pound turkey breast, bone-in with skin
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature, plus 2 tablespoons for the gravy
- 6 sprigs each thyme and rosemary, plus extra for garnish
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 and line a rimmed baking pan with foil.
- Spread the 1/2 cup of butter generously over the turkey breast, gently working it under the skin.
- Place 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary on the baking pan in a little pile and place the turkey breast on top, skin-side up. Pop the rest of the herbs on top.
- Roast for an hour or until an instant read thermometer reads 160. Remove and cover with foil while you make a nice light little gravy.
- Pour the pan drippings into a small pot and add 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir until butter is melted and season with a little salt and pepper.
- Slice the turkey and serve, passing the sauce around in a pitcher for drizzling!
Notes
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- Turkey: You need a fully defrosted bone-in turkey breast for this recipe – look for it near the chicken in the meat section of your supermarket.
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- Herbs: We love fresh rosemary and thyme for this recipe, but fresh sage and oregano would also be great! Look for fresh herbs in the produce section of your supermarket.
Carol Kezel says
I really want to try this recipe but where do you get a 2-3 lb. Turkey breast? I was at Shop Rite yesterday and all the turkey breasts I saw were. 6 lbs.!
Hi Carol and dang! That’s big! I get mine at Wegman’s, but I bet if you ask at the meat counter at Shop Rite they would cut one to size for you. Fingers crossed!
Carol Kezel says
I was actually at Walmart today and I usually don’t buy meat there but they had 3 lb. Butterball turkey breasts!!! I hope this works !!!
Alicia says
I’ve always been intimidated by a turkey, but this was easy and delicious! Perfect for a smaller Thanksgiving meal :)
Hi Alicia! So glad this helps with your turkey courage – I feel the same way! :)
Theresa Murphy says
Yum! How can you go wrong with butter? Not sure what our Thanksgiving is going to look like yet for this year, but I’ve got this in mind for just an ordinary Saturday supper for something different to surprise the always hungry teens and hubs. And I like you more than bacon, too. :)
Aw, you! Thankful for all your support all the time. xo.