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This Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe is perfect for anyone celebrating a smaller holiday dinner that doesn’t require a whole turkey. The air fryer does a fantastic job of cooking a turkey breast to perfection, with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat, in just 45 minutes.
Let’s be honest: oven-roasted turkey breast is great, but it’s not exactly quick. Enter the air fryer. An air fryer turkey breast cooks in just 30-45 minutes and delivers exactly what you want—crispy, golden skin and juicy, tender meat every single time.
If you really want to go all out (and I recommend you do), make an apple cider-brined turkey breast before it hits the air fryer (a little extra effort, a lot more flavor). And because leftovers are half the point, this turkey is just as good the next day—try it in a leftover turkey and wild rice soup or swap it in as the protein for a healthy burrito bowl.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast Ingredients
- Recipe Modifications
- Recipe Tip
- How to Make the Best Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- What to Serve With Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Best Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe
- More Impressive Air Fryer Meals to Try…
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s quick & easy—Season your turkey breast with a good rub, pop it into the air fryer, and let the air fryer do the work for no more than 40 minutes.
- It frees up your oven—Air frying your turkey breast leaves your oven free for those anticipated sides, like oven roasted mini potatoes or hot honey roasted carrots!
Air Fryer Turkey Breast Ingredients
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
- Carrots & celery—Though optional, I like placing carrots and celery onto the rack of the air fryer, then putting the turkey breast on top. They give off a pleasant aroma and flavor, and you can slice the carrots up afterward and serve them with your meal as a side.
- Chicken broth—To keep the turkey breast moist, I pour chicken broth into the bottom of the air fryer basket rather than water. Again, this is for extra flavor and aromatics.
Recipe Modifications
- Seasoning—Salt, pepper, and poultry or rotisserie seasoning are what I like to rub over my turkey before popping it into the air fryer. I’ve included the measurements for my own seasoning below, but you can use any seasoning blend you’d like!
- Aromatics—Place fresh herbs onto the air fryer rack along with the carrots and celery—like sage, rosemary, thyme, etc. Garlic cloves and onions are also a great addition.
- Butter—Add a few knobs of butter beneath the skin to enhance moisture and flavor, and crisp the skin.
Recipe Tip
Take the turkey breast out of the fridge about 20-30 minutes before cooking and let it reach room temperature. This helps you achieve an even cook on your meat, prevents the meat from shrinking, and yields a tastier, juicier result.
How to Make the Best Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Step 1: Prepare the Turkey
Preheat the air fryer to 350º F. Remove the turkey breast from the fridge. With a basting brush or clean hands, smear the top (skin side) of the bird with olive oil or melted butter. Be sure to get some of the oil or butter beneath the skin. Then, rub the entire turkey breast with your seasoning of choice. (My homemade poultry seasoning rub is included in the recipe card below.) Let the turkey sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Air Fryer
Pour about 1-1.5 cups of chicken broth or water into the bottom of the air fryer basket, or just enough to cover the bottom of the basket. Secure the tray in the air fryer basket, then put the carrots, celery, and fresh herbs on top. Prop the turkey breast on the carrots and celery skin side down in the center of the basket.
Step 3: Cook the Turkey Breast
Air-fry the turkey for 15 minutes at 350°F. Open the air fryer, carefully flip the breast over to skin side up with large tongs or two sturdy spatulas, and air fry for an additional 30 minutes or until the turkey registers an internal temperature of 160ºF with a meat thermometer.
Step 4: Rest, Slice, and Serve
Carefully transfer the turkey breast from the air fryer basket to a cutting board. Let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing it and serving.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Vegetables: oven-roasted mini potatoes, Instant Pot mashed potatoes, hot honey roasted carrots, or air fryer green beans, which can be cooked after the turkey, while it rests.
- Sauces: maple orange cranberry sauce, turkey gravy
Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- To freeze, transfer the leftovers to freezer-friendly storage bags. The turkey should keep in the freezer for up to 6 months, though it will retain its best quality up to 3 months.
- To reheat, simply transfer to a microwave-safe plate and pop it in the microwave for 20-second increments until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
A turkey breast should be air-fried for 10 minutes per pound. Since this recipe calls for a turkey breast of between 3-4 lbs, the air fry time suggested is 30-40 minutes.
Yes, if you’re injecting a marinade into your turkey breast, do it beforehand—either several hours in advance or right before cooking.
Yes! The turkey breast comes out with a crispy skin and juicy middle, and it leaves your oven free for other fixin’s.
If you try this Air Fryer Turkey Breast, please pop back in and leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Best Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Equipment
- 1 7 Quart Air Fryer (give or take on the size)
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb boneless turkey breast, skin on
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 large carrot, sliced in half lengthwise
- 2 ribs of celery, halved
- 2 TBSP olive oil or softened butter
- 2 TBSP seasoning, like poultry or rotisserie, Or 1 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp cracked black pepper, give or take
Homemade Poultry Seasoning (optional)
- 1/2 tsp ground dried sage
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1/4 tsp dried marjoram
- 1/4 tsp dried rosemary
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
Poultry Seasoning (Optional)
- Mix all of the ingredients into a small bowl. Taste and adjust to your preference, then set aside.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Preheat the air fryer to 350º F.
- Take the turkey breast out of the fridge and set it on a plate. Using your hands, smear the top (skin side) of the turkey breast with olive oil or softened butter. Be sure to get some beneath the skin. Then, rub the entire turkey breast with your seasoning of choice.
- Let the turkey sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes.
- Pour about 1-1.5 cups of chicken broth or water into the bottom of the air fryer basket (enough to cover the bottom of the basket). Secure the tray in the air fryer basket, then put the carrots, celery, and fresh herbs on top.
- Place the turkey breast on top of the carrots and celery skin side down in the center of the basket. Air-fry the turkey for 15 minutes at 350°F.
- Open the air fryer, carefully flip the breast over to skin side up with large tongs or two sturdy spatulas, and air fry for an additional 30 minutes or until the turkey registers an internal temperature of 160ºF with a meat thermometer.
- Carefully transfer the turkey breast from the air fryer basket to a cutting board. Let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing into it and serving.
This air fryer turkey looks so moist and delicious. Great idea!
Thanks!
This turkey turned out so good! It was juicy and flavorful. Thank you so much for the recipe!
Thrilled to hear it, Kristen!
Pinned to make for my family this week. Can’t wait! :)
Keep me posted :)
My air fryer is my new best friend and I cannot wait to make this recipe. I know this recipe will become a family favorite in my house
I hope it does!
Another recipe was added to my menu for my air fryer adventures again! Will definitely make this. Thanks for sharing!
Keep me posted!
Outstanding!! I tried air fryer turkey for dinner last night, and it was amazing! The turkey was so juicy and tender, Perfect! Thanks for sharing such a quick and easy recipe!
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
Very yummy recipe! I am making it again tonight, the first time was a hit!
So glad!
JUST got my air fryer and can’t wait to give this a go!
Yay! Let me know how it goes.
Thought this would be dry. Turns out to be juicier and tender on the air fryer instead of the oven!
I’m glad you were pleasantly surprised :)
YES, YES YES! I am looking for an easy feel like Thanksgiving (without all of the Turkey leftovers), and this is it. Cooking a whole turkey is such a big commitment, so I can really appreciate an alternative.
So happy this works for you, Lily!